Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-05-09
TWO CENTS
LIQUOR MEN HALTED
Cant Ship Booze to Local OPP.
ton Towns.


Express Companies Refuse to Receive
intoxicating Liquors for Shipment
Order just Issued in Obedience to
Act of Last Legislature.
In order to escape liability for
prosecution under the act passed by
the last Legislature to restrain The
Shipment of liquor c. O. ID. to other
.haa bona fide purchasers for their
own use, the United States Express
Company has issued a general order,
diresting its agents t, refuse ship
ment of any intoxicating liquors
whatever in this state.
This order was received in Fair
mont yesterday, AMI the breweries
have not been able to ship any LID
uor by express since the order was
received. La the morning the ex-
press company took a consignment
from the Raymond Brewing Gem
panv for shipment, but in the after
noon another load OF the ardent was
taken to the railroad station and 1t
was refused shipment. The reason
assigned for refusal by the local
agent was that orders had been re-
ceived from the main 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 Elk
press Company will have the result
of badly Gripping the brewing in
dustry in this state.
The law 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. d. or
otherwise" to other than the holder
of state liquor license, or to the
bona fide purchaser of the goods for
his own use The penalty for con-
vietion 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 and interference with
business, the express company de.
eided to issue a general order, and
take no chances. 1t refuses to as
sumo the burden of ascertaining
what shipments are made to "bona
flden purchasers for their own use,
and what may be male contrary to
law.
The object of the act passed last
winter seems to have been to prevent
scheme OF liquor dealers for evad-
ing 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.
o. 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 he wanted some
red eye, he could go to the ex-
press office, pay for a package, and
take it away. The express agent had
to receive the money, and return 1T to
| the dealer. The man to whom the
liquor was sent without his order, was
notified by mail that it had not been
shipped and could not be gotten by
him at the express office.
Many young men employed as agents
of the railroad and express companies
resented this enforcement upon
them of the duties Of agents OF the
liauor dealers, and a monster petition.
containing probably 10, 600 names was
gotten up, praying the last legislature
to pass law prohibiting this kind Of
traffic.
| Stuart III. Bowman is credited with
introducing bill for this purpose in
the legislature, and presenting the
great petition asking for its passage.
The law, as passed, seems to be more
i sweeping In its action than was in
tended while accomplishing also, that
for which 1t was intended. Its con-
stitutionality will probably be tested
| by the brewing companies, but while
litigation is iE progress, their bust.
4. Al Ill