The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1906-12-06
FRANK {. HOWE. Editor and Publisher
Druaaists' Licenses.

The matter OF licenses 10 allow drug
stores 10 sell liquors for medicinal,
mechanical and chemical purposes Is
attracting considerable attention from
the present Legislature, aud II rightly
should. Senator Van Patten has In n
new substitute bill which covers the
matter.
II provides that 10 towns which vote
no license, special meetings may be
called upon the petition OF 0 per cent.
OF the legal voters to decide whether
or no licenses OF the tlith class may be
issued 70 druggists. II q majority OF
tho voters vote yes on that proposition
then the selectmen may issue licensts
to druggists TO sell for sscramental,
edIclnal, mechanical and chemical
purposes; but no such license shall be
issued 10 any but u registered phar-
maclst, whose petition for license Is
appro, cd by two-thirds OF the board Of
civil authority and by not less than
half OF the practiclng physicians OF the
town, and who presents a certificate
from the board OF pharmacy that he Is
Gt and proper person 10 receive such
a license. The petitioner must furnish
the bond OF surety company in the
sum OF one thousand dollars, which 10
forfeitable upon q conviction for VIC
lation OF the law. The fee for drug
gist's license Is ten dollars.
Before the pharmacist sells any liq'
uor, the purchaser thereof must sign u
certificate, stating the use TO be made
Of the liquor, whether for medicinal.
sacramental, mechanical, or chemical
purpose, and that he will not knowing
ly permit II to be used as beverage
or 10 any unlawful way.
No physician is permitted by the act
to prescribe Intoxicating liquor TO be
sold by licensed druggist except for
specified person and for a specific
complaint. A penalty OF iuprison-
ment for not less than three months, Or
a fine OF not less than a hundred dol
lars, or both, is fixed, for making a
false certificate, ora false prescription
or obtaining prescription by deceit.
Monthly reports OF the amount OF his
sales are rec uired from each holder OF
a fifth class license with an oath at
tached TO the effect that he has not
made any sales in violation of the act
or OF the laws OF the state. No drug.
gist can hold any but fifth class license
for the sale of liquors for medicinal,
sacramental, mechanical or chemical
purposes. Only alcohol can be sold
for chemical or manufacturing purpos-
es and no sales OF any kind can he
made to miners, paupers, or persons,
sales to whom are prohibited by the
present law. The bill contains forms
OF certificates and provision for the
filing OF the statements required, which
are to be open to examination by any
citizen who wishes to see them.
Even the most strict constructions,
connot complain that this bill Is not
explicit enough. We are inclined TO
believe that it is much more elabor.
ate aud detailed measure than Is neces
sary. We should prefer to see sim
ply drawn bill to allow druggists TO
sell for medicinal and sacramento
purposes on orders from physicians
and clergymen and to sell denatured
alcohol for mechanical uses with a pro-
vision that any druggist who violated
the law should notonly lose his license
but also his certificate as druggist.
1t should also provide that any ply
stefan who gave prescriptions where
they we're not required should prompt
ly lose his right to practice in the
state
tits evident, however, that there
should be some provision whereby
druggists can sell liquors for the pur
poses above specified, especially in M
license towns. II they are satisfied
with Senator Van Patterns bill 4
should become law.