Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-02-28
The Iowa Legislature Takes Up
an Important Measure Affect
ing Liquor Question
WOULD INSPECT ALL LIQUORS
Also Provides That They Mus, Be
Properly Labeled and Their Purity
uaranteed-Express and Railroad
Companies to Furnish tho Bills of
Lading.
IBy Ora Williams.l
1,imes-RepuhlicaI.

by Ora Williams.l
Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Feb. 2S.-The house this
morning, acting under special order
of the day before, took up and gave
considerati ton to a bill which many re-
gard as one Of the most important and
beneficial which has come from any
committee. This is the bill to provide
liquors. beer and malt products, and the
labelling thereof, and requiring purity
in their composition, and for the APP
pointment of an inspector, and fixing
fees for inspection.
The bill provides in brief for the APP
pointment of a state inspector of
liquors, who shall be an expert chem
list, and who may appoint such depu-
ties as are necessary to the carrying
out of the law. The inspector shall be
paid $4,000 and deputies $1,5OO year.
All distilleres and breweries in the
state shall be inspected as to cleanli-
ness and method of manufacture and
purity of the product turned out. The
transportation companies shall, before
delivery of any consignment of beer
or intoxicants, notify the inspector,
who shall be furnished with a state
ment under oath as to the character
of the goods shipped and to be de-
livered. There is provision for a
& .tn fnY, ont fn t1n 70
certain brands and makes of goods and
for furnishing labels and the labelling
of the same and for fees. For inspec-
ton the fee is 1 cent gallon and for
labelling 2 cents for each package la
beled.
Every railroad, express or transport
tation company shall, when requested,
furnish to the inspector duplicate bill
of lading or receipt showing the name
of the consignor and consignee, date,
place received. destination and guam
tity of any and all Intoxicating liquors
received for shipment to any point in
the state.
There is an appropriation Of $4,000
in the bill for payment of salaries and
starting the work
The bill is patterned after Mis-
souri, statute now in operation over
four years and working satisfactorily.
The bill was prepared by Mr. Weeks,
of Guthrie county, who personally
visited the office of the inspector in st.
Louis and obtained from him infornn-
ton as to the workings of such law.
Mr. Weeks stated that the bill was
framed after the Missouri law, which,
however, only refers to the inspection
of beer. He had a statement from the
inspector of beer In Missouri showing
that in that state the inspection yields
a revenue now of about 100000 year
and the cost is about $4,000 a year,
so that the Missouri treasury is en-
riched each year by more than $685.
900 a year The inspector for Missouri
has an office in St Louis, largely ow-
ing to the big breweries being in that
city He has four deputies out in the
state and an office force Of three
clerks.
The Missouri inspector gave a sign
ed statement which was referred to in
which he assured Mr.. Weeks that the
finds very little difficulty in enforce
l1leHC, IlldI, lIle Drew les anu lIluOl
dealers comply with 1T, that the trans
portation lines furnish the necessary
information and it is agreeable all
round. Outside breweries brought suit
to break the law and carried it to the
United States supreme court which
has upheld the law in every way.
Mr.. Weeks read a statement showing
that for the four full years, the law
has been in operation in Missouri it
has yielded the state an average of
1858, 900 a year. Assuming the con-
sumption of beer in Iowa to be the
same per capita it would yield $265,000
a. year in Iowa. This would be on
beer alone The whisky inspection
would yield large sum also. Mr..
Weeks talked with the manager of the
Anheuser- Busch Company and was in
formed that the law was entirely to
their satisfaction though it cost them
large sums of money.
The greatest opposition to the bill
is to be apprehended from the trans
portation companies, for it will cut off
the too common system in prohibition
counties, of converting each railroad
depot and express office into place
for the sale of liquors, where liquors
are regularly received and consigned
to persons likely to buy and where al
most anyone can go and get liquor In
packages. 1t is stated that this bill
would materially interfere with this
kind of business. and therefore the
transportation lines will oppose it.
Mr.. Weeks states that he has heard
from no opposition from any other
source.
Mr.. Weeks shows that after the law
is going it will be revenue producer
for the state The first appropriation
would soon be got back many times
over.