Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-20

The chances are that the people of the
rural towns will prefer some other date
for a vote than that named in the major
ity report, which would call them to the
polls in severe winter weather when the
roads might be impossible. Objection will
also be made by some to voting upon the
referendum measure in connection with
political contests, the argument having
been advanced that politics should not
become mixed UP with this question. The
people of cities can vote upon the matter
at one time ms well as another, but the
chances are that residents of towns will
prefer a date when the roads will be in
| good condition
We may remark In passing that both the
Battell and the subcommittee measures
are local option bills. but the Battell bill
is not high license measure. The Battell
| bill provides that each town shall vote
annually on the question whether a State
store for the sale of intoxicating liquor
shall be opened; whether registered phar-
macsts shall be licensed to sell intoxicat-
| ing liquor and whether hotel keepers shall
be licensed to sell intoxicating liquor, serv-
| ing light wines or malt liquors to guests.
The State store under certain conditions
can sell light wines and malt liquors to be
drunk on the premises, and sell to drug
gists and hotels In sealed packages guar
anteed to be pure. In the larger towns
there can not be more than one State store
for each 5000 inhabitants, and the profits
go to the State treasury.
The majority bill provides for the sub
mission of two questions to voters at each
annual election, in case the bill becomes a
law. The first is whether license shall be
granted for the sale of liquors of all
kinds; and the second is whether license
shall be granted for the sale of beer or
matted liquors only.
There are seven classes of licenses. The
first class license is to sell intoxicating
liquors of all kinds to be drunk on the
premises, the fee being not less than $500
nor more than 1920. The second class is
TO sell intoxicating liquor not to be drunk
on the premises, the fee being $500. The
third class is to sell malt liquors, cider
and light wines to be drunk on the prem
Uses; fee $3.50. The fourth class is to sell
Intoxicating liquors by the wholesale; fee
$1,000 The fifth class is to sell intoxicat t.
ing liquors for medicinal purposes only;
fee not less than so. The sixth class is to
sell intoxicating liquor in summer hotels;
the fee to be an amount proportioned ac'
cording to its duration to the fees for
licenses Of the first class. The seventh
class is to sell malt liquors. cider and light
ntea- foe
not less than $3.50,
The usual requirements in relation 10
the sale of liquor only in the room IL
censed, without screens at the windows
and without other doors than those open
ing on the street are provided in the case
of barrooms: and the dealer must give a
bond of 5000 with two good bondsmen
In the case of infraction of the law there
are penalties of fine or Imprisonment OF
both, and the forfeiture of the license in
! certain events. Constables, policemen
, sheriffs and deputy sherifs are required to
J take oath periodically in relation to the
, enforcement of the law.
1t is provided that the number of H.
censes in a town voting therefor shall
| IIul tHNttl oilc lOl eetOii oic NHptSuiN, VI
the larger fraction thereof as ascertained
by the last preceding census; and in towns
, Of less than 100 inhabitants the number
, of licenses issued shall be determined by
the board of license commissioners, not
, exceeding two licenses for any such towns
one of which shall be Of the second class
Any person who sells or furnishes oil
, keeps for sale intoxicating liquor without
, o license is to be punished by fine of MOI
, less than $500 or be imprisoned not less
than three nor more than twelve months
, or both A dealer who allows a minor tC
loiter on his premises is liable to a fin'
of 800, and a similar penalty follows eacl
g sale of liquor to a drunkard after receip
of notice not to sell to the same. Provi
sion is made for the recovery of civil dam
ages from dealers in cases of intoxicate,
persons inhicting or receiving injury an,
the owner or lessor of the premises /
made jointly liable
5 We have here summarized some of tn
= chief features of the measure, which thos
e so disposed can study at length in on
news columns. Concerning comparativ
! merits of the various measures under con
A sideraton we shall have more to sa
= | later on