The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-08-20
PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE BX.
listing LIOhNsE LAW.
Distillers, Brewers and Wholesalers Who
Set Upor Back Retailers 10 be Punished by
Imprisonment.

Different stories have been circulated as 10
proposed changes in the existing liquor
license law of the state, to be made by the
coming legislature, but up to this time the
labor OF probably score of gentlemen in.
Guiding clergymen, lawyers and business
men OF various vocations in that direction
has escaped public notice. These gentlemen,
forming self-constituted committee, pro-
pose to make some very drastic changes in
the existing law and to this end they are
giving considerable attention not only to the
| complexion of the next legislature but to
the "education" of the public mind so that
warm approval of their legislation will come
generally and unanimously from the rural
| districts.
One of the chief things this secret but
industrious and eminently respectable or.
ganzation proposes to do is to relieve the
bench of cities of the first and second classes
which means Philadelphia and Pittsburg-
from the arduous and exceedingly annoying
work of hearing applications and granting
licenses. In Philadelphia especially com.
plant is made of the disagreeable burden
now imposed upon judges of the license
court and the amended act will be so con-
structed as to apply to Philadelphia and
Pittsburg only-probably Philadelphia alone
|
to exercise the duties imposed upon them by
the Brooks law This will be satisfactory
to the country legislators as well as generally
gratifying to the city members and will be
an eminently popular feature of the bill
The difficulty seems to be to determine upon
a satisfactory plan for granting licenses in
Philadelphia but that which has thus fai
met with the most cordial approval is
scheme which will provide for the licensing
of any respectable and responsible person
who will pay the necessary license, regard.
less OF location with the exception OF nee
essary restriction as to proximity of schools
and churches) and without regard to tn,
number of licenses granted. This, they
contend, will amply provide for "the sur.
viyal of the fttest' and will give no exclu
sive and long-continued privileges as the
!; present law does, especially as now enforced
in Philadelphia.
Another feature of the proposed law is tc
break up the ownership or control of retail
houses by distillers, brewers and whole
, salers. One Of the attorneys for the organ
zation states that very large proportion o
the retail saloons are simply commission
houses, selling spirits and beer for manu-
facturers or wholesalers. The new law will
= provide such restrictions as will prevent thi
looms into other business or compel them t,
look for new sources of capital. 1t is pro
: posed to make one of the penalties for VIC
lation of this section imprisonment, sendin.
, to the county Jail or state prison any brew
= er, distiller or wholesaler who directly OF
indirectly controls or in part owns directl
or indirectly, retail establishment. T,
, ferret out and break up all such combination
! a detective system will be necessary proyid
ing for an espionage Of brewers and dstiller
: more rigid than that now exercised by th
S United States government over distilleries
, While all this will be unpopular with tht
wealthy manufacturers and wholesalers it il
contended that the better class Of salooi
= keepers generally, as well as the public, will
, give it their endorsement
,, Those engaged in shaping this proposec
liquor legislation refuse to publicly discus
any of the other features of it at this time
They assert, however, that they have lony
, been engaged in leading public sentiment tC
plane where their measure will meet will
wide spproval and, backed by public senti
l ment, they expect to have the legislator
| meet their demands. "For once" said on
Of the managers yesterday, 1--WE will b
, more powerful than the Quays and tire Ma
gees who have heretofore dominated legisla
/. ton here. We will not be deceived no
. caught. This is great moral move whicl
! the public press will be compelled to sup
port, when it is once fully developed Th
clergy will give it momentum. The farmers
particularly, will favor it for we mean t
provide revenue so large as to very con
siderably relieve local taxation. We wan
the makers and sellers of spirits and beer t
pay some of the taxes that our farmers nov
. | proan under n-UPatrioi