The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-13
PROHIBITION I'M CANADA.
The Way the Enforcement Of aLocal Optic
LAW Worked In Now BrunsWick,s Capital.

The Way the enforcement Of aLocal Option
Law Worked in Now Brunswick's Capital.
FREDERICTON. N. B.. Nov. 10.-Now that Can.
ada has voted for the prohibition of the liquor
traffic throughout the Dominion. it remains 10,
enact the Legislation neocsnaryto make It oper-
alive. Whatever laws are promulgated Il 10
safe to say that Fredericton will not GO dry IN
this century. and that 1900 will be we'll along
in its teens before there Is any serious attempt
there to enforce severe penalties for tho reA-
sonable sale Of liquor. Eight years ago the eI-
pertinent wal tried and tho results were such
as to suffice for all concerned for a quarter Of o
century at least. In 1890 Fredericton adopted
for the suppression Of the liquor traffic a loca
option law Known as the Scott act, which Ia still
in existence. The penalties attached to vioia-
ton Of the law are a ine Of $50 for the first
offence. 500 for the second and Imprisonment
for the third.
In the spring of 1890 the friends of this law
resolved to stamp out. il possible. the sale OF
liquor in the city. To that end they succeeded
in recording third offences against six ~violatorA
of the law. two Of whom were proprietors Of
the chief hotels in Fredericton. The six Of
tenders. accordingly, were landed In the York
County Jail In this city. But before going 10
Jail the two hotel proprietors went under guard
OF a court officer to their hotels. notified eveD
guest to find quarters elsewhere immedlSaly
and closed their houses the same night The
Prohibitionists had their wish. the town Wa
dry-and commercial travellers and other Wis
itors to Fredericton found no good hotel 30.
commodations during the incarceration Of the
prisoners. Business languished and CONNER
cially the city found itself left out in the cold.
When This fact was understood. public sent.
ment took a sharp turn In favor OF the prison.
ers and against the law which so. greatly i'm
nAdAh the hnainaRa fnfQraafQ nf tina Nifv Thu
i" OFFENDERS now. exalted to the rank Of mar
tyrs. were visited in Jail by people OF. distilc.
ton. They were permitted to furnish tn sir
rooms luxuriously. and they Jared sumptuols-
ly. every day as. guests at the jailer's talls.
They kept q book Of registry for the visitors
who called to pay their respects. and on IL
pages were inscribed the names Of Heading cltt.
Of Fredericton. and other mon Of prominence
being enrolled among them. ClerRymen Of
various denominations held Sunday servicesin
the Jail corridor for the spiritual benefit OF
the prisoners. which were attended by large
congregations. OF ~well-knoWn people from the
city. In fact their term Of Imprisonment was
to the Scott act offenders one long-drawn.9us
ovation. the blaze Of fireworks and the music
The result Of this attempt to enforce tho
Scott law was ouch that no complaints since
have ever been. laid In. Fredericton againse
y" liquor dealers for third offences. Public
Which closed pP the principal hotels FL, a. and
standstilL Now the liquor dealers are occS-
sionally mulcted Of $50 for first offences. which
is a form Of license that they can pay withoue
hardship. and the traffic goes on uninterrupted