The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1898-04-15
Prohibition or License ?

The following is a summary of the law
for Cecil regarding the whiskey business,
enacted by the legislature which adjourn.
ed on Monday, April 4th. This summary
of the law is made by the Cecil WAie
and gives all the important features oft the
law:
A bill passed by the recent legislature in which
on account of the new features it contains the
people OF this county will be especially interested
is the act providing for the submission to the
voters of the county. the question of the licensing
or prohibition of the sale of Intoxicating LIQUORS
As provided under the old law, the question
will be submitted to the voters of the county
eveIy four years, the frs vote under the amended
law just passed, taking lace in November next
1885, the Act taking eftct December ], 1895
In the event of the ma 0rity vote being cast in
favor of prohibition. the amended law prohibits
the sale of liquorsiby druggists prescriptions to
other persons.
The license side of the law has been materially
modified
The Act creates license commission consisting
of Robert A. Mackey, of the Fourth district Chas.
w Shippers, of the Fifth district, and Henry NJ.
McFadden, of the Fourth district This com.
mission is authorized to pass not only upon the
place for which license is asked, but also upon
the individual asking for u license. The appli.
cant for license must publish in some newspaper
published in the county his application setting
forth the location for which license is asked and
an opportunity be given to those who may object
to the granting of such license, to be heard by the
commission Ten respectable citizens residing
within two miles of the nInop for WI 10
asked, must sign the application, which must
also be accompanied by the affidavit of two repu-
table citizens, that they have examined the
premises, and found them suitable and proper to
be licensed.
The commission has power also to pass upon
the characters of the signers to an application for
license, and is invested with power to revoke
licenses for any violation of the provisions of the
law, or upon complaint or remOnstrance of any
person or persons in the immediate neighborhood
ofsuch licensed house, and from hose Judgment
in suppressing license there will be no appeal
License can only be issued - hotels, their
number in the county being limitli to not more
than three in the Third district, and to not more
than two in any other district in the county,
License Tor II hotel shall not be issuable to any
but bona fde citizen of the county, and who has
oeeh SuSh ioi at lC'St oiIe year previous TO the
granting of such license
The fee for hotel license within any incor.
poTated town shall be $500, and Sl5O outside of
such towns. In the case OF towns one half the
license fee goes to the town the other halt to the
county
The salary of each commissioner shall be $50
per annum.
1t will be seen by the,provisions of this
law that the whiskey men will accept
anything i'll the shape of legal permit to
sell liquor So as the business has any
kind of law TO counteuance it will answer.
they can only get the thin edge of the
wedge entered they will take care of the
rest.
The limits and restrictions placed on
the license feature if the tickle people can
be cajoled into departing from the pres.
ent prohibition status, will be made use
OF by the temperance grog people to help
the rum mill get another footliold in this
county. The law creates three utterly
useless officers, with salary of $50 each
per annum for doing virtually nothing.
These embryo officers with $3.50 in sight
as an absolute gift from the treasury, will
if they are temperance men-roar
against the license feature of the law as
loud as sucking doves, no doubt.
This feature is intended to act in the
nature of a brihe for influence on the
liquor side. All of the fine restricting
features incorporated in the law are but
the devil in robes of furnished white