Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-10-23
HEARING ON LICENSE BILLS
Tuesday Evening Expected the Joint
Committee on Temperance Will
Draft New Bill House asses
Bill Extending Deer Season.

was started several DIS were lntrOuuC-
ed in both houses. Considerable routine
work was accomplished and after adj
yournmont the committees having bills
in their hands went at once to work.
The bill to prevent corrupt practices in
matters relating to elections. introduced
in the Senate by Senator Emery, was a
child born of the recent campaign in Yer
mont. 1t provides that no person shall
to promote a nomination in caucus. con-
NcntiOn, or by nomination paper, direct
lS or indirectly give, pay, eNpcnd, con-
tribute, or promise any money or other
valuable thing except for personal eNpen-
SEES as follows; Travel, printing, writing
or preparing letters. circulars, or other
publications. not issued at regular inter-
walls, stationery postage telegraph tolls
telephone or messenger tolls and other
petty personal expenses. Publishers of
newspapers must not support candi-
date for compensation, direct or Indirect
Penalty for violation Of this act not less
than 500 fine for each violation.
The House passed the bill extending
open season for deer to November Is. Mr..
lnnoy of Bridgcwatcr tried to tack on
the amendment which would allow the
killing of both buck and doc in the open
season but the House sat down on his
proposition with numbering no The
bill goes to the Senate in the original
form.
1
The joint committee on temperance
gave u public hearing this evening In
Representative hail on the license bills
now bcfurc the Legislature. Notwith
standing the rain the hall was well I'LL
cd. Senator Emery Of Chelsea, chairman
of the Senate contingent of the commit
t.. presided. No one having asked of the
committee the privilege of being heard
a general invitation to discuss the mea-
sures was extended.
The Rev. w. X. Davenport principal
of Montpelier Seminary was the first
speaker. Mr. Davenport favored state
liquor agency but thought this control
of the sales should be placed in the
hands of three men instead Of one as
provided in the bills He thought the
salary of the license commissioners
should not in any way depend upon the
humber of licenses issued. The commits
sioners would he much less susceptible
10 undue influence if they had a stated
salary. Mr.. Davenport criticized the
provision of the bill introduced in the
House by Mr.. Peck Of Brandon whereby
druggists can sell any amount Of alco-
hOl for mechanical or medicinal purposes
30 long as the purchaser signs book to
be kept by the druggist. also the sec
ton providing that no saloon shall be
within 400 feet of a school house or
church
He thought the distance should be not
less than quarter of a mile Mr.. DaV-
export would also amend the section
which provides that the saloon keeper
snail not sell TO person uhnef II years
OF age making IL y years me section
Of the Peck bill which provides the only
penalty for Illegal selling of liquor under
a license law shall be forfeiture of IL
quor seized was severely criticized by
Mr.. Davenport in closing. The law
should he made much more drastic along
these INES
me ReV. rather ID. D. SULLIVAN the
representative from 81. Adams city ana
Il member or the CONT committee on tenn
perance, thanked Mr. Davenport for his
suggestions TO the committee ana eN-
planned some OF the provisions of the
blll as understood by the committee
winch hardly warranted the criticisms
of Mr.. Davenport.
contrary 10 expectations the number
Of persons who desired to be heard by
inc committee was very small. Chair
man Emery and Chairman Bailey OF the
House members Of III" committee, made
IN" invitation t" address IN" committee
general but those who favored or opposed
Hcelse were dlihdont
FANORS STATE, tTor-oP AcL,NCv
co.ot,. ,,.o,,...i,..- - l,-..,
member of the committee favored the
I'M drafted by ex-senator Jonathan
iN'TS ''A 81. JbIlUSDlIA IlONlNllH Tor q
State liquor agency and took issue with
MI Davenport in his statement that
making one man responsible for tho sale
If all the liquor in the state was putting
too much power In the hands of one man.
senator Walbridgc said the prohihitory
law in the past has suffered at the
hands of It's friends who during every
Legislature Tor the post two decades
have tackled on amendments until the
law has become obnoxious
Representative Vaughan of Pomfret
expressed himself in favor Of the prohi-
htorY law as it is to-day. minus some
of the later amendments. As town IL
quor agent he very rarely had occasion
10 complain to the town grand juror. He
believed the prohibitory law was all
right but its enforcement in Vermont is
all wrong.
Senator Russell Of the committee inter
rogorated Mr.. Vaughan as to the num-
piled Mr.. Vaughan. "And how much H.
quor did you sell last year, said Sena-
tor Russell About S4O0 worth said Mr..
Vaughan
And was this all for medicinal or
mechanical purposes? well" replied
Mr.. Vaughan at was supposed to be"
M NOT WANT I.rCENSE law
, iteii "ite Nopustock
license law could safely be left in the
hands of the committee. He read a let
ter from the proprietor OF the Wood
stock Inn, saying that he did not want