Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-21

pint. The big headquarters in Column
bia, with its liquor commission and
board of control, is more than likely
to be abolished. The dispensary pur-
chased a few months ago for its head
quarters the historic building used for
a time as the confederate mint.
Senator Lewis Applet Of Clarendon,
a leader of the reformers, Or Tillman,
faction in the legislature, and until the
last few months an earnest advocate Of
the system Of state dispensary, has pre-
pared bill whose main features will
probably become law, although Senator
Tillman is opposed to it. 1t provides
that at the next general election the
following questions shall be submit
ted to the qualified electors in each
county: First, the question Of prohi-
bition; second, the question of county
dispensary; third, the question of Ii
cense under the constitution.
The penalty for disposing Of liquor
unlawfully in counties where the ma
jority vote is for prohibition is fixed
at not less than three nor more than
L months Imprisonment or fine of
not less than 500 nor more than $500.
Half CT the fines go to the informer.
Where the majority vote is for
"dispensary," board, consisting of the
county supervisor the foreman of the
grand jury and one tax-paying citi-
zen, will have control of ali its affairs
They will each receive So per day for
not more than three days in each
month. The board will organize the
county dispensary, buy all the liquors
used and select a dispenser, who will
be required to give bond N the penal
sum Of $4,000 for the faithful perform
ance Of his duties. The regulations as
to hours of selling and no sales to
minors and drunkards will be the same
as those now in force in the dispen-
sary. There may be several dispen-
saries in the same county, the board
designating their location. Half of the
profits will go to the towns in which
the dispensaries are situated, the bal
ance to the county public schools.
For the violation of the regulations
the keeper OF the county dispensary
will be liable to a fine Of $500 for each
ofenSe. His bondsmen are also liable
to the amount of his bond for any
damage awarded for liquor sold to mi
nors or drunkards.
Where the counties vote for Iii
cense,' a board, selected in the same
way as that for the dispensary coun-
ties, is to have charge. No licenses
cities. In towns Of less than 1000 in
habitants the application must be &C
companied by petition from the ma
jority of the freehold voters in the
town In larger towns majority Of
voters in the ward in which the saloon
ton. The licenses must not be less
than 5000 or more than $1,000 a year,
one-half going to the municipality and
one-haf to the county for the public
schools. Liquors may not be sold in
quantities Of less than one-half pint
nor be drunk on the premises where
sold nor be sold to minors nor persons
in the habit of becoming intoxicated.
Each applicant, before getting a Ii
cense, must execute a bond to the
county treasurer, with good sureties,
for $4,000, to be liable in case he fails
in the requirements. All places of
business will at all times be open to in
spection by members of the county
board.
The bill provides for the immediate
abolition of the state board of control,
which would be required submit a
full report of its transactions and turn
over all property under its control to
a board consisting of the state treas
urer nc chairman of the ways and
means committee and the chairman of
the finance committee of the senate.