Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-11
REFUSE SHIPMENTS.
Local Express Companies VIII Not
Transport Liquors.
WHOLESALE DEALERS DONOT LIKE IT
Carriers Never Were Permitted to De.
liver Intoxicants to Persons Not
Holding PERMITS Under Proc
81 visions OF Mulct Law.
From Wednesdays Daily

From Wednesdays Daily.
The express companies are refusing
TO shin liquors out of Ottumwa to
small dealers or anyone in, this and
surrounding counties, unless the con-
sienee is authorized to handle this
commodity. The railroad companies
have been observing this particular
clause of the Iowa statute for some
time past, and now the recent action
Of the express companies is working
considerable hardship on all local deal
ers in spirituous and malt liquors The
last barrier has been in evidence since
about ten days ago. The carriers are
not blamed particularly for their sud-
compl- with the law than they did in
that inasmuch as it is a sudden notion,
carried heretofore, that the chances
ought to be taken still.
III Instructions have been received at
the local Office to be more careful in
the local Offices to be more care
full in the future and to comply
and the internal revenue law. 1t was
all brought about by recent visit of
government officials to the agent of
one OF the express companies at Sey-
mour, Clarinda and other points. The
+ gist of the matter in these cases seems
to be this: That the law relating to
the TRANSFORMATION of intoxicating Ii
'squors prohibits the shipment of in
toxicants from one point to another
within the boundaries Of the state,
g.,
Z authorized to sell liquors for medicin-
al purposes, or is operating under the
{ provisions OF the mulct law. The To-
Just discrimination, and especially
when the interstate commerce law
permits dealers in other states ship
ping liquors Of sall kinds and in any
Quantities to anyone in this state,
whether he be dealer or not, and
even permitting the express compan-
les to bill the liquor G. o. D. The car
fier companies do not object to this
feature particularly, as far as their re-
enumeration is concerned, as it means a
longer haul for them, and consequent
N more money.
AS to the recent trouble at Seymour
between the agent and the govern
ment officials, it is said that shipments
Scf liquor were consigned to fictitious
personages at that place, and the
agent delivered the goods, knowing
that the names were fictitious. At
this point there is no saloon doing
business under the provisions OF the
mulct law, and if there was it would
not affect the action taken by the
government officials. It is said that
10
practiced at that place. To prevent
this the government officials informed
the agent that he must not deliver Ii
ages. In the wake Of this the express
companies suddenly remembered sec
ton 2419 of the code, which reads as
I follows:
IF any express or railway company
or any common carrier, or person, or
any one as the agent or employe there
of, shall TRANSPORT or convey to any
I person within this state any intoxicat-
In liquors without first having been
furnished with certificate from the
clerk Of the court issuing the permit,
e showing that the consignee is a per-
!; init holder, and authorized to sell IL
4 quors in the county to which the ship
ment is made; such company, common
carrier, agent or employe thereof,
shall upon conviction be fined in the
I sum of one hundred dollars for each
ofense and pay the costs of prosecu-
4ion, including a reasonable attorneys
4 fee to be taxed by the court. The Of
Tense herein shall be held committed
and complete and to have been COM
united in any county within the state
In which the liquors are received for
transportation thru which they are
! transported or in which they are deliv-
cred. The defendant in prosecut ton
under this section may show by a
preponderance of the evidence as de-
Tense that the character, circumstances
and contents of the shipment Were not
known to him or that the person to
whom the shipment was made had
complied with the provisions of this
chapter relating to the mulct tax"
Among the counties in the territory
OF the Ottumwa dealers, and in which
there are persons operating under per.
mits are in compliance with the mulct
law are: Marion, Mahaska, Union
Iowa and apollo. The action of the
express companies shuts the Ottumwa
dealers off from their extensive trade
at Centeryille and the surrounding
towns, which they say means consid
cradle to them. All such places where
permits are not obtainable, or where
there are no dealers operating unde,
the provisions of the mulct law, are
now compelled to look to some city
outside the state Of Iowa for their sup
plv of beer, whisky, etc. Any deale,
T outside OF the state Of Iowa can shiI
II to them in any quantities, and The
express companies can carry it with
out yiolatin- the law. The local deal
ers say this is being practiced to thei,
great loss. and one of them this morn,
ing said il is his opinion that some