Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-06
LICENSES FOR DRUGGIsTs-A SUR
STliCCE bill.

LICENSES FOR DRUGGIsTs-A sur
STITUTE DILL.
It was valuable feature Of the old
prohibltory law, so called, of Vermont.
that it recognized the fact that there
are legitimate and nobjectionable
uses of alcohol and alcoholic liquors,
ana provided for an agency In every
town, whore such liquors could be pro-
cured for such purposes No one who
needed a pint of alcohol for spirit
lamp or to dissolve some camphor
gum. or brandy prescribed by the FAM
lily physician, had to go without be-
cause there was no place in his town
where the spirit or stimulant could be
obtained The existing local option
law bars all sales OF alcoholic liquors
in no-license towns, for any purpose
whatever, no exception being made for
medicinal, chemical or mechanical
purposes. In this particular, as many
towns which have no use FOR saloons
or drinking places have come to real
ize. the existing law is defective.
A bill to remedy this defect was in
troduced early in the present session
of Rutland. 1t would. II enacted, meet
some OF the needs of the situation, but
is not sufficiently guarded against
possible abuse OF the druggists IL
cense. A substitute bill has accord
ingly been drawn by Senator Van Pat
ten. to which he has given much
thought and care, and which seems to
cover all the demands of the case. 1t
provides that in towns which vote no
license, special meetings may be call
ed upon the petition OF five per cent.
of the legal voters to decide whether
be issued to druggists. If q majority
of the voters vote yes on that prop
osition, then the selcctmen may issue
licenses to druggists to sell for sacra-
mental, medicinal mechanical and
! chemical purposes; but no such license
shall be issued to any but a registered
pharmacist, whose petition for a Ii.
cense is approved by two-thirds OF
the board OF civil authority and by not
less than half of the practicing ply
sicians of the town, and who presents
n certificate from the board OF phar
macy that he is Mt and proper per.
son to receive such license. Thu
petitioner must furnish the bond of
surety company in the sum of on,
thousand dollars, which is forfeitabl
uTon a conviction for violation OF tn,
law. The fee for druggists licens
is ton dollars.
Before the Pharmacist sells any liz
uor, the purchaser thereof must sigl
certificate, stating the use to b.
medicinal, sacramental, mechanical O
chemical purpose, and that he will no
knowingly permit it to be used as
beverage or in any unlawful way.
; No physician is permitted by the ac
to prescribe intoxicating liquor to b
sold by licensed druggist except 70
specified person and for a specf
complaint. A penalty of imprison
ment for not less than three month.
or fine of not less than a hundre
dollars, or both, is fixed, for making
false certificate, or a false prescriptio
or obtaining a prescription by decei
Monthly reports OF the amount Of nj
sales are required from each. holder Of
fifth class license with an oath attache
to the effect that he has not made an
sales In violation. Of the act or OF the law
of the State. No druggist can hold an
: but fifth class license for the sale ,
liquors for medicinal. sacramental, m.
chanical or chemical purposes. Only "A
cohol can be sold tor chemical or man,
featuring purposes, and no sales of an
kind can be made to minors. paupers,
persons sales to whom are prohibited
the present law, The bill contains form
=, of certificates and provision for the filir
of the statements required. which are
be open to examination by any citizen wi
wishes to see them
This substitute bill has evidently be-
-, carefully drawn in the interests Of ten
perance. II it becomes law as we tru
1t may one important result likely
follow from il will be an increase Of Il
number OF towns that vote no on II
general question Of licensing the liqu
- traffic. We should have strong hop
10 that many citizens of even the larg
~ "open" towns and cities who have II
y been ready to vote to forbid all sales
3 liquors fer any purpose whatsoever. W
% under law which provides for lawf
i sales for medicinal, sacramental, mocha
ii ical and chemical uses. vote no on t
question OF the general licensing of t
p liquor traffic in their towns, and that