The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-09-14
MISCELLANY.
Liquor Laws of States.

mission has made off1clally complla-
ton of the excise laws of the several
States, comparing these with the Ex-
else law of the State Of New York,
which has obviously "come to stay" as
fruitful source of public revenue, an
agency for the reduction in the number
of saloons and as an aid to publ C order.
In Pennsylvania, under the Brooks
law, as it is called, passed in 1887, the
authority to grant licenses is vested in
the Court of Quarter Sessions. Appli-
cations for licenses must be fled in that
court three weeks in advance of the
term, and the names and places OF the
applicants must be published three
times in two newspapers. The appli-
cation must state that the place to be
| licensed is necessary for the accommo-
dation OF the public, that none of the
applicants are pecuniarly interested in
the sale of liquors at any other place in
the county, and must contain the names
of at least two reputabl Freeholders OF
the ward, borough or township where
the liquor is to he sold, who will be the
applicants sureties in the sum of $4,000.
The bondsmen must not be engaged in
the manufacture of liquors, and when
person ia surety on more than one bond
he must certify that he is worth 1900
over all membranes and the amount
of bonds previously signed by him. A
certificate must accompany the petit
ton, signed by twelve qualified cleo
tors of the ward or township, saying
that they know the applicant, believe all
his statements to be true and ask that
the license be issued as prayed for. Lii
cense fees are as follows: In cities of
the first and second class, $500 TO
81 goo; in cities of the third class,
$500; in other cities, $500; in boroughs,
$3.50; in townships, S75. The penal
ties for selling without license vary
from $500 to 5000 and imprisonment
for twelve months.
In Ohio the Dow law, the model,
with variations, of the Raines law in
New York, was adopted in 1886 and
under it there is a uniform tax i'm
posed-not an excise "license"-of
$3.50 for every saloon in the S ate, of
which $50 goes 10 the State and the
balance is divided between the county
and city or township. Sunday sales
are prohibited as are sales to minors
except Gu written order. There is a
penalty of S. for being found intox-
Gated in Ohio, and the sale of liquor on
trains passing through that State is
prohibited.
Illinois has license sy stem combln'
ed with local option, and the power to
issue licenses is vested in local board.
In Chicago there is license fee of
$500. The license fee varies in various
places according TO the preference of
its voters. One town in Illinois, GA
esburg, has an animal license charge
of 81 900 for a saloon. There are
twenty-six towns in Illinois which have
adopted prohibition.
Michigan was formerly prohibition
State, but provision in the constitu-
ton prohibiting any license law was
abrogated BY vote of the people in
1876. An act passed in 1887, provid-
ing for local option by counties, was
held by the courts to be unconstitu-
tional, but similar act passed in 1888
appears to have been held valid. The
sale of liquor is prohibited in places Of
amusement. Saloons must be closed,
back and front, on Sundays, election
days and holidays, and from nine P. NJ.
until A. M, except in the incorpo-
rated cities and villages, where the hour
for closing may be postponed by ordi-
nance until eleven P. NJ License fees
are: Retail licenses, $500; for malt
liquor onl.,, $500.
In Nevada there has been no change
in the liquor law since 1861. A license
fee prevails. Maine is the pioneer
prohibition State, and in 1884 an
amendment TO the constitution making
prohibition permanent and obligatory
was adopted by popular vote of TO-
900 to 22,0C0 New Hampshire has a
prohibition law ostensibly, andVermont
has had prohibition law since 1852 ac-
tually. The penalties against it's eva
sion are numerous and severe, and the
manufacture of spiriiuous and ferment-
ed liquors is prohibited. 1t is not a
violation of the prohibition law of Yer
mont for farmer TO make cider or
manufacture fermented liquor for his
own use. Massachusetts, has license
law with local option. In New Jersey
there is no uniform excise law, each To-
cality adopting it's own system of regu-
lation. Connecticut has license law,
and in many cases an unduly large
number of saloons. The prohibition
amendment to the constitution offered
| in 1889 was defeated 10 L.
Delaware is high-license State. The
highest liquor tax in Virginia is $3.50,
and it is graded, according to the bust.
ness done, from that figure down to
$50. In West Virginia the Jersey sys-
tenn prevails. In North Carolina pur-
chases of liquor are taxed five per cent
for the State, the actua. tax varying
from SIS to 1875. South Carolina is in
the liquor business for itself under the
dispensary system, whereby the Safe is
in the liquor business as a principal and
purveyor. Georgia has high-license
system, and in Atlanta 81 900 is the fee
charged. Indiana is license State.
The maximum charge in a city is $3.50
and the minimum 500. Minnesota
has high license and local option, and
the liquor law of Wisconsin, adopted
in 1889, fixes the fees for licenses at
from 800 to 5000, with the power of
the voters to increase it from $3.50 to
$500 Iowa is a prohibition State and
has been for number OF years, sub
ject to the exception that dealer who
| nava 5000 q wear IN the G ata cannot no