The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-27
LOCAL OPTION


Changes Suggested In Present Laws
"a considerable number of changes
in the local option laws are urged by
Pliny Marsh, attorney for the Anti
Saloon league, and it is said they are
agreed to by the wet interests as beino
fairer to both sides. These changes
mean no great overhauling of the laws
but merely a Strengthening out of some
of the kinks occasoned by oversights in
former legislation.
The first change sought is one that
will permit the presence of challengers
at the polls when local option is being
voted upon. Under the present laws,
the only challengers that may be at the
polls are representatives of the political
parties. Both vets and drys seek to
make it possible for challengers rep.
resenting the wet and dry interests to
be- present also and perform their func.
tions.
Another change is one that will per-
NIT of a recount after an election.
Several counties have gone either wet
or dry by very close margins and the
different factions have thought at times
that recount might have changed
the result But under the present law
there is no provision for recount and
the first count, no matter how close the
result, must stand
Another change will provide for
four years instead of two as the term
for which county must be wet or dry
after an election. The present law pro-
vides that there may be an election but
once in two years. Both parties feel
that longer term will be more advan-
tageous and four years has been the
term decided upon.
Under the present laws druggists
are held liable for filling prescriptions
for liquor, but there is no liability on
the part of doctors who write these
prescriptions in dry territory. As a re-
su t, in some localities certain doctors
have made good thing out of writing
prescriptions for liquor at so much a
prescription. The change proposed will
hold the doctors liable as we'll as the
druggists.
Still another proposed change that
will he asked by both the wet and dry
interests will permit the sale in dry
territory of alcohol for external use in
the same manner that under the pre-
sent law alcohol may be purchased for
chemical and mechanical uses 1t will
be required that the person buying the
alcohol shall file an affidavit that it is
tor external use only, such as an alcohol
rub.
Under the present law, too, dentist
are not permitted to purchase alcohol
or liquor in dry territory on their own
Mr.. Marsh says it never
occurred to him that dentists had a
considerable and legitimate use for
alcohol and that leaving them out was
a pure oversight. Now it is proposed
to let dentists secure alcohol for dental
work or liquor in case of emergency as
sometimes happens when person takes
an anesthetic, upon his own prescrip-
ton.
Another change will make the pay
ment of the revenue tax prima facie
evidence of the sale of liquor. The pre-
sent law makes the display of the
receipt evidence, but this is lodged by
of the receipt. Now it is
proposed that when man pays the
government tax, which can always be
learned at the revenue Office, that shall
constitute the evidence sought.
These changes are the only ones Mr.
Marsh has in mind, and they are nearly
f not quite all, agreed to by the wet
interests Grand Rapids Herald.