The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-14
HERE AND THERE
IN LEGISLATURE
Speakers Bill Codifying Whisky
Laws and Proposed Changes
Now Before House.
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naM ornrlAMc
SOME RADICAL SECTIONS
Eliminates Country Grogshops,
Disorderly Places and Fake
Clubs--Other Matters.

- ~ IL
wv liquor bill, or House bill No.
2sS. a codlfication OF all exist
ing laws relating to the sale, distrlpu-
ton and manufacture of Intoxicating
liquors, and also a codification of SUCH
OF the temperance legislation now con
tanned in number Of separate , DIS
as have been reported by the commit MI
tees of the two bodies. went peioie
the lower branch yesterday. a..
A great advantage claimed Tor ths
bill is that 1t reduces to clearness and
order the intricate mass of liquor legis-
lation, and presents all the laws upon
this subject in n clear. condensed anu
in some directions. and radical in 9th =.
crs. For instance, 1t permits diss,,s
leries MASKING twenty bushels day and
upwards to do business, provided smgh
tories. Small distilierles and brandy
distilleries situated outside of towns
of 500 inhabitants or more must CON
vince the court that a majority OF the
qualified voters of the district in which
such still Is situated approve OF license.
and that there is adequate police pro-
lection.
BY the. very skilfuily drawn section
6 OF the bin bona-fide clubs are allow
ed to do businesse but fake clubs are
absolutely. wiped out. This SECTION u. Is
long-vexed question OF how to destroy
the fake clubs without also destroying
the bona-fide social ORDINATIONS.
The Country Gropshop.
A somewhat radical section Of the
bill is section &. which provides that
no liquor shall be sold in local option
territory. or at any place except as
follows: % Cities. (2) Towns of over
500 inhabitants. CD Summer, resorts at
mineral springs and seaside resorts.
4D Communities contiguous to cities
where there is police protection.
Thus tho country grogshop is com
that no license be granted to any per
son to retail LIQUOR except such person
be a qualified voter of the place where
the business is to be conducted.
section 20 makes it illegal to guar
antee anything as pure cider which is
not. In fact, pure cider. Section Il
provides that a. search warrant may
able citizens to search premises where
liquor is suspected to be kept for
illegal sale Section 22 makes it I'M
territory any liquor except to the bona.
fide consignee. Section % makes 1t
unlawful for dispensaries to ship liquor
Commissioner OF Agriculture shall
cause to be made analyses of liquor
submitted TO him upon the written re-
quest of any state. county or munich
pal official. Section 20 places the bur-
den OF proof upon the defendant to
show that liquor which has actually
intoxicated Is not intoxicating.
Formidable Weapon.
Perhaps the most formidable weapon
put by Speaker Byrd,s bill into the
hands of the upholders OF the law is
found in section 20. This Is an origi-
nal section. no separate bill having
has been taken from the Kansas law.
and is is follows:
..AII places where ardent spirits are
manufactured, sold, bnrtered or given
va In Wi nj Inv, Af he FSfn ~
this net, are hereby declared to be
common nuisnnces, and every person
who maintains or assists in maintain-
Ing such place shall be guilty Of a
1nisdemennor. The Acknowledgement or
the attorneys for the Commonwealth
of the several cities and counties or
such nuisance exists or Is kept or main
tnined, mny maintain suit In the
name of the State to abate and per-
pctually cnjoin the same.
The bill of Injunction shall be yerI-
fled by oath, and no bond shall be re-
CURED when such suit shall be brought
by the Attorney-Genernl or nny attor-
ncy for the Commonwealth.
ANY person yfOla>-nE the terms OF
any Injunction granted In such proceed
inEs shall be punished for contempt
nor more than five hundred dollars, and
by imprisonment In jail for not less
than thirty days nor more than SIX
months, In the discretion OF the court
Mr.. Byrd believes that this section
will enable the forces of law and order
TO absolutely wipe out such disorderly
places as Pine Beach, for instance.
Section 10 provides as follows:
'.No person shall sell or dispense
ardent spirits of any description on
Sunday or Christmas Day, or to n per-
son under twenty-one years of age, no,
shall such person be employed in any
capacity In any snloon, or to any stu
dent ut my public school. college o,
university, or to iunatic, idiot, o,