The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1907-01-18
NEW HAMPSHIRE'S
LIQUOR MEASURE
LITTLE Likelihood It Will Be Changed
by the Present Legislature
Praise for State License
Commissioners.

In an article in the Boston Transcript
ON the New Hampshire liquor law John
l.. Sewall writes as follows regarding its
likelihood of change by the present legs
lature:
The character and extent of the changes
likely to be made IN the law by, the
newly convened legislature VIII sndleate
the real defects in this law. The Chief
ground Of complaint seems to be the IN
adequate protection afforded the resident
in nolicense territory from the enlarged
freedom of their neighbors. With all
honest and earnest effort on the part
of the commissioners TO avoid abuses OF
innholders' and druggists licenses IN towns
voting NO" it appears that ftlrther re-
strictions are needed. An amendment
adopted two wears ago allowing druggists,
on the payment OF fee of from $50 TO
$500, to engage in the sale OF liquor
on the certificate plan, has worked badly,
in many places. In the northern part, OF
the state the lumbermen complain that
this has flooded some of their camps with
liquor: and it is possible that this pnyl-
lege will be wholly taken away, and the
druggists restricted to doing a prescrip-
ton business.
The enforcement of law in no-license
territory is also matter which will be
discussed. There is a wish to have the
three commissioners made responsible for
suppressing illegal sales all over the state,
as well as upon the premises they have
licensed Such an extension OF their
duties with the present force at their
command would be out OF the question
for them. There is at present strong
force az officers. from the attorney gem
eral of the state down to the local police
men and constables. for doing this thing;
and vet there is something to be said in
favor If having all illegalities under an
axcise law handled by the same executive
ofIicers The giving of license to inn
holders in dry territory has in some
cases been followed bv no abuses; and
tbe ;dea has been advanced that such a
nriv;lege afforded one reliable innholder
viii Leen a town from voting in a saloon
Where's in th;s view Of the case. One
very prominent advocate of the new law
Who was influential in forming it. said
distinctly. 'In some wav we must protect
M. license territory. even il we have to
take away ali kinds Of licenses from their
borders That was the original purpose
If the law: Il Is well understood that
such was the substance of the demands
for new legislation mi forth by the re-
formers LAST summer and adopted bv the
rennbI;can convention and now clearly
st atpd in the governors message: This
;s not mere lad Of a few temperance
cranks. II is widespread feeling and
nnrnose If all GOOD citizens, We are in
favor here in New Hampshire with some
sens;ble and well.halanced leaders in the
temneronca canse who accordingly find
them selves sustained in their demands
bv a large measure of pubIic sentiment
~ tho substantial sort j.
So far as now annears no more radical
measures are likely to be demanded bv
the great hulk of New Hampshire's citi.
1ens This winter for the perfectinr of their
local ont;on law Should this nrove to be