The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-02-15
PROPOSED LIQUOR BILL.
FEATURES OF MEASURE TO COME
BEFORE LEGISLATURE.
Differs Slightly From South Carolina
Law and is More Liberal-Claimed it
Will Pass

Home Rulers for presentation to the
legislature differs from the South Ca
folina law in several interesting parti-
culars. 1t is more liberal than the lat
ter law and in that is probably an i'm
provement upon it. The promoters OF
the bill have evidently deeply studied
the question as they have neatly gone
around all the principal obstacles en-
countered in. the Palmetto Sttte.
Aside from the fact that after a GER
tain date the Government of the Terri
tory will assume absolute control of the
hqour business. the next interesting
feature is that the saloons and whole
salers will be allowed time to dispose
of their stocks, and should any be left
over 1t is to be purchased by the gov
eminent. For instance, although the
bill provides that the system will go in
to effect the first of next July, it will
not as a matter of fact, do so until the
last existing license has expired. Should
the bill pass on March Is and a mans
license runs out on the 10th of that
month, ii will be renewed to July / and
Will then run out. Should it expire on
March IA, however, and a new license
for year is issued, this license will be
recognized and such saloon or whole
sale house as may possess it will be en-
titled to run right on to March IA,
1902.
Honolulu will be divided into four liz
quor districts and each of the islands
will also be divided in that manner.
Absolute local option will be given as
to whether there shall be dispensaries
o. not and as to the number. Any Ii
quor district of Honolulu may call an
election at any time and settle the
question at the polls. A unique feature
just there is that not only men but the
wives and daughters over q years of
age may vote. This rule will apply
throughout the group.
The dispensaries will have small
counters, or boxes, just long enough to
wait upon one person a a time resem-
bling the system of mail delivery at
the postoffice. A person applying for
liquors must fill out a blank which is
filed and recored. This application may
call for any amount, but only one APP
plication may be presented by the Same
person in a day. There is no credit
and everything is sold in sealed bottles.
All of the restrictions are aimed to act
as a check on the habitual saloon
counter drinker. A further restriction
on the worst class Of drunkards is that
they can not buy at all except upon a
certificate of physician that liquor is
necessary.
Hotels and restaurants may purchase
liquors for their customers, but must
deliver it in sealed packages to the
customers on the tables and sell it for
cost price, which is stamped on each
bottle.
Absolute protection is given the local
manufacture of liquor, for ones own
use 1q' for sale abroad, the only gauntlet
left TO be run being that of the United
States revenue laws. Sale locally ex-
cept to the government is prohibited
and the penalty is imprisonment; no
fine. This is an absolute protection to
the new brewery, and iB made more so
in another clause which prescribes that
as far as possible the Board of Control
shall purchase liquors from local ma
nufacturers, only going abroad when
the quality is not up to the standards,
the prices are too eXhorbitant or the
goods are not to be had. This part of
the bill may present one bad feature in
that 1T will permit every native in the
country to manufacture his own liquor
for his own use provided he does it
legally and makes liquors that come up
to the dispensary standard.
Wide latitude is given the Board of
Control as to profits. The only limita-
ton is that the profit shall not be over
eighty per cent. 1t is the idea of the
legislators that the most wholesome liz
quors should be sold just a little above
cost, while the worst or most damaging
kinds shall be run up to a high figure,
the object being, inasmuch as men will
urlnk, 10 pace the best in reach and tho
worst out of reach. The Board of
Health is made responsible for the
purity of every bottle, and the test of
the chemist is certified to on each.
The Board of Control is to consist of
three temperance men, appointed by
the Governor for two years at a salary
OF 81 per year, payable annually. I'm
der them will be a manager whose Office
and head dispensary is to be located in
Honolulu, although he will be required
to personally install and frequently in
spect country dispensaries. over each
dispensary is responsible head, who
must not be a drinker and may be a
man or a woman. He or she must make
detailed report monthly. turning over
all cash on hand to two objects named
in the bill.
The Board of Control takes the money
in hand and divides it into two equal
parts. Half of 1t goes to the district in
which the dispensary is located and
half into the public treasury for the
extension of education" in the islands.
The advocates of the bill claim a
large majority in both houses of the
legislature.