West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1905-01-12
ENDORSES NEW PLAN.
West Virginia Bar Thinks Well of
DiSpenSary Idea.
AND OFFERS NOVEL SUGGESTION
Thinks that County and Municipal Au-
thorities Can Put it Into Operation
Under Existing Laws-Legisla-
tura Does Not Have to Act
to Inaugurate It.

70 Inaugurate It.
The West Virginia Bar has the
following to say in the January
number about a matter which has
attracted local attention.
There is a growing sentiment in
West Virginia, as well as in other
States, that the most sensible and
successful method of regulating the
liquor traffic is through what is
known as the "Dlspensary System, 4"
or South Carolina plan.
That system provides lawful, in
lieu of an unlawful, mode Of OBJ
tanning liquors; while, at the same
time it eliminates the evils associat-
ed with saloons; removes the temp
tations and excuses consequent up
on offering Intoxicating liquors;
as a BEVERAGE puts it upon the
same plans and under the same con
ditions as any standard grocery;
neither encourages nor prohibits its
use except where it may be abused
recognizes the impractical in tenn
perance reforms and seeks to con
serve and promote only the practi.
cal; and by the sane and statesman
like control reduces the evil OF in
toXicants TO a minimum.
We believe it is the most bfacti-
cal and effective that has ever been
devised, and having proved sue
cess under the tests already made,
should have the endorsement Of all
the varying shades of opinion in
and out OF the ranks of temperance
reformers.
We understand that the matter
will again be brought before the
Legislature at its coming session
but as we have heretofore suggest
ed, and still maintain, it is entirely
possible and practicable to inaug-
aurate the dispcnsary system in this
State without calling on the Legs
lature to do it.
West Virginia is what we call a
"local option State. The regula.
ton of the liquor traffic is vested in
the County Court and Municipal
Councils of each county. Those
two bodies can either prohibit the
traffic in their respective counties
or they can restrict it to such other
limitations as they deem wise.
What therefore, is to prevent the
County Court aud Municipal Coun-
Gil of any county, acting entirely
within their lawful, jurisdiction, of
saying that we will grant license
to sell liquors in accordance with,
and only in strict conformity with
the dispensary system That is to
say, will grant license to John
Smith, who is citizen of high
character, if he will open a store
room on Chestnut street and stock
it only with such liquors as been
adequately tested for their purity;
and sell it only in vessels of not less
capacity than one pint, which shall
not be drunk on the premises, and
shall not be sold to minors or any
other class of persons prohibited by
law.
In placing the regulation OF the
liquor traffic in the hands OF the
county authorities, the law does not
restrict them to grant or refuse IL
cense to saloons only, but invests
them with plenary power to put the
traffic under such conditions and
regulations as they may deem fit,
or to refuse to have IT sold under
any conditions.
In what respect therefore, would
these county authorities exceed
their jurisdiction IN adopting the