Bennington banner and reformer. (Bennington, Vt.) 1903-19??, 1903-01-01

law was adopted. In the foregoing
totals the number of prosecutions for
violations of the prohibitory law in
county courts are not considered.
We. have, therefore, law that for
half century has record of thous-
ands Of violations annually and with
no prospect that the conditions in this
respect win be materially improved.
Thousands of dollars are paid ann
ualIy to prosecute offenders under this
law, and although large sums are re-
eeived in fines and costs from such
prosecutions, it cannot, when all the
expenses Of conducting the same, in
cluding the expenses and fees Of courts,
officers and jurors are considered, be
safely contended that the state has de-
rived any net profit therefrom. 1t is
probably true that there has been ann
ually considerable net loss.
The prohibitory law provides that If
an officer has reason to believe and
does believe that Intoxicating liquor is
kept or concealed in any conveyance,
baggage or clothing being conveyed
aloug the highway, he shall search the
same without warrant Can anyone
imagine law more yiolative OF the
rights Of person rproperts ban this?
A peaceable, law abiding prohibition
list who is taking home in his grip for
use in his family as a medicine under
DOCTORS prescription, bottle Of
wine, is, under this statute, liable TO
have his grip searched by officers with
out warrant; the wine seizad, he
summoned before a magistrate TO show
cause why it should not be destroyed,
and all the expenses Of the proceedings
taxed against him II 50 decided by
the court, he may take an appeal to
the county court by giving surety for
costs, but he is deprived of the wine
until the court finally orders it to be
returned to him.
The process OF replevin, which in
other instances may be invoked to re-
cover property unlawfully seized, is
denied him. The officer need not sus-
pect or believe that the wine is to be
used for an unlawful purpose, as is
generally provided In other parts Of
the law, but need only believe that il |
is being carried along the highway. |
II he so believes he shall search.
Have we fallen so low rs to need this
inquisitorial law? II will not do for
the prohibitionist to say this law is
not enforced. II is the law. 1t is
bad law. 1t cannot be justified and it |
ought to be repealed.
OF the same character is the statute
which provides tha, a common carrier /
who brings into, or delivers in the !
state for another person receptacle /
capable Of holding intoxicating liquor
unless it is legibly mark ; with the |
name Of the person TO whom it is sent (
or delivered, shall be fined not less
than twenty-five dollars.
There may be no Intoxicating liquor |
in It, the party sending the receptacle /
may be one Of the most law abiding |
OF our citizens, yet the sending or de-
livery OF barrel or other vessel cap
able Of holding liquor, unmarked is
a crime. Why?
Prohibition does not prohibit; nor
does it satisfactorily regulate. The
present law tends by its extreme and
provisions, to bring all |
law iuto discredit and the courts into
disrespect. Il invites perjury and an
train of evils The people
have been growing more and more
restiye under its administration. Why
not have something else2 If the pro-
posed license law does not serve our
purpose, we can again embrace pro-
hibition. BY adopting license law
we are not married to 1t forever.
There is no danger but that in the
end. the people viii settle this matter
and rightly. To me it seems that each