The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-11
TRIAL BOTTLE FREE
NEW SIX
 O'CLOCK LAW DISCUSSED

Jacksonville February 10.-(Special)-A representative of The Age-Herald was commissioned to Jacksonville yesterday evening for the purpose of ascertainlng. as nearly as possible, what effect the 6 o'clock saloon closing law, recently adopt ed in that city, had upon the general con- duct of Jacksonville citizens, with par ticular reference to it's influence in check ing drunkenness.
 The o'clock law it will be remembered requires that the saloon now in opera tion in that city and any that may be established there in the future, close it's doors by or before o'clock in the even ing and open not before 6 o'clock in the morning, prohibiting the sale of any "spir- ituous, malt or vinous liquors before the morning hour or after the evening hour. The law was created in the form of an ordinance passed by the City Council m the month of December last, becoming ef- fective on January 1 of the present year. It's violation is punishable by a heavy fine.
 Regarding the "bartenders' curfew." as the law in question has not inaptly been termed the writer has talked to both tee totalers and habitues of the bar and while there is some objection to it, the concen- sus of the best opinion seems to be in its favor While some at first objected to the law on the ground that it would give rise to blind tigers, there has, 1t is said as yet been no tangible evidence brought forth in support of this objection, and 1t is claimed that 1t eliminates sew eral, if not all, of the most objectionable features to the dispensary and prohibit tion.
 Churchmen and others who look upon the dispensary as a compromise, recog- nizing in it an excellent opportunity for graft, cannot make the same objections to the o'clock law. For it places the whole responsibility, after the saloon is licensed, upon the proprietor. It abolishes night drinking altogether, thus checking, to large extent, the so-called treating evil which is largely confined to the evening hours. Furthermore 1t, unlike the dispensary, does not necessitate a bottle purchase, eliminating the objection found to having intoxicating liquor on ones per son, In ones home Or place of business.
 Referring to the 6 o'clock law. as com pared with prohibition, 1t Is argued that IL does not ueprlVe clly or the uquOr Iieense-in the case of Jacksonville the 5000 license continues unchanged-does not deprive the moderate drinker" of his toddy. and, as stated above, does not, 1t is claimed. give rise to the blind tiger or illicit dstilling.
 Dr. W. E. Arbery, city councilman, who Is known as the father of the 6 o'clock saloon law, stated to the writer that the law has conceived and passed primarily for the benefit of the Jacksonville youth, the negroes of the city and visiting farm CTS. He seems greatly pleased with the ordinance, and 1t Is said that a perfect revolution has been wrought in the night behavior of the city since 1t became ef- fective.
 In order to ascertain the effect of the ordinance with relation to drunkenness the writer called upon Mayor Horace l.. Stevenson for the purpose of securing the number of and the causes leading to ar rests for the past three months. with the following result: In November 09O5) there were Il arrests, all for drunkenness or drunk and disorderly; in December of the same year there were 12 arrests. all for the same offenses except one. which was for the discharge of firearms in the city limits; in January of the current year there were only 8 arrests. for intoxlca- ton in public and the others for assault and gaming.
 Jacksonville's liquor license will very election. which occurs in April, and not withstanding the success claimed for the prevailing ordinance, it promises to have