Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-05-21
Evils Of Prohibition
Is Theme Of Divine
REVEREND WILLIAM WATSON IN PEARsoNs MAGAZINE


option scheme reverses the true Or
der of political administration. It |
wlthholds from the local community |
, those minor but important powers
that the people in the local commits |
nifty are in the best position to exer.
else wisely, while It confers upon the
local community that supreme 20 rel |
of life or death ovef the liquor traf.
fic which ought to be reserved in |
the hands of the state. Under this |
system the liquor leaders and the
public are in constant state of un-
certainty as to the fundamental
question OF regulation or abolition.
At every local-option election, there
is the possibility of complete reyo-
luton of policy. Today the liquor
business is just as legitimate as any
other busineas; tomorrow, It may
be under the ban OF the law. The
question is never settled Neither
side ever wins a permanent victory.
The state alone should settle this
all-important question OF the legal
ity OF the liquor traffic. A question
a., like this, involving the fundamental
rights OF property and of personal
liberty, should not be left to the
decision of majority vote at a local
election. On the other hand. the
state, after establishing the legality
of the liquor business everywhere
within its borders. should grant to
the local community the fullest free
dom and power in the matter Of reg
ulation.
Starting with this general princi-
pie of state rule in matters OF gem
eral policy and home rule in matters
of local administration. the follow
ing is rough outline of the plan
OF regulation that the Writer has in
mind as a substitute for the present
local-option system.
That the people in eacn local com
munity (the township is probably
the best unit be empowered to elect
their own Board of Excise Lor:n:is-
! sioners, twelve in number. 10 gervc
for term of say two years. This
board should have power 70 deter
mine the amount of tho license fee
(within maximum and rlipimrm
limits fixed by the state)' TO deter
mine how many licenses should be
: issued (within maximum and mini
mum limits fixed by the state); to
determine the question Of prohibited
days and hours, and all other qucs.
tions of n purely local nature. The
board should have sole power : to
grant and revoke licenses. subject TO
certain rules OF procedure. The APP
: lplicants should be required to pre-
! sent to the board a certificate OF
3. good moral character. signed by
: twelve reputable persons. who should
5 be property owners and residents OF
, the community. The board should
: be required to hold a public hearing
: on all applications for license, and
+ an opportunity be given to remop-
= straits, should there be any. to pre-
0 sent their objections. After this
| hearing, the board should have full
: discretionary power by majority
e vote ito grant or refuse any applica-
5 tion. And there should be no ap'
e peal from their decision, This pow
: er to grant licenses is the most I'm
e portant of all. II is the key to the
: whole situation. And this Ike,
9 should be placed in the hands of thu
h people most nearly affected. II WI
I can prevent unfit persons from get
II ting into the liquor business. W.
L have, at the very outset, solved nine
+ tenths of the problem of regulation
r The trouble now is that almost any
e body that has the price, whether h
o Is morally fit or not, can get a u
l. cense and start up saloon. Tn
IS law may require that the licensee b
l. person OF good moral character
e but that requirement amounts I
e simply nothing at all unless som
e person or persons be empowered I
II determine In each case the questio
n OF moral fitness. And who is BET
10 ter qualified to exercise this powe
RI than twelve men elected by and r'
" sponsible to the people OF the con
At munity? The board should ais
" possess the sole power to revoke ]
err censes. On the complaint of an
b. citizen that certain liquor dealt
to was violating the law or that he WI
Sc maintaining a nuisance of any kin
n It would be the duty of the boar
re TO hold public trial of the matte
- summon and swear witnesses, an
at give The accused person an oppo
OF tunity to defend himself. Aft'
u hearing all the evidence. the boat
On should have power by a two-thlr'
be vote TO dismiss the case or suspeI