The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-04-16
THE MANN LIQUOR BILL.
SOME oFITs PROVISIONS. ETC.
II is Believed The Measure Will Force
Many Dealers Out of The
Business

The Mann liquor bill. which has been
engratted in the general revenue law of
the state, will. it il believed. work a
great change in the conduct of the liquor
business
The cardinal provision of the Mann
amendment To the revenue law is that
where a person desires TO make appli-
cation for license TO sell whisky he must
first secure the signature of majority
of the voters of the magisterial district
in which the saloon is to be located. The
law does not apply to cities and towns
oi over 300 inhabitants, or to watering
places and summer resorts.
STATE License II INCREASED.
The State license il increased from 500
and 5000 To Sl7J and $3.50, and the
tax ON members of social clubs is increas
ed from ; to -. where the membership
does not exceed 10 which would max,
the tax the same A. that paid by larger
saloons. IL L. estimated that there ar,
ZOO saloons in Virginia Oi these 9Of
are in the cities and 100 i'm couDtir-
and towns OF the &tter 800 are IN
/ towns OF over 800 inhabitants or at sum
mer resorts. The temperance people ar,
sanguine that practically al Of the zoe
or 500 that the bill affects directly vii
he closed. and il is their declared pur
pose To see that the law Is given a faii
test and properly enforced
IL l. believed that the increase in tax
will also cause n number of saloons to
clnse. but the large ones. on which the
tax * To be- doubled. are the ones which
will in the main pay the revenue to the
state.
REVOCATION or LICENSES
Another interesting provision put i'm
Ils "A IA . I;
nOr business and notembraced ia the orig.
mai Mann bill il Folkes' amendment.
making il mandator upon Judges to re-
woke the license OF any person convicted
81 selling liquor on Sunday or to minors
and suhjecting the offender to fine and
Imprisonment. nder the present law il
IL optional with the Judge whether or
not licenses shall be revoked in such
cases.
The Incorporation of the Mann bill in
the revenue law is one of the most strik
ing instances oi the power OF public sen.
tlment seen in Virginia in recent years
When the bill was introduced there seem
ed little chance of its passage, a. the liq-
uor dealers have strong State organi-
zation and have always exercised great
influence in all political matters How
ever. the Anti-SalOon League instituted
most vigorous campaign, and cireula-
ted in every county and city of the Com
monwealth petitions praying the pas
sage of the Mann bill. these were sign
Ell IN large numbers and soon began com
ing to the capitol 10y the bssketful
DRAY LOADS or PETITIONS
lt is probable that the petitions on this
subject received 10y members of the senate
aud house would make two or three dray
loads The people also began TO write to
their representatives, and as member
after member went home he found that
the people were becoming thoroughly
aroused ON the liquor question. The re
suit was the ultimate passage of the bill
by stroug maiorities in both branches.
In the opinion of many the adoption oil
the Mann bill makes To the advocates OF
temperance n concession which will avoid
a great political battle, which would have
come within the next year or two on this
issue in which the people at large seem
to be interested as they never have been
before