Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-06-02
1hELlouoR LAW.
SUGGESTIONS As To Proposed Chang
es in the System.

When the next legislature faces the
many questions that have arisen uhueI
the local option law it viii be stagger-
ed at the task OF deyising amendments
that are needed. The better way VIII
be to enact an entirely new statute
that will be more satisfactory than the
present one. 4 statute 20 cover so I'M
portant a subject and TO provide for
such an infinity Of details, should DC
carefully drawn as whole, not patch-
ed up from portions OF the laws OF ON
er states ana theories Of some unexpe-
rienced men. Then its various parts
will have a proper relation to each
other and there will be less confusion
in its administration. The experience
of two years under the present law VIII
afford valuable suggestions for framing
a better one Montpelier Argus.
Whether or not the charge is true
that license boards in some OF the Yer
mont cities and towns have been guilty
OF political deals with the biglbrew-
ing companies and OF winking at vlo-
lations of the law at home, the citizens
of the state may well consider whether
il would not be better 10 intrust the
issuing OF licenses in license towns and
cities to a state commission rather than
to local boards. At any rate there
would be this advantage that the men
whom the state would select for such a
responsible position would have TO be
men of character and probity, and in
executing the law they would be less
likely to be influenced by personal
considerations such as might be brought
to bear upon men in their home towns.
New Hampshire has such a board Of
state commissioners and is satisfied
with the way in which they perform
their duties. The existing dissatisfac-
ton with the present system of issuing
in this state will call for some
change in the law this fall, and at
present we know of no better method
than the one above suggested Lyn-
donville Journal.
Il is probable that about half the
time Of the next legislature will be
in considering liquor legis-
lation. Il has been demonstrated that
the present law is as full OF holes as
SKINNER, and both the friends and the
OF local option will try their
hands at plugging. IL is pretty gener-
ally conceded that the local option
should be given another two
years trial, but by the time the next
legislature is through with the existing
law the principle may be about all that
win be left OF it. For the benefit OF
prospective legislators In this section
we suggest a few amendments which
may be worth incorporating in bills
That the analysis Of all liquors sold by
licensees shall be compulsory and that
he analysis be published for the intor-
nation OF the public; that all licenses.
10 matter when issued, expire on a
liked date, say April /, of each year
hat the examination of the police and
)ther officials when under oath regard
NC what they know about violations
II the law bepublic, and that a notice
If such examination be published at
east ten days in advance in order that
my desiring to be present may have
knowledge of the time and place. So
much Tor greater publicity in the adj
of the law. If President
Roosevelt is correct in his theory that
greater publicity will correct the evils
If organized trusts, il is possible that
he same remedy might tone up the
OF a liquor law Bellows
Falls Times.
n