The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1902-02-28
THE PROPOSED LICENSE LAW.

| With this week S issue we SenQ out
a supplement containing the pro-
posed license law which the Legisla-
ture will be asked topass this winter.
Petitions are now in circulation and
we understand are being freely signed
by our residents many ofwhom have
heretofore favored the local option
law. There seems to be a feeling
that the latter is now so universally
disregarded that some change is
necessary. The law appears tohave
been carefully drawn and seems to
cover every point of this vexatious
question. 1t is circulated in this
manner to call to the particular at
tention of every one its different pro-
visions and thereby enable them to
criticise or make suggestions in any
point wherein they think the pro-
posed measure is weak. We hope
that it will receive careful perusal
and that the question will be settled
in a manner that will be acceptable
to every one.
"The principal provisions of the bill
call for the submission Of the ques-
ton to the voters at the next
regular election, which will not
entail any unnecessary expense upon
the taxpayers. The question is to
be submitted separately in each
precinct in the county and those
which declare for license will the
benefit of the money thus collected to
be expended upon the public roads
of the precinct wherein the money is
collected. The bill provides that
license shall be issued only to hotel
keepers and before it is granted the
person desiring the same must file
with the clerk a petition signed by at
least twelve freeholders, outside of
an incorporated town, or eight free
holders within the limits of an incor-
porated town, who shall certify
that the applicant is proper person
to be licensed. With said petition
shall also be filed bond in the penal
sum of $4,000 which shall be liable
for the payment of all fines, penalties
and costs to which the person obtain
ing same may be liable for, by reason
of any violation of the provisions of
the act. After public notice has been
given that the person has applied for
the license the Court shall fix a day
in which to hear petitions both for
and against the issuing of the same,
and if the Court shall deem that
the license is not necessary for the
accommodation of the public, or that
the petitioner is not fit person to
whom a license shall be granted, the
Court shall refuse the same. The
license can be revoked at any time in
the judgment of the Court without
indictment. The applicant is re-
quired to make affidavit that he will
bona fde comply with the provisions
of the law and the Court is required
to have the premises, whereon the
liquor is proposed to be sold, inspect
ed by some competent person who
shall certify in writing whether or
not the provisions requiring the place
to be licensed, to be regular hotel;
nor shall license be issued until the
Court is satisfied that the room
wherein the liquors are proposed to
be sold shall be on or adjacent to
some public street or highway. Not
more than three licenses shall be
issued in any incorporated town or
within the limits of one mile thereof.
The room, in which the liquors are
to be sold, shall be so constructed as
to allow an unobstructed view from
the outside so that passersby can
easily see all that is transpiring in
said room which is to be so lighted
between the hours of sunset and SUM-
rise as to allow an outsider to see
what is transpiring therein. Any
person who shall buy any liquor from
a person not licensed is subjected to
punishment. No license shall be
granted to person under twenty
one years nor shall any female or
minor be employed as agent or
clerk. 1t is also unlawful to sell
liquor to a minor or to any per-
son against whom a notice has been
filed by a kinsman not more remote
than parent, brother, sister, child
or wife. Said notice to be in writing
and to state that the person named
therein is addicted to the use of
liquors in excessive quantities and at
times is unfit to control himself. 1t
shall not be lawful for any person to
sell liquors directly or indirectly or
oive awav the same betw een the hours