Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-25
ARE VERY STRINGENT
Strong Sentiment Behind Them IN.
Both Branche.-Harmnn Bin. for
Commttment Of 1nebrlntes was.
the Sensation OF the Week.


The present General Assembly has had
before it for consideration more bills and
more stringent bills for the regulation
and government Of the liquor traffic than
any body that has met in recent years,
and they have given more ton
to the various bills.
There are now before the committees
several very important bills. The most
widely known OF these is the Mann bill.
which has been published in full recently.
This bill proposes to make it more diff
fcult to secure licenses, and practically
requires the active and expressed assent
of q majority of the voters Of county or
district to the granting Of a%license. It
provides many safeguards against an
abuse Of the traffic. Petitions are pouring
in every day. now, urging the passage OF
the bill. It has not vet been. taken up
by the committee. When it does come up
for hearing spirited contest for and
against it VIII develop.
Mr.. West bias bill proposing a higher
license than now charged and making
changes in the granting of licenses. It is
less stringent than the Mann bill.
The Senate committee has decided to
report the Hartman bill for the commit
ment to hospitals or sanitariums OF inc
hriates. opium ca ters and drug victims
Another bill proposing to forbid the sale
of liquor to habitual dTunkards. after SER
vice of notice by the wife Of the man. Is
now under consideration by the Senate
committee
GROWTH OF THE SENTIMENT.
These are the more important measures
now pending. Whether any Of them will
pass or not remains to be seen. but there
Is strong sentiment behind all of them
among members Of the two houses. and
whether any of the bills pass or not the
temperance clans must at least realize
the growth of sentiment IN favor OF reg.
ulation of the liquor traffic,
Here is the text Of the Hartman
for the commitment Of 1r1ebriates and
drug victims to sanitariums for treatment.
of which Mr.. Hartman Is the patron, and
which was unanimously reported to the
Senate yesterday:
Be It eracted by the General Assembly
of Virginia. That upon conn1airt. In
writing by any two Of the relatives or
friends Of the party. to any justice Of the
peace (they having first agreed and en-
tered into bond, with approved securi-
ty. to pay all costs incurred by the In
vestigation and future proceedings), that
any person is an nabitual drunkard,
opluu-eater, or addicted to other drug
habits would be benefited by treatment
IN a private hospita1 or sanitarfum. It
shall be the duty of said Justice to issue
this warrant ordering such person to be
brought before him He and two other
justices shall inquire whether such per-.
son be an habitual drunkard. opium
eater or addicted to other drug habits
and lost to. self-control; and for that pur-
pose shall summon his physician III he
have one). and If none, then some other
physician. practicing In the vicinity. and
other friends. If, after such. fexa mina ton,
which shall be in writing. IS Shall appear
s1,~ u. ,jr,o1 les an
nal drunkard, opiun1-eater, or addicted to
other drug habits. and lost to seif-contTol.
and that in the opinion Of said Justices.
the benefits of private hospital or SAM
tarfum would possibly restore such per-
son to sobriety and self-control. then
such justices. after said examination
shall. In their discretion, have power to
commit the said ineDriate. op1um-eat ter.
or person addicted to other drug habits.
to private hospital or sanftarium. with
the consent of the authorities Of such pri-
vate hospital or sanitariuna. there to re-
main under treatment until the opinion
of such authorities 1t will be safe TO
allow him or her to go at large,
TWELvE-MONTH LIMIT.
But no sucn inebriate, opium-eater. or
person addicted to other drug habits
shall be compelled by the provisions OF
this act to remain IN this hospital OF
sanitarium for a period exceeding twelve.
months without his or her consent. en-
tered in writing on the records OF such
private hospital OF sanitarium: provided.
that nothing in this act shall be con-
str11ed so as to prevent any person, VINO
shall find himself or herself aggrieved BY
the Judgment OF the justices AZORES 1id.
from appealing to the county or co a
ton courts OF the county In hich ne
or she may reside. and the said appear
shall be allowed as a matter OF right.
and the said court shall proceed, without
delay, and Without any formal plead1ngs.
to review the said proceedings. ana the
party accused shall have: the right or
trial by Jury to ascertain the fact wheth-
er or not he or she is an habitual drunk
ard. opium eater. or addicted to other
drug habits and lost to- self-control II
file Jury aforesaid shall, by their verdict
decide that the accused IS not an haoitu-
al drunkard. opium2eater. or ABDUCTED
! to other drug habits and lost to self con
troll the said court shall enter an order
$dIsnissirg the whole proceedings ana
shall give Judgment against the parties parties
making the complaint for costs
This act shan be. in force from It's pas
sage