The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1903-05-13
LIQUOR MEN HALTED
Cant Ship Booze to Local Op-
ton Towns.

Express Companies Refuse to Receive
Intoxicating Liquors for shipment
Order just Issued in Obedience to
act of Last Legislature.
La order to escape liability for
prosecution under the act passed by
the last legislature to restrain the
shipment of liquor c. o D TO other
thas bona fide purchasers for their
own use, the United States Express
Company has issued q general order,
diresting lis agents T. refuse ship
ment of any intoxicating liquors
whatever in'lhis state.
This order was received IN Fair.
mont yesterday. anil the breweries
have not been able TO ship any liq
uor By express since The order was
received. In the morning the ex
press company took a consignment
from the Raymond Brewing Gem
pany for shipment, but in the after
noon another load of the ardent was
taken to the railroad station and it
was refused shipment The reason
assigned for refusal by the local
agent was that orders had been re-
ceived from the maiu office in New
York, since the morning shipment
was made directing him to refuse
all consignments of spirituous liq-
uors, on account of the recent law.
This action on the part of the En-
press Company will have the result
of badly crippline the brewing in
dastry in this state
The Jaw referred to by the express
company is the act passed by the
legislature, making it misdemean
or for any common carrier to receive
liquor for shipment &C. o. ID. or
otherwise to other than the holder
oil state liquor license, or to the
bona iide purchaser of the goods for
his own use. The penalty for con
viction under this act is heavy fine
or imprisonment, and any one who
believes the law is being disobeyed
can give information against the
party believed to be guilty
In order TO avoid any possibility
Of prosecution ami interference with
business, the express company de
cided to issue a general order, and
take no chances. 1t refuses to as
sumo the burden of aseertaining
what shipments are made to "hona
lden purchasers for their own use,
aud what NAV be made contrary To
law.
The effect of the act passed last
winter seems to have been toprevent
a scheme OF liquor dealers for evad-
ling local option laws, and it was
favored by the railroads and express
companies, as affording protection
to their employees, who had been
compelled to act in the capacity OF
liquor sellers or agents, by the &c
10. D." practice to the dealers and
breweries.
This practice consisted in shipping
liquor &C o. D." to parties who
would not pay for it at the time, but
II big day was coming off, and the
party TO whom the stuff was adj
dressed decided lie wanted somt
red eye, he could go to the ex-
press Office, pay for package, and
take il away. The express agent hat
to receive the money, and return 1t tc
the dealer. The man to whom the
liquor was sent without his order, wa,
notified by mail that it had not beer
shipped, and could not be gotten b.
him at the express Office.
Many young men employed as agent.
OF the railroad and express companie
resented this enforcement upoT
them OF the duties OF agents Of th'
, liquor dealers, and a monster petition
containing probably 1000 names wa
gotten up, praying the last Legislature
to pass law prohibiting this kind 0
traffic.
Stuart H. Bowman is credited Will
introducing bill for this purpose il
the legislature, and presenting th'
great petition asking for its passage
The law, as passed, seems to be NOR
sweeping in its action than was 10
tended while accomplishing also, tina
for which it was intended. It's con
stitutionality will probably be testct
by the brewing companies, but Will
litigation is iG progress, their bust
ness will be greatly crippled.