Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-06

practical and satisfactory form. If on the
other hand local option is to take the
place of state prohibition, then all classes
of good citizens will want the best possible
law of that character formulated. No
matter what our liquor legislation is to
be. Vermont is entitled to the best law
of the kind that can be drawn.
We have already made a comparison
of the provisions of the chief license meas
biased manner of their comparative
merits, expressing the belief that the ref
erendum would ombody the best features
of all the local option bills. no matter
by whom they were framed. We desire
to present to our readers this week a
summary of the chief provisions OF the
Ross bill, which was introduced by SEN
ator Walbridge of Essex county and
which is practically the present pro-
hlbitory law modified and having some
of its recent additions eliminated.
BY the terms of the Ross bill not to ex-
coed ten liquor agencies are to be estab
ished in each county at such points as
will best accommodate the inhabitants.
for the sale of Intoxicating liquors for
medicinal, chemical and mechanical pur-
poses. The sale of liquor is to be carried
on under the direction of "A State commits
missioner instead of county commits
sioner, as at present. and beside purchas-
ing al liquors he is to appoint agents Of
the State who are to have charge of the
agencies. The purity of the liquor sold is
to be determined by an expert chemist Sc
ected by the State commissioner and the
liquor is to be sold without profit or loss
accrung therefrom to the State The
State commissioner is to fix the price at
which liquor is sold and keep an itemized
account of the deliveries to the agencies.
The State commissioner who is to be elect
ed bi-ennially, is to receive a salary of
s. 900, and he is prohibited from receiving
a gift, fee, commission, rebate or reward
in consideration of the purchase of any
liquor made by him, under penalty of a
fine of from ST. 900 to s., go and imprson-
ment for one year.
There are provisions intended to prevent
the agents in charge Of the agencies from
abusing their position and sales for other
than medicinal, chemical or mechanical
purposes render the agent liable to prose-
cution for Illegal selling under the statute.
The agents are to give a bond for double
the value of the intoxicating liquor placed
in their charge, and the same is to be for
fcited. if the agent sells contrary to his
oath of Office. The agents are TO pay to
the State treasurer on the first of each
month all receipts from sales, and their
salaries are not to be dependent upon the
amount of sales The penalty for secur-
ing or trying to secure liquor from agents
under false representations is fixed at so
to $50 instead of so.
It is provided that in liquor prosecutions
no prosecution shall be directed against
witnesses who incrimnate themselves by
their testimony except the respondents.
The statute making the payment of the
salaries of States attorneys dependent
upon tho faithful performance of their du-
ties is repealed, as are also the provisions
giving justices of peace concurrent juris-
kictiOn relating to disclosure Of intoXicat-
ed persons; relating to injunctions direct
ed against nuisances and properties in
which they are located and making tho
holding of United States revenue certiii-
Gates prima facie evidence against per-
sons holding them, and other statutes
conflicting with the purpose of this act.
There may be differences of opinion
among the advocates of prohibition in the
Legislature in relation to the repeal of
some OF these provisions, but the fact that
ex-Judge Ross who has had abundant ex-
poriencc in connection with cases involV
ing the enforcement of the prohbitory
law and who is an ardent champion Of
prohibition, Is in favor of these changes
will probably have no little weight with
the legislators who favor that method of
restricting the traffic in intoxicating LID
uor