The Yale expositor., 1911-01-20
Changes in Local option Law.

Considerable changes in the local
option laws are urged by Pliny W..
Marsh, attorney for the Anti-Saloon
League, and it is agreed to by the
wet interests as being in the spirit
OF fair play to both sides. These
changes mean no great overhauling or
the laws, but merely Strengthening
out OF some of the kinks and over
sights of 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 chaIlengers that may be ut the
polls are representatives of the polit-
ical parties. Both vets and drys seek
to make II possible for challengers
representing the wet and dry inter
ests to be present and perform their
functions.
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 a recount might have
changed the result. But under the
present law there has been no pro-
vision for a recount and the hrst
count, no matter how close the result,
has been made to stand. Another
change will provide for four years in
stead of two as the term for which a
county must be wet or dry after an
election. The present law provides
that there may be an election but
once in two years. Both parties feel
that a longer term will be more adj
vantageous 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 the
doctors who write these prescriptions
in dry territory. AS result in some
localities certain doctors have made
a good thing out of writing prescrip-
tions for liquor at so much per pre-
scription. The change proposed will
hold the doctors liable as well as the
druggists who fill them.
Still another proposed change that
will be 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 present law alcohol may be pur-
chased for chemical or mechanical
uses. 1t will be required that the
person buying the alcohol shall file
an affidavit that it is for external use,
such as an alcohol rub only. Under
the present law, too, dentists are not
permitted to purchase alcohol or
liquor in dry territory on their own
prescription. Mr. Marsh says it never
occurred to him that dentists had a
considerable and legitimate use for
alcohol. and that leaving them out
was pure oversight. Now it is pro-
NIT it and insisted on the vote be-
posed to let the dentist secure alcohol
for dental work or liquor in case OF
emergency, as sometimes happens
when a patient takes an anesthetic
upon his own prescription. Another
change will make the payment of the
revenue tax prima facie evidence of
the sale Of liquor. The present law
makes the display Of the receipt evi.
dence, but this is lodged by conceal.
ment of the receipt Now 1t is pro.
posed that when a man pays the gov.
eminent 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 near
ly all, if not quite, all agreed to by
the wet interests.