The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-04-26
The Mann Law.

5.5i#as ~ IL he Mann Law.
we print elsewhere in to-day lslper d
communication from Rev. James cannon
In which he sets forth in an able ana
s,s,ru.iive manner the main features and
operation Of the Mann law comparing aon
contrasting 1t with tho former 10" o0
This subject. Mr.. Cannon's article IS IN
reply to the card OF CAPTAIN Joseph ~
Willard. and an editorial article IN Inc
d Times Dispatch commenting on Captain
wizards card. Referring to tho point
made Nv CAPTAIN Willard that the Mann
Il law does, not give the applicant LOT LOT q
LIQUOR license right to appeal, Mr.. cannon a:'
points out that this is nothing new-that
tho same rule applied under the Old law.
$ He is right, and he might have said that
4 this is true Of the present law as applilen
10 cities. Tho city judge has absolute
power and there Is no appeal from MS de-
cision. If he grants or refuses to grant
n license, his decision is final. inc LAY"
provides that when an application 1or
license is made, III the court DO fully
satisfied upon the hearing of the testi-
mony for and against the application, that
Tho applicant Is q fit person to conduct
Eucl business, and that he Will Keep an
oraerly house, and that the place at
which 1t is to be conducted is suitable,
convenient and appropriate place LOT con-
suctinr such business, the court may,
mon tie execution by the applicant OF
,,nds in penalty of not less than $2sO nor
more than $500 with good security conal-
.jon for faithful compliance with all the
I renl,ircmeI,ts of this section, grant such
license" That was the law in Virginia
before the Mann law was thought OF. me
court is net required under any circum-
stances to grant license, but il given
absolute discretion whether CT not the
license shall BIO granted. That is as IT
should be. I'LL
Tho Judge ought to have discretion and
ought to have great latitude in deterlnin-
ing whether or not n license shall be
granted to particular man to open a
saloon at particular place. The judge
should DO reasonable and should not be
oretudiced one way or the other. Dut
ne should hold a tight rein upon the saloon
Keepers and the law should give him
full power to do SO. We deem It not inn
proper to say just here that in our opinion
Judge Samuel B,"Witt, of tho Hustinss
Court OF Richmond. has set n worthy e%.
ample in his manner OF constituting anu
executing tho law. He has dealt fairly
with tho applicants and fairly with the
public interest. IIe has not construed the
law SO broadly as to allow any applicant
To take out license and en- the other
hand he has not construed it SO narrowly
as to exclude applicants who had In hli
Judgment fairly complied with the pro
visions Of the law. In the rural district!
application must be made to the judge o.
the Circuit Court and under the Mani
law. It is provided that III the coul
be fully satisfied upoI. the hearing OF TN
Testimony for and against the applica
ton that tho applicant Is fit person 7
conduct such business, and that no WI
personally supt1intend tho same and VII
keep an orderly house, and that the p'ac
at Which It Is tc be conducted Is a suit
able. convenient and appropriate plac
for conducting such business ana ono q
which police protection is afforded. an
II ii shall further plainly appear to tn
satisfaction CT the court that ma1oril
Of the qualified voters Of the district
Town In which the privilege is sought
no exercised are in favor of tho aprl
cation. that tho sale Of ardent spirits ;
that place will not be contrary 70
sound public policy or injurious to u
morals or the material interests Of Il
community, the court may uI.on the O.
ccutlnn II bond. etc., grant such
cense"
4,rhe only objection which we have rails
10 Tie law Is the manner Of ascertainil
whether ~ net majority Of the qua
rlca voters in tho town or district n
In favor OF the application. Mr., Cam
isays mat It wauld DO too trouhlcsor
and expensive 70 take vote whenever
man s!ioula wish To open saloon. III
is nc answer The method should 30 =,
best known Of ascertainns public Ser
ment ana everyday knows that pe
ton Is not the BEST method ar any sat
factory method Of arriving at such cone
sion.
But Notwithstanding this objection,
M the law Is satisfactory TO the people
tho rural districts. II is satisfactory to
Times-pispatcil AT one time we he
nothing but communication for tho Il
and It's operation, and So long as IN
reports came. we had nNthine to 5
hut OF late many COMPLAINTS have &c
to this cffica and henca II was that
s,gsest..a that d. tcat uf Seatarleut IL