Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-01-09
Weak Points in the License Law.

Here is the outspoken view OF the edi
tor OF the Randolph Herald and News on
the proposed license law.
The act We are about To vote on is.
generally speaking. well-framcd. from
license standpoint. In the main II
deserves the support of those who be
lieve in local option There are. how
ever some features that it seems To us
would tend To- frecr sale of intoxicants
than should prevail. under any condi-
uons. Chief of these is the druggusts'
provision Any registered pharmacist
which means anybody who can pass the
"Namination before the board of phar-
macy-iu any town-whether the town
votes for license or not-Can secure the
right to sell liquor. if he can get the en-
dorScment Of five per cent. Of the voters
and a majority of the practicing physi-
clans. ana furnishes a thousand-dollar
bond. 10y the payment Of "a 80 license fee
The intent of the law is that he shall
sell for medicinal purposes only and only
on doctors prescription Bat in prac-
tice il is to be feared that sales viii be
made in other ways ana for other pur-
poses. The druggist, once licensed. has
the right To stock up with all kinds of
liquor in any quantity. and no search and
seizure can affect him. The only way
to convict him of Illegal selling is by
catching him In the very act and prov
He can handle liquor any day or any
hour Of the day or night. Even If his
sales were confined to the filling of pres
criptions. there is opportunity for grave
abuses. as Will readily occur to all minds
Though a town were absolutely opposed
to the granting Of license in any form.
it would still be possible TO have within
il as many places where liquor is kept
for sale as there are registered pharma-
cists.
with the town agency system a Dol
ished, as would be done We're this act
accepted, the necessary uses for lquor
could only be supplied by the druggists.
which would require their licensing in
even the most temperate communities
once licensed with the powerful stimulus
of self-gain working upon them. is it not
probable that many drug stores would
become in Vermont what they are in
Massachusetts, where the same law pre-
walls open rum shops? The legal res
trictions imposed are inadequate and
easily aVoidabe
Another weakness of the act is the
way the licensing board is constituted
This board is appointed by the select
men. The effect would he that these
important officers would be chosen solely
on the issue of license or no-license max
ing IL possible for the rum vote to con-
troll not only the licensing board, but the
II. UGenS-
ing board is supposed to see that the
restrictions are obeyed, but ii is account
able only to the selectmen. who appoint.
ed it, and who would not be likely tc
discover error or neglect in their owl
creation. BY electng selectmen of toIer,
ant natures, it would be the easiest thinl
in the world for the liquor interests il
any community to protect themselves
from troublesome interference They
would have ii quite within their owr
hands 10 run things as they wished
The licensees are accountable only Il
the licensing board who themselves ar,
accountable only to the selectmen, whC
may. i'm turn, be but the agents of tn,
licensees. Nor is it possible to UNLOAD
corrupt member of the licensing boarc
short of a siX-year term It's yer,
pretty arrangement-from the standpoin
of the liquor dealer.
This paper believes i'm direct stat,
control of the liquor traffic 1t doe
not consider the act about to be vote,
on an improvement over prohibition.
will oppose the act. and hopes to SCI
a majority vote recorded against it il
February. Then for a campaign in favo
of the plan this paper advocates"