The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-02-17
'COFFiN TACKS"
HAMMERED HARD
A Parent Can Sue a Firm for
Selling to His Son.
NO CIGARETTE TO MINORS
Senators Throw Light Of Biblical Re-
search on Divorces.
Mr.. BR0UGHT0N AGAINST B0:H EVILS
The Brown Anti Cigarette lin Passed Its
Second Reading. interesting Debate on
Divorce Laws but Vote PoStpon
Until Wednesday.

Until Wednesday.
Minors cannot obtain cigarettes or ci-
gazette paper in this State if the bill
which passed its second reading in the
Senate yesterday is enacted into law
The measure was subjected to many
| amendments.
| The bill, with the amendments, as it
| finally passed reads thus:
Sec. /. That it shall be unlawful for
! any person, firm or corporation to sell
or offer TO sell. give, buy for, or offer
to buy for any person, or persons under
. the age of Il years III this State any
| cigarettes, cigarette paper or any sub
stltute therefor. The father, or
| IL be dead, the mother, guardian
! or employer of any minor to whom a
sale rgift shall be made in violation
of this act, shall have n right of action
| in civil court against the person or
| persons so offending by such sale or
| gift and upon proof OF such Illicit sale
or gift shall recover from such party
on parties SO offending such exemplary
damages as a jury may assess; provided
that such assessment shall not be less
| than $50. And each retail dealer in CT.
| garettes shall pay tax of 500 annually
| to go to the school fund, to be collected
| by the sheriffs and as taxes on retail
| dealers in cigars are collected under.
| the act to raise revenue
| Sec. 2. That any person violating the
| provision of this act shall be guilty of.
a misdemeanor and upon conviction
| shall be fined or imprisoned or both al
| stitute therefor.
When the bill came up Senator Dula
suggested that if be deferred but on
Senator Browns objection withdrew his
motion
Senator Alexander asked il the word
ing cigarettes, cigarette paper or any
substitute therefor" would not keep
merchant who sold tobacco from handl-
ing paper of any kind. He merely
wanted to be assured on the point for
! he was as much opposed to cigarettes
in the hands of minors as any one. SEN,
ator Justice said that he did not think
such construction could be placed
upon it.
AMENDMENTS PROPOSED.
Senator Woodland sent an amendment
to strike out 81 years and insert II.
promise bill; he was not satisfied with
it. but he had not insisted on his origi-
nal bill prohibiting their sale in the
State. Mr.. Woodlands amendment would
injure the bill, virtually Kill it,
Senator Woodland replied that he was
opposed TO cigarettes, but he thought
the present statute against their sale
10 boys sufficient. If a boy at seventeen,
has not begun the use of tbacco he is
not likely to. He was opposed to laws
that accomplish nothing; that try vain
~ to legislate morals into the people. He
then read the law of 1891 against ci-
garettes and said it was TO enable par
ents to more effectually control their
children, but it had been a dead letter.
He had never known an indictment un-
der that amply strong statute.
Senator Ward said there was law
against the sale of liquor to minors and
it provided that the parent or guardian
could bring action and recover damages
from the dealer who sold to the minor.
That provision should be incorporated
into this bill, for surely cigarettes to
mere boy were even more injurious than
whiskey. AS q rule he was opposed TO
laws trying to legislate morals into peo-
pie. but such acts as this are only to
help parents to guard and protect their
children.
Senator Woodard's amendment to
make the bill apply only TO boys UNI
der II was lost.
Senator Wards amendment empower
ing parents to bring suit against the
seller was accepted
Senator Alexander wanted a premium
OF $40 placed on arrests made under the
law Senators Vann and Justice said
they could not support that amendment.
SENATOR BROWN DEFENDS THE
BILL.
Senator Brown said that he wanted
| the stringent bill introduced at the first
of the session, but he had consented to
this bill because he believed that q tax
Of $40 would be placed on all cigarette
dealers and that would put the business
in the hands of a few merchants in each
town so the traffic could be easily con-
trolled by the authorities.
Senator AleXanders amendment read
each officer making arrests shall upon
conviction be paid $10." 1.-The %resent
law was not enforced and this will not
be unless such an inducement is offer
ed" said Senator Alexander.
Senator Gudger said he feared that
the Legislature was trying to legislate
morals into people and doing that back
wards. The State allows the great COM