The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-12
Introduces a State Dispensary
Liquor Bill in the House.
Believes This is the Time to Re-
vive It.
WOULD HAVE NO PROFIT
Proposes That Liquor Should
Be Sold at Cost.
The Joints Therefore Could Not
Compete.

Mrs. Nations StOrTning OF the state
house and legislature and the present
anti-joint agitation has stirred the mar
tial blood Of a veteran Of the state
house war of 1893" Representative z. f.
Green, of Cowley, is the legislator and
he has renewed a movement for the
enactment OF a liquor law that died a
bornin in the exciting events of eight
years ago by introducing a state dis
pensary bin this morning.
In the famous Douglass house tenn
perance people were pressing for a state
dispensary law. But the prohibition
question faded out of sight at that time
in comparison with the bloodless but ex-
citing battles that ragged in, out and
around the legislative halls for posses
sion of it. Hence, although Mrs. Annie
Diggs and other nOn-com mbatants ap-s
proved and worked for the measure,
it never got very far advanced on the
upon it at all.
New that all Kansas is looking for
some escape from the deep shadow cast
by the universal disregard of its one
distinctive constitutional law, Mr.. Green
is moved to suggest something different
to have a chance for success, at least,
in place Of the present failures
Green's diSpenSary law IS not the
South Carolina law at all, Mr.. Green
wants 1t understood from the beginning
It is not intended to solve the rum
traffic from A to lizard. but he would
establish state dispensaries which
should operate under and in conjunction
with the prohibitory provision OF the
state constitution The draft Of his bill
is about completed and it provides for
the establishment of disDensarfes in
numerous precincts all through the
state, which shall deal out all of the
liquor that is to be lawfully sold in the
state. The scheme includes repeal of the
law whereby probate judges issue per-
n1itS to drug stores to sell liquors All
that is required for the three purposes
that are legitimate under the cOnstitu-
tion-medicina1, scientific and mechani-
cal-Would thus have to be secured at
the dispensaries. Grip and collie patients
would have to get their doses at the
dispensary and sign up for them-so
would the chemists and scientists. Drug
gists would be knocked out of their
sinecure and even be compelled to pur-
chase their chemically needed or per-
sonal supplies from the dispensaries-
Mr.. Green differentiateS his bill from
the South Carolina. statute by eliminat-
ing profits entirely. The stuff would be
dealt out at precisely the purchase price
plus the maintenance Of the stations and
salary of agents. Daylight business
hours only and the usual provisions
against selling to minors or habituaI
drunkards, with adequate bonds to hold
the agent, are also included
''The dispensaries would, of course, be
restricted to lawful sales only" said Mr.
Green, tas long as prohibition is in the
constitution. / would be for making a
general state dispensary law along these
lines, if the state were not prohibition.
But 1t is that way hard and fast. Joints
could not compete with dispensaries op-
Grated at cut prices coupled with the
dangers of smash that beset them while
the whole state is reused to its present
temper"
PROVISIONS OF THE LAW.
Following are the provisions of the
Section l.. The office of state dispen-
sary Of Intoxicating liquors is Hereby
created, which shall be filed by an Off
Ger to be known as the state dispenser
of intoxicating liquors. 1t shall be the
duty of such officer to purchase by
sealed bids, and keep in store, and dis
tribute all the Intoxicating liquors used
within the state. He shall be elected by
the people in like manner and like times
as other state officers, shall receive a.
salary of $1,000 per year. and shah give
bond for the faithful discharge of his
duties in the sum of $50,O00 to be ap-
proved in like manner as the bonds of
other state officers.
-1Sec. 2 The office of the local city
dispensary of Intoxicating liquors is
hereby created in each city, which shall
be filled by an officer to be known as
a. local city dispenser Of intoxicating
liquors Tt shall be the duty of each
local city dispenser to receive from the
state dispenser, and sell under his su-
pervision. all Intoxicating liquors sold
within his city He shall be elected by
the people OF the city in like manner as
of $50 per month for the first one thou
sand inhabitants or fraction thereof in
such city, and IS per month in addition
for each additional enc thousand in
habitants. and shall give bond for the
faithful discharge of his duties in a sum
equal to ten times the amount Of his
annual salary. He shall keep as many
places for the sale of Intoxicating
LIQUORS mot exceeding one in each war7)
as shall be designated by the state dis
penser, and they shall be so located as
to be of the greatest convenience to the /
people within the city and surrounding
country"