The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-06
Text Of the Bill Which Recently Passed the
Virginia Legislature.
AFFECTS ALL INSTITUTIONS OF THIS SORT
Ono Dollar Per VI cmber for nil Clubs
A Scheme TO Increase the revenue
nnd Lessen tho Evii-Iwo Birds
with Ono Stonc-A Act to I;c In Force
After April 3OIh.

l. Be 1t enacted by the General AS
semoly of Virginia. That any corpora
tion chartered and organized as a social
club not now subjec. to the license laws
OF this State which shall desire to keep
on hand at their clubhouse or other place
OH meeting wines, ardent spirits, malt
liquors, or any mixture thereof, aico-
sloiic pltters or btters containing alco-
MOI, or fruits preserved in ardent spir-
It's, TO be sold directly or Indirectly, or
given away to the members OF such cor
oraion, shall on or before the Goth
way cF April in each year pay to the
Irsa surer OF the county or corpora ton
wherein the clubhouse or other place of
meeting of such corporation is located
tax equal TO one dollar for every per-
son VINO has been a member of such
corporation during the preceding year,
out the tax shall be onc-h alf of said
amount when malt liquors only are sold
or given away at such clubs. Unless
ana until the said tax has been paid any
person concerned in keeping such wines,
ardent spirits, malt liquors, or any mix
lure thereof, alcoholic bitters, bitters
containing alcohol. or fruits preserved
in ardent spirits, and selling. directly
or indirectly, or giving away the same,
10 any member or members of such cor
po:ation shall be deemed guilty of D
misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof
snail be fined not less than $50, or, in the
discretion Of the court or jury trying
the case, imprisoned not more than si.:
months. or both.
:. Any such corpora Ion organized
after the passage of this act, desiring
to Keep wines ardent spirits, malt LID
uorS, or any mixture thereof alcoholic
bitters, or bitterS cunta lining alcohol, or
fruits preserved in ardent spirits. at
their clu ahouse, or other place OF meet
iEg 20 be sold directly or Indirectly. or
given away to the members OF such
corporation, SHALL before doing so, pay
q tax equal 10 Il proper; ionate part Of
the above named amounts. respectively
Tor each member of the corporation to
the whole annual tax as the space OF
time between the organization of such
corporation and the following 3Oth OF
April bears to the whole year. and such
corporation shall thereafter and for the
succeeding years pay the annual tax
prescribed in the foregoing section.
3. Any corporation chartered and or
CANNED as social club and paying the
tax above described shall be entitled to
distribute and dispense wines, ardent
spirits, malt liquors or any mixture
thereof alcoholic bit.crs. or bitters con-
tanning alcohol nr fruits preserved in
ardent spirits. or malt liquors only aa
the case may be. to and among It's mem
bers, without obtaining any liccrSe or
paying any other or further tax either
State municipal or county, for the said
privilege than Is above described: pro
Vided. that the said corporation is or
ganiZcd and conducted as bona fide
social club; and provided further, that
no person or corporation shall be en-
titled by the payment of the tax above
prescribed 10 conduct the-busncss Of n
wholesale or retail liquor dealer, for
which n license is required under the
existing laws of this State: provided
however, no such club shall hereafter
be permitted or chartered in any county
or dictric. where local option prevails.
4. Upon complaint Of any person that
any such corpora Ion 50 chartered as n
social club is being coEauctcd, or has
been conducted. for the purpose Of vio-
lating or cvading the laws of this State
regulating tha licensing and sale Of
liquors, and after service of such COM
pllint on such corporation at least ten
days before the hearing of said COM
| plant the court Of the county or cor
rOrat:on wherein is located its place of
business or meeting shall inquire into
the truth OF said complaint; and If the
said court or judges in vacation shall
adjudGc that the said corporation is
being conducted or has been conducted
for the purpose Of violating o: evading
the laws of this State regulating the
licensing nd sale of liquors the char
tered rights and franchises Of said cor
nOration shall cease and be void vii hout
any further proceeding: and the said
corporation and all persons concerned
in the violation or evasion OF said law
shall be subject to the penalties pre-
scribed therein. ana in case Of an aTpcal
from said judgment the said corpora
ton shall not, during the pandcncy OF
such appeal. sell or give away any
wines. ardent spirits, NAL: liquors. or
any mixture thereof, alcoholic bittcrs
or hitters containing alcohol. or fruits
preserved in ardent spirits. under n pen
ally equal 10 that provided in the frs.
section of this act
.. The word members wherever used
in this ac. shall no; apply to any person
under the &c of q years.
6. provided. however. shat no corpor-
alton chartered ana organized as a so
cial club shall be deemed 10 be such and
entitled to the privileges Of this act,
unless annually on the first day Of the
:Np!il scrm Of the County or Corporation
C0urt Of The county or corporation
wherein such club is. the president or
secretary Of such club shall exhibit in
open court \ list Of the active members
OF such club on that day. and shall sat
isfy the cour; that such membership
exceeds thirty bona file members and
that such organization is bona fide so
cial club and not an organization Gre
atcd 10: the purpose or violating or
cVadinfs The laws of this State regulat-
ing the licensing and sale OF liquors
z. This act shall be in force on and
ne .,.n