The Honolulu republican. [volume] (Honolulu, T.H.) 1900-1902, 1901-04-04

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IN conhics with public sentiment AZ
an times q strong force Of eonstabu-
larry. which may be systematically the
Governor. Il everywhere at work fer.
reting out violations OF the ia~. watch
Ing railroad stations. steamboat land
ings. express Offices and other avenues
Of commerce Barrels and boxes. APP
parently containing -four. groceries and
other merchandise. are frequently
searched for liquor, much TO the annoy
ance Of the ovrerx
Fourth-Having learned from exter-
siyeiy signed petitions that large
number Of the electors are opposed to
this Law. We deem 1t expedient that op-
portunity be afforded for full and free
discussion and TO gauge public opinion
hereon. more particularly by reason OF
the fact that at the time Of the last Ter
ritorial election, the liquor question
was not mooted in any party platform.
Fifth-To enact under these eircum-
stances law so radical and far reach
ing in its effects without first giving
the electors an opportunity to express
themselves thereon would be unduly
arbitrary.
Sixth-the Supreme Court Of the
State Of South Carolina has rendered
majority decision that the dispensary
law, as existing in that State. is un-
constitutional This was afterwards
reversed by change in the personnel
of the bench. The United States Su-
preme Court has declared that these
provisions Of the South Carolina dis
pensary law which forbid citizens of
the State to import liquors for their
own use are in contravention Of the In
terstate commerce clause Of the United
States Constitution, and therefore in
valid. But the question as whole has
yet to be passed upon by that last nam
ed tribunal. Therefore, while the mat
ter is sub-judica, we think it inadvis-
able to add a similar law to the statutes
Of this Territory.
Seventh-The unrestricted manufac-
ture of wine and beer would. it Is
thought, be liable to abuse, as it would
be fmpracticable to watch the disposal
of the entire product, which wouH
from no definite source. The
limiting Of the percentage of profit
would reduce prices below their present
standard, and might therefore be ex-
pected to increase the consumption.
This view is confirmed by the expert
,nce of South Carolina, where statistics
show an enormous increase In the con-
sumption under the dispensary law, the
sales having Increased from about |
500, 900 in 1894 to $2.421,S $40 last year.
The condemnation OF liquor by the
Board of Health would preclude its
by the government and
would have the effect Of throwing 1t
ipon the hands Of the producer. whose
,nly legal alternative would be the ex-
,ort of it. Finding no remunerative
'oreign market available, which we
.hink probable, a premium would
hereby be offered to Illicit selling. |
While the maintenance of any club |
house or like place for the distribution |
II intoxicants for profit is expressly |
prohibited we believe it would be found |
in many cases to detect this
,tense, which might be expected to be |
argely carried on in private dwellings. |
Eighth-The tourist traffic in these |
stands Is an increasingly prominent |
eature of local commerce, and the eff
ect upon it Of a dispensary system |
iuch as that proposed must not be lost |
light of. We are convinced that this |
raffic would be seriously hampered |
hereby, as the typical tourist out for |
,leasure and recreation will not sub |
nit to be deprived of his customary |
timulant served in the way he has |
,een familiar with; and the result will |
,e that very large proportion of the |
ourist travel will be diverted into |
'ther channels. In this way trade con-
litions so largely dependent thereon
viii be disturbed. involving financial |
Ninth-It is our opinion that the sum |
4 5000. 900 which it is proposed to ap-
,ropriate in order to give effect to the
PROVISIONS of this law would not be |
for that purpose, or even near
y so. It might possibly be sufficient to |
over the purchase OF stock. the en-
,loyment Of officials. and incidental |
xpenses, but it would not defray the |
expenses OF additions to the police force |
these were found necessary upon
.nything approaching the scale that
hey have been in South Carolina. But |
bove all. when counting the cost, the |
question Of compensation must not be |
ost sight Of Such eminent jurists as
bradley, Field. Cooley, Brewer and 9TH |
+ Judges of the United States Supreme
,ourt have declared in language the |
OF which cannot be mistaken |
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