The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-10-23
SALOONS IN ENGLAND.
Strict Laws Governing Their Conduct Rig
idly Enforced.

To the general public, the calling of the
publican" as the English saloonist is
called, doubtless appears fairly easy one
when once the ms and outs of the trade
are mastered. This, however, is by no means
the case, for in reality no other calling re-
quires for its successful carrying out such a
wide knowledge of technical points of law
as does that of the English inn-keeper or
publican.
1t is true that the law of Britain inter-
feres more or less with most trades-the
butcher. the baker and even the candle
stick maker, particularly if he makes silver
ones, not being exempt ;but the publican
must continually be on the qui vive, or
else his license will be put in jeopardy.
For instance, the butcher may refuse to
serve Mr.. Bullock with a leg of mutton, and
the baker may send Mr.. Rolls elsewhere for
his daily bread, but Mr.. Bung is bound to
draw glass of beer with all due cyility,
and hand it over to his greatest enemy
provided he be sober and willing to pay for
it. Woe betide Mr.. Bung if he refuse TO
serve anybody without just cause, for if
he does SO he is liable to certain pains and
penalties at common law. Not only is he
bound to serve all customers who are sober
and who come during open hours, but he is
liable, under certain conditions, to have
soldiers billeted upon him. though this is
not altogether such hardship, as Tommy
Atkins brings custom and pays for what
he has.
The publican, again, as most people are
aware, must not serve drunken people. or
children under sixteen with spirituous liq-
uors for their own consumption. Gambling
he must also not allow in his bar, not even
tossing for drinks, although this law is GER
tainly more honored in tue breach than the
observance.
Strange as it may seem, it was held in the
case of Potten VS.. Rhymer that friendly
game of cards amongst the private friends
of an innkeeper for small stake in the
bar parlors was an offense against the IL
cense; while under a recent decision it was
determined that pool played for money
in a public house was form of gaming
against the license.
Moreover, the public an must be careful
to whom he allows the use of his premises.
For harboring or serving policeman when
on duty with refreshment he is liable, on
conviction. to be fined S25, and were he. to
offend several times in this way he would
assuredly lose his license.
But it is not only police-constables on
duty that he must not allow in his bar. but
all people of VIGOROUSLY bad character"
and particularly thieves. If publica
allows thieves to come to his house for the
purpose of connecting crimes, 'says Burn,
ssthe keeper of the house may be convicted
for knowingly suffering it, nor is it neCes-
sary to prove an act of thieving on the
promises. or any disorderly conduct to have
taken place. But, on the other hand, If
the thieves or other disorderly persons
only meet together and remain in the house
for the bona fide purpose of refreshment.
no conviction ought to follow.
Apart from the usual hours of closing,
after which it is an offense to serve a Gus
toner with liquor, the customer himself be-
ing liable to a fine for being on licensed
premises after closing hours, in time of riot
every publican is bound to close his house,
no matter at what hour, if he receives an
order to do so. signed by two justices, and
should he neglect to do this, he is liable to
be fined on conviction.
Unlike other sellers of commodities, the
publican in bound, SO far as spirits of and
under the amount of SIS are concerned, to
deal strictly for cash. An act of Parlia-
ment declares that no publican shall re-
cover any sum Of money on account of
spurious liquors. unless it small have been
bona fde contracted at one time and over
S.