Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-03-08
OPTION
OUTSIDE Of
THE TOWNS
PROVIDED IN MEASURE
BY COUNCILMAN HEWITT 7
Would Require Petition of Ma
jority of Inhabitants, Both
Male and Female Before
License Could Be Granted,
Morning Journal Bureau,
The Palace Hotel.
Snnta En. n. NJ. Mnrnh !

Councilman Hewitt OF Lincoln
county has introduced Il bill in the
council bearing upon the regulation
OF the liquor traffic which has gone
with other such bills to the commit
tee on territorial affairs. which pre-
sents a somewhat novel feature and
one which Will commend itself
strongly to advocates of regulation OF
the liquor traffic who are not yet
ready to approve sweeping local OPP
ton law.
The feature of the Hewitt bin is
that ii provides. virtually, for local
option on saloon operation in the
country districts, without the expense
of an election In the cities ana IN
corporated towns the governing coun-
ellis and boards would continue 70
have the power TO grant licenses with
out petition: but in unincorporated
towns and country districts the coun
" commissioners would be required,
before granting q license, to have be-
fore them petition signed by a ma
jority of every inhabitant OF the pre-
cinct both male and female, approN-
ing such license This would be To-
cal option in effect and in its strong
est form since IL would give TO women
also the right 10 declare their wishes.
I'm the cities and Incorporated towns
the bill provides that the governments
thereof may grant licenses without
such petition, II being provided That
for every such license granted. the
board granting IL shall have the pow
er to collect a license of not less thah
5000 or more than $4,000 per annuh'
which would go, II in the country. 70
the credit Of the precinct and II IN
the town or city to the treasury OF
cuph town or city.
This would allow of wide latitude in
fixing licenses and would result al
most Immediately in the closing oi
the country salor 10. and small saloons
which surround almost every incor-
porated city I'm New Mexico and which
furnish the chief cause of disorder
and crime
The text of the bill, which Is model
ed to some extent after an early Kan
sas law which was In eifect before
the state declared for complete pro
hibition. and which iss a general law
regulating traffic in intoNicants, toll
lows
"An Act to Restrain Saloons, etc
Be it Enacted by the Legislative AS
sembly of the Territory Of New
Section That before n saloon or
dramshop license shall be granted TO
any person applying for the SAINT
such person, if applying for town
shin or precinct license, shall pre-
sent to the board Of county cominls-
sioners petition or recomnehua'luh uh
signed by a majority of the residents
of the township or precinct IN WhlSii
such saloon or dramshop is to De
kent owe the age of twenty one
(2D years, both male and ieHa 20
recommending such applicant as ~
person to keep the same ana reluvas
ing that a license be granted 10 nii'
for such purpose; Provided, that ths
corporate authorities Of incorppratr,"
cities. towns and villages, by orui-
nance, may dispense with the petiuo'
mentioned in this section
soc . That upon every license
granted to saloon or dfahshpu
keeper there shall be levied a thN o'
not less than two hundred uolldI !
(S2OO) nor more than three thousanu
(x3.OOO) for a period of one ll) SVal
the amount of such tax 10 pc u't,,
mined by the tribunal granting W w
license. and such tax shall ne ptiu
into the treasury Of the county ur clly'
town or village granting such license
And IL shall be the duty OF the poai y
AZ county commissioners granting q
license to appropriate all moneys re-
ceiyed for licenses. under TINS act Io'
thc benefit of the township OF Pl.
cinct In which such license was y"
cd Ia he divided equally between the
n,,hlic school and road funds OF such
township or precinct, and an lnCo'
nnrated cities towns ana village,
aholl annropriatc the moneys fecelNcu
hv them for license under TINS ac'
as me council or constitutional au-
thorities thereof may. by ordlhah'e
provide. .t,,,o,,,
Sec. 3. That any person, withou'
"a license
saloon or dramshop keeper VINO shali
directly or indirectly. sell or dlsPshs'
anv spirituous. vlnous. fermented ~
other Intoxicating liquors. shaii "
finad in any sum not more than thi',
hundred dollars (S300) for each sucl
offense. or imprisoned IN the c"uuN
iail not more than thirty GOV, oas'
for each such offense, or Dy p"'n a's, ~,
fine and imrisonmcnt IN the dlsc''''''
- ,hc court irving the cause.
Soc That any person who shal
t,aor onop any saloon or dramshop oi
shall seu or dispense any fermentea
ais,flied or other intoxicating lquoi'
On tbc first day OF the week. com
ronIv called Sunday or upon ens
ciection dav before the close oi th'
nous on such election day. sn"l, ~. ~.
conviction thereof be adJudgrd sull.s
~ a r,isdemeanor and fined IN sun
not less than iiity aolials ~,
he imprisoned in the county jan mo-
loss than ten (loD nor more inai
thirty 900 days. or both su'h l'n' ~
"a ir,nrisonmcnt. II such person
=, i;c.nsed as a saloon or dramshoi
keener he shall in addition TO th'
hove provisions forfeit his teens'
and shall not again be allowed q" on
tain license under the law for q per
iod OF one year next after confi'
tion. ....,
So = That before any pefs"i
shall be licensed as a saloon OF dram
sho7 reerer under the DIVISIONS o
riforv of Nrw Mexico a bond In IN
sum Of two thousand dollars fS2 600
with two ca or more securities Z"
guaranteed hv some bond compan'
authorized to transact and doing husi
-. l.. .t.is t.rfffofax Ia he unprnEel