Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-09

ments Of these different institutions and
departments demand.
While keeping your appropriations
safely within your revenues, l bespeak
for all the state institutions, for your
whole educational system, your common
schools your normal schools. your col
leges and universities, your libraries, for
your Soldiers home. your boards or agrl-
culture and health. for your insane asy-
lum, your industrial school, your house
of correction. your State prison, just and
liberal treatment.
Wisely and generously administered,
such institutions are the best evidences
of an advanced and advancing civil
izaton.
TEMPERANCE LEGISLATION.
The verdict of the freemen of the State
on September 2 last was in favor OF the
General Assembly framing a local option
and high license law and submitting the
same to the people for their adoption or
rejection.
This duty will require the very best
efforts anh the most intelligent consider
alton of the members of the assembly.
For fifty years prohibition 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.
And primarily on this subject, it must
be borne in mind that all sumptuary
legislation must be supported by public
sentiment to be effectual
In framing a statute the General As
| sembly will have the benefit of the legis-
| lation on the subject of eight or ten
| of the other States. Experience is the
| very best guide.
In every State the difficulties arising
| from the United States internal revenue
| laws, from the freedom of interstate
| commerce guaranteed by the National
Constitution. and from the medicinal and
| industrial demand for alcohol. will al
ways embarrass the enforcement of any
| law.
Different States and different parts OF
the same Safe may require different
| treatment Unlike most of the States,
| Vermont has few manufa curing centres
or large municipalities; the great ma
| iority of her towns are rural and agricul-
tural.
| Massachusetts is more nearly similar
| to Vermont than any other State and
| from her legislation probably more valu-
able suggestions will be derived than
from any other source.
But in the legislation Of no one State
only, should we look for the best and
wisest provisions. and those most suit
able to the circumstances of our people.
| In any local option or license system,
| ii is worthy Of consideration, whether
| the vote on license or no license. should
| be taken in any town or municipality Of
tener than once In three or five years;
| whether il should not be taken at cleo
lions specially called for that purpose
and not at any regular election, State
or local. whether If license be voted. 1t
would not be wise to require the petition
of majority Of the property holders in
any block or square of a municipality be-
fore issuing a license: whether a ma
jority OF the legal voters of any town
or subdivision of n city should not Inc
allowed to demonstrate against licensing
or continuing the license of a specified
person: whether any license should be
granted for more than year; whether
the number of licenses where authorized
should not be limited to one for every
900 inhabitants and prohibited within &
limited distance of any church. schoo
house. theatre, opera house. public build
. ing park or other public place; whether
all licensees should not be required tc
give ample bonds, and every applicant
, for a license. furnish evidence of citizen
ship 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,
| 1t is of the utmost Importance tina
, courts and judges should be kept as fal
removed from politics as possible.
This matter of licensing, therefore
should be entrusted to some other dc
partment or to boards specially raised III
for that purpose and which boards
! should have stability and independence
There should be several grades of II
, cense fees depending on the size an,
, population of the towns or cities; ant
the traffice should be made to raise larg'
|
towns or municipalities.
Every licensee should he restricted from
selling to minors or intoxicated persons
q or on Sundays, election days, or an.
legal holidays, nor should he be allowed
D to furnish musical entertainment of an!
kind or billiards or cards or any gam
. whatever; and the place shold be wild
open to inspection from the street o
highway; and the hours should be strict
, ly limited, and the shorter the better
provided public sentiment supports thes
! restrictions.
. If druggists licenses are to be grantee
. at all, they should he entrusted only L
, registered pharmacists who should b
= authorized to sell only in small quaint
t 'eIoas aul ny pelseLeluI lou uuIoIsfud ]
: UopdyLosaJd uallIJM 9Vl no GIuo pug sol
\ sources. may be Of some value in form
ulating a proper statute to be submitte
: to the people for their adoption or re
lection.
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
= Many of the other States have sue
laws. and the enactment Of a simila
statute by Vermont would tend to secur
=, purity In nominations.
The caucus should be surrounded b
: the same safeguards as the election
The primary election should be held o.
= the same day and hour throughout tn
q State check lists should be provided; tn
choice should be by ballot and all tn
. precautions of the general election Lax
. should be extended to the primary cleo
: ton.
Y GOOD ROADS.
ject for the past ten years or more Il
this country, and Of the advanced actio
. taken in many of the States, and o
what has already been done in this Stat
. 1t cannot be necessary for me at an
y length to urge consideration and actio
on your part.
Nothing can add more to the prosperit
. of the State; nothing can serve to III
= farm values so materially; nothing ca
u bring summer tourists and residents t
settle and beautify an enrich our val
: leys so much as permanent road build
ing
'. | would not only urge the continuanc
of the present State tax. but ! woul
advise an increase of the same and eve
. more liberal treatment.
And in this connection and as a coro
g larry / would recommend that the Stat
begin system of elimination of grad