Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-10
Agitation Begun For Several
Amendments to Present
Iowa Statutes
TO REDUCE NUMBER OF SALOON
Plan Proposed to District Cities and
Sell Permits to Highest Bidders =
Would Throw Greater Restrictions
on Drugsists-Drunkards Need Pro-
lection.
Special to Times-Republican.

Des Moines, June 1O.-Some OF the
most radical legislation that has been
proposed for action by the next gem
eral assembly relates to the control
Of the liquor traffic, a traffic that
seems to be desired by a majority OF
the people of Iowa, hence the enact
ment OF the mulct law, legalizing a
business that otherwise has no legal
standing.
1T is believed that the brewers and
wholesale liquor dealers will secretly
If not openly approve the proposed
legislation, which is intended to re-
duce the number Of saloons and put
the liquor business in the hands of
men financially responsible.
The plan in brief, as has been sug-
gested. Is to amend the present law in
such manner as to provide for the
division Of each city into districts, all
within the recognized business section.
Each district would comprise a GER
tain specified amount Of territory, not
in excess of one block, and probably
not less than one block. It will pro-
vide that the permits to operate sa-
looms in these districts shall be sold at
auction to responsible parties, no bid
being received for less than the
maximum amount charged for a sa-
loon license In the various cities. In
Cedar Rapids it would be $1,000. Of
which $500 now goes to the county
and 5000 to the city.
The advocates of the proposed law
argue that there are too many saloons
in all Of the larger cities of the state,
so many that quite per cent of them
have to resort to tactics which are
technically in violation of law in order
to make expenses. They also argue
that If the business is put in the hands
of men who are able to bid high
enough to get the permits it will insure
we'll conducted places, and places that
will he profitable enough to the own
ers so that the license will be paid
promptly and that the wholesalers will
be protected on the goods they sell.
The proposed law will strictly pro-
libtt the sale Of liquors IN what may
be considered and designated as the
residence section of any city, combining
the traffic to those sections that are
the best protected by the police.
1t Is Also proposed to put the hbosh
on the druggists who make their big
gest returns out Of the illegal booze
traffic by amending the law in such a
manner as to make it illegal for a
druggist to even keep wines, alcohol,
whisky or other liquor in his place Of
business; and it is proposed, incident
ally, to make 1t illegal for druggists to
sell cocaine, morphine, or any other
drugs of like character, except to reg
istered physicians The Same law will
undoubtedly make it an offense for a
druggist to handle any patent medi-
cine which contains liquor above a
certain percentage.
1t Is further proposed to make the
law clear and explicit with reference
to the sale or giving of liquor to any
person who may be classed as
prohibit the sale to graduates of any
flag care" but it is absolutely inef-
fective. 1t Is proposed to make law
as iron-bound as the one passed by
the federal government prohibiting
the sale or giving liquor to Indians
There isn't any old soak in Iowa to-
day who has any particular trouble In
getting all the booze he wants; and 1t
is proposed not only to make 1t prac-
tically impossible for such men to get
liquor but to make 1t the business OF
notice officers to see that the law Is
lived up to.