The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-12
ALASKA BILL PASSED.
High License Was the System Adopted
for the Treasury.

for the Treasury.
washington. Jan. 1.-THE house to-
day completed and passed the bill for
the codification of the criminal laws Of
Alaska, upon which it has been work.
ing internationally for week An
amendment was adopted providing a
| high license system in the territory
with species of local option. Liquor
dealers, by its provisions, are to pay a
license of $1,000 a year and the consent
of a majority of the white citizens re-
siding within two miles of a liquor deal
ers establishment must be obtained be-
fore license can be secured. An at
tempt to recommit the bill for the pur-
pose OF securing the adoption of a pro-
vision excluding convicts from service
on juries was defeated.
At the conclusion of the reading of
the Alaska bill the subject of licensing
liquor dealers was taken up under
amendments offered by Mr.. Warner of
Illinois and Mr.. Tongue of Oregon, but
both were ruled out on a point of order.
Mr. Moody, rep, Mass, offered an
amendment substituting the present
law, which prohibits the importation of
liquor into Alaska. On a yea and nay
vote the amendment was defeated
nays "a, yeas 81 The committee amend
ment was again offered, and Mr.. Knox
and Mr.. Moody stated that they made
no point of order because since the de-
feat of the Moody amendment unless
the committee amendment was adopted
there would be practically no liquor law
in Alaska. McEwan, rep, N j.,
thought the present law should be given
another trial. Mr.. Todd, dem, Mich,
believed 1t to be a shame to have to
admit that the government could not
enforce the present laws in Alaska. The
nr1an6n1ant a laC
that yearly license may be issued
for the manufacture or sale of liquor
in quantities of not less than five gal
Ions, not to be drunk upon the prem
lses, upon the payment of a fee of 81 900.
No license, however, can be issued
unless evidence is produced before the
court showing that a majority of the
white citizens within two miles of a
place for which the license is asked
shall consent. The amendment pro-
hbits the sale of liquors to minors, and
gives every husband wife or child, pa
rent, guardian, employer or other per-
son injured in person and property in
consequence of intoxication the right to
exemplary damages from the person
who by sale may have caused such in
toxication. The sale of liquor by drug
stores is permitted upon the prescrip-
ton of a physician. The sale of liquor
" iHulduS OF nall Dr6eQS is PROMPTED.
Mr.. Tongue, rep, Ore said the bill
was deficient becaase it permitted
criminals to sit upon iuries. AS a rep
resentative of the West he protested
vigorously against such legislation by
the East. The West, he said, had al
ready suffered enough from the Grim
inals of the East. He did not want muir
derers, robbers and forgers to sit upon
juries to try honest men. The jury sys-
tenn had received many severe blows,
but this bill was the worst making, as
it did, the jury box in Alaska haven
of rest for Eastern criminals.
Mr.. Dayton, rep, wv. Va, and Mr..
Payne, rep, N Y, thought such criti-
cism of the East unjust, and it was sug-
gested that all of the states are east
of Alaska. Mr. Underwood, dem, Ala,
moved to recommit the bill to the COM
mittee on revision of laws, with in
structions to incorporate a section bar
ring convicted felons from sitting on
juries. Mr.. Underwoods motion was
lost and the bill was passed without
division. Then, at 4 o'clock, the house
adjourned