Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-10-21
THAT LICENSE BILL.
INTRODUCED LAST WEEK BY REP
RESENTATlVE MCGEARY.


The Much-TallSed-About Measure and for
what 1t Provides-Said to BE Based on
the Massachusetts Local Option Law
Open to Much Criticism.
AS the license liquor law introduced on
Thursday of last week in the state egis-
lature by Mr. McGeary of Burlington is
causing much comment and will no boubt
continue to do so until it is disposed of,
we herewith give the Burlington Free
Press's digest of the same. The bill con-
ts ms 30 sections and is practically the
local option law of Massachusetts which
has given so much satisfaction 10 that
State. The provisions Of the bill follow:
Upon the petition Of % or more voters
the selectmen shall insert in the warn
ing for the annu Il town meeting clause
asking "Shall license be granted for the
sale of Intoxicating liquors in this town."
and provide a separate ballot box in
which the votes Eyes" or "no" are
placed. The majority determines the
question and the town will have license
or no license until another petition to the
selectmen calls for another vote. If a
town has a check it is to be used in
voting but If it does not record of the
people voting shall be made and kept in
the town clerks Office for inspection.
Where town votes Eyes" the selectmen
can grant licenses, record of which
shall be kept In n separate book in the
town clerks office. The license is to
name the person licensed, state the parti-
cular building in which the business is to
be conducted and remain in force until
the first Monday of the month following
the next annual meeting and is not
transferable.
No license is to be granted to a sheriff
deputy sheriff, constable, justice of the
peace, county commissioner, town liquor
agent, selectmen or prosecuting officer,
nor to any person under % years of age.
Any person who has had license re-
voked or any member of his family can
not receive another license for two years.
Each application for license must be
endorsed by at least ten voters in the
town beside the name of the applicant.
none of whom shall be a dealer in liquor
or an endorser of any other application
for a license. This application is to be
presented to the town clerk who certifies
it, delivers a copy of it to a selectman,
files it and publishes it twice in a news
paper of the town or in case there is no
newspaper, post it on the building speci-
fled in the application and three other
conspicuous places in the town. Any
person can within two weeks of the time
of posting the copy deliver to the select
men written objection to granting such
license by the selectmen who shall give
hearing on the application, but in case
no objection is made the selectmen can
refuse license if they think the man or
place unsuitable for the business.
The fee for license is to be not less
than $500 nor more than $1,000, which
must be paid to the town treasurer in ad
vance, and the licensee shall file $4,000
bond to the State of Vermont with two
sureties approved by the selectmen. The
person signing as surety must make oath
to "his pecuniary ability to become such
surety" and must not be a liquor dealer
or surety on any other license. Each
license bond shall be available for the
payment of all fines, damages or costs
! imposed under this act and the surety
may give the licensee notice at any time
that he will act as surety no longer and
the licensee must then file new bond.
The states attorney of the county can
of his own Will or on the petition of any
person prefer written charges against II
! licensee to the selectmen who shall give
hearing and if satisfied the licensee has
violated the provisions of this act revoke
his license. The selectmen are given
equal powers with a justice of peace in
conducting hearing as mentioned above
and the fees to be allowed and who shall
pay them are specified. Conviction in
court of licensee of any violations of
this act terminates the license.
The liquor sold by the licensee must be
kept on the street floor with an entrance
and windows opening on the street and
the bar in full view from the street and
he is liable to fine of $25 for violating
this provision, except in the case OF an
inn keeper to guests who have resorted
to his inn for food or lodging to be serv-
ed in their rooms or public dining room.
The licensee must keep his license
framed and hung in plain view In his
place of business, cannot sell liquor be-
tween the hours of IL 100 p. M. Saturday
and 6 a. m. Monday, nor between the
the hours of 8 a. m. and p. m. on Free
mans meeting day or the day of the an
nual town meeting; cannot employ to
sell liquor minor or any person who
has had license revoked within two
years shall be fined $3.50 for selling any
adulterated liquors, and shall subject
his liquors to an analysis at any time
selectman may demand it; and is subject
to fine if he sells liquor when he knows
or believes it is purchased to be disposed
of contrary to law.
The overseer of the poor must prepare
semi-annually, or oftener if he chooses,
list of all the persons to whom the town
has rendered aid within six months and
| give q cnnv of II To each licensee in the