Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-23

overwhelming.
The democratic members of the Legisla-
ture will favor the immediate substitu-
ton of local option for prohibition without
referring the matter to the people, and it
is understood that some other members
will join with them in supporting such a
measure, but the supporters Of referen-
dunn are counting on a safe majority for
measure referred as was the present
prohibitory law.
If a majority of the people were found
to favor the law it would take effect on a
certain date next year; but if a majority
were opposed to the change ii would take
effect on a date following the next session
of the Legislature, which would make it
possible to repeal the measure before 1t
went into operation. This referendum
would be just as constitutional manifest
ly as was that which resulted in the
adoption of prohibition
1t is reported that some Of the seeding
republicans will hlibuster in order to pre-,
vent the settlement of the question at the
present session of the Legislature and
thus secure an opportunity to make an
other campaign on this issue two years
from the present time Any scheme of
this character will react as powerfully as
would any attempt on the part of prohibit
tionists to doctor the referendum; for
it would show that they were not sincere
and their subterfuge would surely face
them, If they attempted to repeat their
campaign on that issue
All of the measures introduced in the
Legislature have their good points as well
as their weak and Objectionable features
ana some of these have already been con-
sidered in these columns. All of the local
option bills introduced so far embrace
some OF the chief provisions of the Massa-
chuset,s law. Tie bill introduced by Rep
resentative Conland of Brattlehoro. which
is the democratic BILL embodes features
that differ materially from those of all
other measures, and these differences have
been eXceilently summarized by Mr.. c. H.
Davenport in the Brattleboro Reformer
DR. Commands bill provides two questions
for local option, whether there shall be
general liquor licenses or only for the
sale of beer
The Russell bill provides for three kinds
Of licenses, retail licenses to sell LIQUOR
u all kinds, wholesale and druggists IL
censes. the sum to be paid being respec-
lively 1900. 500 and 500 The Peck bill
provides for five classes Of licenses as fol-
lows: To sell liquor of all kinds to be
drunk ON the premises. ST. 200; not to be
drunk on the premises. $500. to sell wines
and beer only to be drunk on the premises
$40; druggists, $40. In towns of less than
po0 population these licenses are to be
halved and in towns of less than 90 are to
be quartered, The Peck bill also provides
for summer hotel licenses at 500 for a
house OF fifty beds and 800 for each addi-
tional fifty
The Conland bill fixes licenses for gen
eral LIQUOR business at from 500 to LOO,
In the discretion of the licensing board.
Licenses for the sale of beer and wine only
are fixed at $3.50. The sale of any kind of
liquor not to he drunk on the premises
will necessitate a license OF $500. Whole
salers, breweries and distilleries are to
pay an annual license of $lOo, and drug
gists are to pay S. a year and $50 per
month.
The Russell bill provides that licenses
shall be granted By the selectmen of
towns or the mayor and board of alder
men of cities The Peck bill would create
a county board to be elected on the county
ticket to grant licenses The Conland bill
would have a licensing board appointed by
the sclectmen or the city government, rep
resenting both political parties, the mem
bcrs being required also to see that the
provisions of the licenses they grant are
enforced during the year and prosecute
lnfractons of the same.
The three bills give one-half of the
license fees to the State, but the Conland
law directs that the money shall be dis
tributed to towns for the construction of
permanent highways certified to be such
by the State highway commissioner, Still
another bill has been introduced which
gives all of the fees to the State.
AS regards druggists the Conland bill
grants licenses in towns voting against
the general sale of liquor, but
allows sales only for medical purposes on
prescription or sworn affidavit and re-
quires these to be preserved I'm a book,
doubly indeXed by the name of the ply
| stefan and purchaser and to be delivered
| once a month to the county clerk who
| must keep a summarized record of the
contents The druggist must take oath
each month that he has made no sales ex-
cept those shown by these books, and if
| he Is found to have falsihed or violated
the conditions, he forfets a bond of ST. 900
and his registry as a pharmacist. Tho
physician who gives false prescription
Is subject to a fine of 500 Amy druggist
who wants to sell liquor otherwise must
take out the corresponding license.
The Russell and Peck bills provide that
sales by druggists shall be made for medi-
cal purposes only or on prescription, and
that the preserved prescriptions may be
examined by officials, but provides no
way to compel such examination.
Bonds are required by all these bills, but
the Conland bin differs from the others
In requiring that an penalties for viola