Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1893-04-14
The Brooks l.. <nse Law.


The Pittsburg Leader, of late date,
condenses the constructions of the Brooks
liquor law by some OF the Judges of West
ern Pennsylvania, as follows:
In Crawford county where Judge John
J. Henderson is sole presiding Judge oi the
grant or refuse at his own pleasure.
Remonstrances appear to have no effect
and no special restrictions are placed upon
the licensed houses.
In Armstrong county almost the same
conditions prevail. The only stipulation
is that all licensed houses must be closed
at 10 o'clock at night.
In jefferson county the only question
that appears to figure in the granting OF
a license is to show to the court the neces-
sity for the place. Judge White, who
presides, looks upon wholesale licenses as
unnecessary.
The Mexican county court restricts all
licensed houses, both wholesale and retail,
10 closing their places at 1880 at night
and that retailers should do strictly bar
trade. Wholesale can not sell less than q
quart of whiskey or a dozen bottles OF
beer
In Indiana county the popular will Is
opposed to the liquor traffic and Judge
White, who presides, although not a pro
hibitionist, respects the wishes ol the
people. During his eight years on the
bench he has never granted license to
sell or manufacture liquor in the county.
In Lancaster county the reverse ap-
pears to be the case. At the recent sit
ting of the court all the old stands were
relicensed and every new applicant was
refused. The only restriction placed upon
the applicants was requiring Che liquor 10
be drunk on retail premises and prohibit
ing dances to be held in hotels. The
"growler" is rushed freely there without
comment from the court.
In Huntingdon county the necessity for
the place. good character and RESPONSE
bility are the sole REQUESTS for a license.
Judge Furst, who presides, is personally
opposed to the liquor traffic, and feels the
disposal of license should be taken out OF
the court. Free lunches aud screens are
prescribed, and all bars mu~t be closed at
10 p. IN.
In Dauphin county the only requisite is
the bare provisions required by law-re-
lating to accommodations, which requires
four rooms and eight beds. Licenses are
transferred whenever applied for. In
Harrisburg some of the hotels keep open
bars all hight, and free lunch prevails
In Washington county, under special
law passed in 1867, the granting of Licenses
is discretionary with the judge, independ-
ent to the views Of the community. From
the passage of the law until 1881, no IL
censes were granted in the county. Last
year five licenses were granted. Judge
McIlyaine, the presiding Judge, holds the
same views regarding the free lunch ques-
ton as our own judges. He is also op-
posed to the present system OF granting
licenses by court judges.
In Blair county, where Judge lands,
newly appointed judge, presided, the
temperance people held sway, and sue
ceeded in having less than half the ap-
plcations granted this year. There were
no special restrictions placed upon apph-
cants.
In Westmoreland county the only re
strictoin is the question of closing. All
licensed houses must close at $3.50 p. IN.
and at noon on holidays.
The Beaver county court does not look
upon wholesale licenses as so great
necessity as retail, and restricts the
granting of such places to the three prin--
cipal towns Of the county. Uncontested
applications for license are granted with
out question. The only requisite in new
applicants is to prove the necessity and
character of the applicant. No special
restrictions are placed upon the trafhc, and
the court appears to encourage the con
Quoting of good hotels.
At the recent court in Lawrence county,
over which Judge Hazen presided, the ap-
plicants were subjected to rigid ordeal.
The special features insisted upon were
the accommodations for travellers IN
pre- ference to boarders, selling in buckets
and TO club rooms.