The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1908-01-02
ALL GEORGIA Is DRY
Dvesy Saloon in the State Was
Closed On January I
THE NEW LAW WILL BE OBtYED
Georgia Enters Prohibition Column
When January ist Rinxs Its Bell
On Sale Of Ix,oxieaiing Liquors
Law Very Drastic in It's Prehihi-
tion and Prevents Keeping or Civ.
ing Away Of L;enors.

Atlanta, Ga, Speeial.-wiih the
advent of the new year the law pre-.
venting the manufacture and sale OF
intoxicating liquor passed By the
last session of the Legislature be-
comes effective, making Georgia tho
first Of the Southern States 10 be
placed in the prohibition column.
The law is very drastic in iis prohi-
bition aud prevents the keeping or
giving away of liquors in public
places and imposes tax of 500
on clubs whose members are allowed
to keep drinks of an intoxicating na-
ture in their individual lockers.
To Test Legislation
Notwithstanding the passage Of
this law there is some agitation to
have il declared unconstitutional, and
it is known that q prominent firm Of
lawyers has been asked TO test the
merits of the legislation. This action
may be brought in the United States
courts in the course of the nexl
month, and it is asserted will bc
based on the fact that the constitu-
ton Of Georgia specifically provides
that all revenue from liquor license
shall be used for the school fund.
This matter has been under eonsid-
Grafton for some two months and has
been in the hands Of the best con-
stitutional lawyers in Georgia. Sew
eral million dollars are involved in
q property loss in the State by the
operation Of the prohibition law. IL
h estimated that Atlanta alone would
lose in license taxes $135,612 and
that the property value of saloons
and bTeweries here which will go out
Of business on January 1st is from
81 100000 TO $l,500,O00. For the
rest of the State the property values
involved are about $5,000,000. II is
estimated here that 10000 persons
are effected in the way Of employ.
ment in the State and that Atlanta
alone has some 1900 persons who
will lose their work when January
rings its bell on the sale Of into /.
eating liquors.
Law VIII be ENFORCED.
That the prohibition law will Be
enforced there is no question. This
is not the country Of the speak-easy,
and when the police have their laws
they enforce them to the limit.
Governor Smith and the city court
officials have been frank in their
statements that they intend to en-
force the law and that no fines
would be imposed for the illegal sale
Of liquor, but that prison sentences
would follow the violation of any
part Of the prohibition act. One Pc
culiar feature Of the law is that even
the incorporated clubs are allowed TO
provide intoxicating drinks for their
members, either with or without
food. A man may have a locker in.
club and keep whatever he pleases
in this locker, but club having
such lockers il subject to an excis<
tax Of $500 year. Another feature
Of the law Is that man may not
even in his club invite o friend TO
join him in q drink. The only way
he can evade this IL by leaving his
locker open that an acquaintance
may have access. Several Of tho
clubs in Georgia have taken out
their excise tax license and are pro-
viding lockers in their rooms, but
many Of the more prominent have
declared that they will go one bet
ter than the law and prohibit the
keeping Of liquor within their doors.
Tax Rate May Increase.
Tire constitutional law Of Georg' :
in its provision for school mainten-
ance is very specific, according to ore
Atlanta lawyer. The question now
arises where the funds for the MAR
ienance of the public schools WI
come from, and it is said that cor
siderale increase in the tax ra: ,
may result.