Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-10-10
Gen. McCuIIouqh's inaugural.


The oath Of office was administered to
Gen Mccullough. at his inauguration
last Friday morning. by Judge John II.
Watson of the supreme court. His In
augural message was very brief. After
speaking of the early history of Vermont
and the quality of self-reliant manhood
which II developed. and of the character
istics of our constitutional law, he took
up the subject Of temperance legislation
and said
THE verdict of the freemen of the
state on September last was in favor
of the General Assembly framing n local
option and high license law and submit
ting the same to the people for their
adoption or rejection. This duty will re-
auire the very best efforts and the most
Intelligent consideration of the members
of the assembly. For fifty years pro-
hibition has been the policy Of the state.
The mandate comes up now from the
people to their legislators commanding
them to formulate and to submit to them
for their decision some other system.
This is the Anglo-Saxon. the American
method 1t is the rule of the majority.
Ara primarily on this subject. II must
be borne in mind that all sumptuary
legisla ton must he supported by public
sentiment to be effectual.
I'm framing a statute the General
Assembly will have the benefit of leGis-
lation on the subject of eight or ten
of the other states. Experience is the
very best guide. Massachusetts is more
nearly similar to Vermont than any
other state and from her legislation prob
ably more valuable suggestions VIII ne
derived than from any other source. Bat
in the legislation of no one state only.
should we look for the best and wtsest
provisions. and those most suitable to
the circumstances OF the people.
I'm any local option or license system,
1t is worthy of consideration, whether
the vote on license or no license. should
he taken in any town or municipality
oftener than once in three or five years;
whether II should not be taken al cleo
lions specially called for that purpose
and not at any regular election, state
or local; whether II license be voted, II
would not be wise to require the petl-
ton of majority of the property hold
ers in any block or square of munich
pality before issuing license: whether
a majority of the legal voters of any
town or subdivision of city should not
be allowed to demonstrate against IL
censing or continuing the license OF a
specified person; whether any Incense
should be granted for more than n year:
whether the number of licenses where
authorized should not be limited to one
for every 1000 inhabitants, and prohibited
within a limited distance of any church,
schoolhouse, theatre opera house. pubic
building park or other public place;
whether all licensees should not be re-
uuired to give ample bonds. and every
| applicant for n license furnish evidence
| OF citizenship and good character.
"As to the licensing body or authorities
| it has been well said that judicial purity
| and reputation for purity are far more
| important than discreet licensing III
| is OF the utmost Importance that courts
| and judges should be kept as far re-
ell
matter of licensing, therefore, should
| be entrusted to some other department
or to boards specially raised up for that
| purpose, and which boards should have
stability and independence. There
should be several grades of license fees
depending on the size and popula'
ton of the towns or cities; and the traffic
| should be made to raise large revenues
! for both the state and the towns OF
municipalities.
| every licensee should be restricted
| from selling to minors or intoxicated per
sons, or on Sundays, election days OF
| any legal holidays, nor should he be al
lowed to furnish musical entertainment
| of any kind or Billiards or cards or any
games whatever; and the place should
| he wide open to inspection from the
| street or highway: and the hours should
1 be strictly limited, and the shorter th'
better provided public sentiment sup
| ports these restrictions II druggists
| licenses are to be granted at all, the,
should be entrusted only to registered
pharmacists who should be authorized t.
sell only in small quantities and onl!
on the written prescription of physi
clan not interested in the store.
These suggestions gathered from
many sources, may be of some value Il
formulating a proper statute to be SUD
mitted to the people for their adoption
rejection"
length, Endorsement was given to tn
enactment of a caucus law. The i'm
portance of good roads was urged an
the continuance or increase of the pres
emit state tax for this maintenance. L
this connection Gov. Mccullough recon
mended that the state begin a system o
elimination OF grade crossings of bot
steam and ele, trio roads and the high
ways.
These were the closing paragraphs o
! the message:
at seems to me- without unjustly O
improperly burdening any interest, tina
all the expenses of the state govern
! ment can be raised by indirect taxation
and relieve real estate entirely, and
! recommend this subject to the intell
gent consideration of the Legislature.
"In conclusion, permit me to expires
! the hope and the expectation, that 20
will prosecute your legislative labor
with all diligence; and that the resu
may be the passage OF a few wise an
!. well considered measures redounding
! the welfare and prosperity of the stat
whose best interests We are all anxiou
{ to promote"