Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-06
Effective Law Goes Into Effect
in London for Suppression
of Drunkenness
DIFFICULT TO EvADE THE LAW
The Habitual Drunkard May Well
TrembIe for He Is Now the Principal
MaIcontent-Three Convictions in
Year Constitutes Habitual Drunken
ness-other Provisions of Law.

London, Jan. 6.-The greatest feature
|of the new year is the licensing act,
which went into operation on Jan. L.
The newspapers today printed columns
las to how the new law, which carries
ards, was applied. The law keeps the
proprietors of saloons from the opening
to the closing hour in condition of
nervous apprehension. 1t invests the po-
lice with power that even Carrie Nation
might envy and promises to overwhelm
the police magistrates with new class
of work.
The principal malcontent now per-
haps is the habitual drunkard. Former
ly the police could not touch a man
or woman, no matter how drunk they
might be, unless they were also disor-
derby. Now, under the new law, any
one found drunk in any public place
may be arrested, prosecuted and pun
ished. Three convictions within twelve
months constitute an "habitual drunk
ard"
ALREADY from all parts of England
reports, are coming of habitual drunk
ards being blacklisted for three convic-
tons. the law being retroactive.
The following is q typical example Of
the application of the new law:
You will go to prison for month";"
said a Stafford magistrate to man ar
raigned for drunkenness yesterday.
You will be placed on the blacklist
and while in prison you will be photo
.graphed. A copy of this will be sent
to all license holders in Stafford, and
the surrounding district. Any saloon
keeper serving you with drink in the
next three years is liable to a heavy
fine"
A London magistrate in sentencing a
woman habitual drunkard yesterday
said:
IF you attempt to get served you
will be fined. If any one treats you he
or she will be fined. If you get liquor
in the next three years it will be at
your own peril"
From these expressions of two diff
ferent magistrates in the case of man
and a woman, the fate of any one who
may be convicted Of drunkenness three
times in a year will be understood.
The act also protects children. Any
one, found drunk in charge of child is
liable to fine of $40 or months inn
rrisonment. Several women in London
and the provinces have already been
punished under this clause.
The act Is causing dismay in the
night clubs which abound in Soho and
the east end. They are bogus clubs
and are run merely FOR the purpose of
evading the licensing law. Heretofore
the punishment of violation Of the old
law only amounted to a fine. which was
paid. Now that imprison-
ment is provided many OF them have
already closed in despair, and scores of
Others will be closed within a week.
The act applies equally to the social
west end clubs, and there are stringent
regulations in regard to the registering
Ia club and depositing copy of Ms
rules for permission to sell intoxicants.
Frequent cases of drunkenness on the
premises have created such apprehen-
sion that every club in London and the
provinces is overhaul;ng its house rules
and subcommittee have been confer
ring with the solicitors for the club in
view Of this for the last few weeks.
Clubs of this kind, however, are not
aimed at. but any one may get informa-
ton as to what goes on in club. Any
one on payment of a fee of shilling
may inspect the rules of club. which
are deposited with the authorities, and
every club is taking precautions in this
matter.
The honorary secretary and treasurer
of the Blackburn Liberal Club resigned
yesterday rather than bear the heavy
responsibility entailed on him by the
act. The committee having the matter
in charge thereupon resolved to discon-
tinue the sale of intoxicating drinks
and forego the profit derived therefrom.
Another clause in the act provides
ready means by which husbands may
escape drunken wives and wives drunk
en- husbands. Habitual drunkenness is
now made ground for legal separa-
ton. Many have already obtained re-
lief from their marital ties thru this
section, the first two cases in London
being Sir C. A. Lawson and a street
CLEANER, both of whom We're afflicted
with drunken wives.
The saloonkeepers complain bitterly
as to what is to be the test of drunk
enness, but their trade society in Lon
don has sent a circular to all public
houses recommending that they go even
beyond the requirements of the act.
1t suggests that saloonkeepers shall
not serve even a sober man If he is in
company with drunken man until the
latter has left the house. The circular
goes on to say that they should not all
low any bad language nor drink with
any customer at the bar nor in any
part of the house while on duty at the
bar They must not nave any money on
any part of their person. Some public
housekeepers are already hiring men
whose special duty is to keep their eyes
on suspects. who may become intoxi-
Gated, and suppress bad language, bet
ting, etc.
The consumption of whisky among
the upper classes has BEEN as is well
known. on the increase to an enormous
extent in recent years. The natural