Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-10-24
HIGH LICENSE.

Representative McGeary of Burling-
ton introduced a bill into the House
last week giving the towns the right
of local option in granting licenses to
sell Intoxicating liquors. The bill pro-
vides that upon demand of twenty
five voters Of the town, the selectmen
shall insert in the warning for the an
nual meeting an article submitting to
the oters of the town the question,
"Shan licenses be granted for tire sale
of Intoxicating liquors in this town?"
Although there is no doubt as to the
final outcome Of the, bill, opposition to
it is being organized and it will be
likely to find but little favor among
the members Of the House when
it is voted on. The representatives
from Orleans County held a meeting
recently and appointed c. F .Ranney
of Newport, o. D. Owen of Barton,
and J. 4. Campbell of Albany as com
mittee to confer with like committees
from other counties on the methods
of opposition. This committee is
strong one as they are all good work
ers and strong temperance men.
The vote of the state on this bill will
be likely to be divided into sections,
as in some parts Of the state the pro-
hibitory law has not been enforced
and consequently there is dissatis-
faction with it, while in the counties
where the law has been ri igIdIy carried
out the people are pleased with its
work and will stand by it. There are
a few people in every section of the
state who will advocate the repeal Of
the law; large per cent of these ad-
Vocates are men who either desire to
reap the rich harvest to be made by
the sale Of the stuff, or who are ag-
gravated by the law which obliges
them to use the care now necessary
to obtain liquor. The two classes viii
always be found in opposition to the
law and will have to be contended
with. There is another class who
have become tired OF seeing it con-
stantly violated as it is in some
sections and are asking for its repeal
in the belief that license may be bet
ter for the community. What have
these people to expect from a license
law? VIII the sale Of liquor be less in
our state? Will it be better for our
boys and girls to be brought up in
villages where the open saloon is to
be seen on the different corners, and
be obliged to see.the money(as they
will in n any cases. which should be
expendedin giving them an education,
go to pay for drink which will do no
one any good but will instead 90 harm.
1t certainly cannot decrease the sale
of liquor fer besides the great
number Of licensed saloons which
would be opened in the state there
would still be as many unlicensed
places where it could be bought in vi
olation Of the license law as there are
at present in violation of the prohibi-
tory law. If the present law cannot
be enforced how would they enforce
the license law when there would be
a large number who desire to save the
expense Of paying for the license? A
member Of the House who was anxi-
Gus to secure the passage Of the Nc
Geary bill was heard to state that it !
would bring a revenue of 100000 |
to the st ate. It seems to US this is
one of the strongest arguments why
the bill should meet a crushing
defeat. Allowing his statement to |
be true, the sum which must be added |
to this, in order to make up the full |
amount expended by the liquor dealers
in conducting their business, coupled |
with the pr offs, would make an as
founding sum, all of which must be /
met by the sales of liquor, and can
anyone believe that they would not
many, many times over exceed the
sales being made in violation of the
present law?
This question has been agitated
the state but if the people
who are asking for repeal of the
present law in the belief that license
will be better for the state, will turn
+botI