Middletown transcript., 1915-06-26
ACT ON PROHIBITION
A Canvass Shows Great Activity
by Law Makers
FLORIDA AND ALABAMA DRY

Inc Associated Press of legislative ac-
tlVity this year in the state law making
bodies of the country, most of which
have adjourned for the summer shows
that among the subjects which received
notable attention was that of the pro-
hibitlon or the regulation of the LIQUOR
traffic.
The legislatures of two states enact
ed statutory prohibition to become eff
fectlve this year, and eight voted to
submit the question of statewide pro-
hlbition to referendum of the people.
Ot the latter, two established statutory
prohibition to become effective in the
meantime. Four states where prohibi-
ton is already effective passed addi
tlonal restrictive laws and two of the
ilve states, where, under constitutional
amendment, prohibition is to 90 into
effect next year, enacted necessary sta
tutes for it's enforcement, In six of
the so-called "wet" states, statewide
proposals met defeat. In others cues
ton of transportation and licensing
were acted upon.
The two states where direct prohibi-
ton laws were passed are Florida and
Alabama. Those who legislatures voted
to submit the question to the people
are Idaho, Iowa, Montana, South Caro-
Ina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont and
the territory of Alaska. In Iowa the
legislative resolution, according to the
state constitution, must be passed by
the next succeeding legislature, before
the people can vote on it, but the state
returned to statutory prohibition mean
while, through the repeal of the So
called mulct law, Idaho was also made
dry meanwhile through statutory
enactment. In Utah the bill was We
toed by the governor after the legisla-
ture adjourned. In South Carolina the
vote will be taken at the election this
year, in Montana, South Dakota, Yer
mont and Alaska in 1916; Idaho in 1916.
twill be thus seen that as measure
of the progress of the cause of prohibi-
ton the fifteen states already in the
ranks have this year been REINFORCED
by four and the legislative way cleared
for four others, including Alaska to
join. In the latter event nearly half
the country will have placed the ban on
the liquor traffic.
The new Florida law goes into effect
October / and prohibits the sale of al
coholic beverages except in sealed pack
ages of less than One-half pint each,
nor can liquor be drunk on the premises
where sold. This applies to restaurants
hotels and clubs as we'll as saloons.
The Alabama law was passed over
the veto of Governor Henderson. 1t
becomes operative July l. In addition
the legislature enacted an an'i-shipping
law. which forbids the shipping to an
individual of more than one gallon of
liquor or 60 bottles of beer a month.
Its validity was taken to the Supreme
Court for test. There was also passed,
over the governors veto, an act for
bidding the publication of liquor adver-
tisements in newspapers and period-
Gals, On billboards or in saloons. This
was also taken to the courts
In Iowa, the repeal of the mulct law,
under which communities by major
ity petition We're allowed to have sa-
looms operated under a mulct tax, had
the effect of returning the state to the
statutory prohibition which prevailed
prior to the laws enacted twelve years
ago Content neither with this nor the
passage of the resolution for consti-
tutional prohibition amendment, the
Legislature also enacted eleven prohibi.
tion enforcement bills.
In adopting statutory prohibition,
pending the constitutional amendment
vote, Idaho enacted a provision coneed-
ed to be more drastic thau any ever at
tempted in the United States. 1t makes
even ownership, of liquor misdemea-
nor, and on second offense felony.
The Montana legislature decided to
refer the question to the people, in
1916 in the form of a statute after
rejecting a proposed constitutional
amendment vote The law would per
init the use of wine for sacramental
purposes and in lodge ceremonial work.
If approved it VIII become effective
December 81, 1918. In connection with
the measure, the legislature enacted
early closing and Sunday closing laws
for the saloons. A
The general assembly of South Car-t
olina took up large part of its session
in discussing prohibition. Besides
drafting a stste-wide law for submisf
sion to a referendum at the election q
September l2, 1915, the assembly z
acted statute which makes effect
in the state the provisions of the W.
Kenyon federal act against the ~
ment of liquor from wet" to II
territory, South Caroliua nowiik
local option. The statute also
the shipment of more than oraf
of alcoholic liquors to any one
i the state during any one mon
The South Dakota legislatl
, cs submit statewide con-
amendment to the
1916. If carriedt
votes cast, it w
July l, 1917.
5 The statewide
a which the Governor
6f ter tsa3 the .9djo 9djoqr%ePse R99 1CtI ST