Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-20
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY.
The New Liquor Law and What the
People of Vermont Expect.
(Trom the BrattIeboro Phoenixl


oucnce two bills were reported yester-
day, ono representing the majority of 10
members of the committee, and the other
a minority of t. members.
The bill of the majority Is n straight
llcense-local- option-referendum bill, and
the other is a bill following almost liter
ally the lines of MIR. Battelrs state stores
or State dispcnsary bill. The facts are
given In substance I'm our legislative cor
respondence. We believe that the major
ivy or the committee are in the right, as
representing by their action the work
which 1t was explicitly understood that
this LEGISLATURE was set TO do in the mat
ter Of liquor legislation. The demand of
those who do not believe in the prohibi-
tory law was for the enactment of a
license law. and the pledge of the repub-
ltcan platform was to favor the enact
mont of a local-option-license law to be
submitted to referendum vote of the
people.
1t is due the minority of the committee
to say that their action was based main
~ on these facts, as we understand: The
license bill OF the majority was made up
bv subcommittee, composed entirely
OF friends of license; the license bill pro
vidos, for vote to be taken the frs.
Tuesday In January--a date which the
minority think not favorable to bring
out the fun vote of the hill and country
towns; the minority believe that the ma
Jority Of the people of Vermont do not
want Omen saloons, and that the Battell
oil gives all the opportunity to obtain
liquors which the people want. In their
view this bill combines the license and
local option ideas with the dispensary svs-
tom. 1t provides for State stores for the
selling Of liquors UP to IL per cent of al
cohol, allows hotels to furnish, at public
tables and to guests in rooms. and per-
mits drug stores to sell in original pack
ages with unhroken seals on physicians
prescriptions. if 4 town votes yes.
There is no question on the part of
many friends Of license that the Battell
bill has very excellent features, and that
II would be. in many respects the ideal
liquor law Tor a State like Vermont If
II were eNpcdient or possible to give the
people OF the State an opportunity TO say
whether they would have this law or
straight license law. it might be good
thing to do. But ms the case stands. the
pledge to the people to be redeemed is to
give them n chance to say whether they
viii have high license with local option.
1t is to be hoped on all accounts that
wise counsels will prevail in the Legisla-
tufc and that no partisan or factional
contest will develop which will prevent
Just and satisfactory and SO far as this
biennial term is concerned a final settle
mont of this one leading question.
VERMONT AND LIQUOR LEGIsLA-
TlON.
From the Bennington Banner)
RIGHT In line with The Banners re-
marks last week comes a thoughtful edi-
tortIl In the Troy Times upon the same
subject After paying Governor McCul-
Tough high tributc.-which is appreciated
by bennington people irrcspcctive of the
results of tire late campaign locally-tho
lincs proceeds to consider the liquor
propiefh' now before the Legislature. In
SO doing the reference is to the Raines
law in orcration in the Empire State.
rather than to that n effect in Nassa-
but il is best to consider both
sides and all sides of ar issue Of this i'm
poftanc". AS candid contribution to
the general discussion, We give it place.
as follows:
The people of Vermont within the last
SIX months have manifested by unnis-
taxable signs their determination to do
away with the prohibitory system with
regard TO the hquor traffic That system
mas b"en the parent of deceit and has al
most made the Green Mountain blush
Tor the oIfenses which were committed
not in the name of liberty but in the
name Of repression.
lion J. G. M"Culloueh. who was
elected governor, clearly saw and wa,
iralklN committed to the necessity for
lcElslatlCn on the question of proper treat
n"nt OF the liquor problem. In his first
message to the Vermont LEGISLATURE Gov
rrnor McCuliourh brings up tho question
Of liquor laws. ana by the amDlitude If
hia suggestion shows that he has been
milking deeply and thoroughly upon the
matter. While he recognizes that action
must come from the LEGISLATORS them |
selves Governor McCullough suggests
various considerations that indicate the
reno OF ms own mind as to the proper
form OF any laws that may be adopted |
II seems iIir to assume from tho Gov
'rnor's language that no thinks the voins
by towns and municipalities on license |
n no license should bc taken at special |
lecuonS, th't property holders should !
nave something to say on the sale of |
liquor in their immediate ncighborhood /
nat licenses should he brief in tern, |
United in number and restricted as ia |
places IF sale within certain distances of |
schoolhouses and other puhlic |
lulldlnFS. and that license fees should |
)e graduated and made to produce a large
nhlir revenue. Apparently Governor
Mccullough has been studying the liol1or
avs OF New York State, for many points
II his suggestions are harmonious with
he regulations imposed by the Iogisla
ure IN this state. The immense service
q public treasures and ADVANTAGES to
general order produced by what is com
monty known az the Raines law with its
'irlouS alnt moments in this state NAV
we'll attract the admiring attention of
'ther commonwealths.
Governor Mccullough is opposed to
'lacing the power of license with the
udros OF Vermont, as he holds that sen
rate boards should be created and that
he courts should be removed as far as
possible from the details of LICENSING
places where liquor is to be sold
vermont will do well to take I'M
promptly, and act with vigor and vet with
Federation upon the recommendations
made by the distinguished governor of
he state. There is nothing SO hostile to
he spirit of law as n law that Is not en-
orcod, and the prohibitory statute i'm
ermont is in that class Laws must be
made as expressions and not repressions
# popular sentiment. and though the laws
nay lose some OF their ideal beauty in the
'rocoss they will gain to a much greater
iegree in real efficiency and educative
'oWtr"
A GREAT DEAL DEPENDS
N'rom the Barre Times)
The liquor legislation which has IN to
he present been in a more or less chaotic
tate has finally assumed tangible form
n the presentation of the license measure