Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-22
A Canvass Of Legislative
Activities Shows Progress
OF the Prohibition Cause

Vermont's prohibition proposal was
In the form Of law which will be
| submitted to the people at the munic-
| ipal elections in the spring of 1916. If
| passed, it's effect will be drastic as 1t
makes no provision TOR the sale of
| liquor for medical and mechanical
purposes.
The four prohibition states which
decided to strengthen their present
laws were Kansas. North Carolina,
Tennessee and West Virginia The
Kansas measures approach the
! unique in prohibition legislation. Two
were passed, one providing that the
municipality where liquor is sold is
liable for damage for injury to per-
sons or property resulting from in
toxication. The other, which is aimed
at those who permit so-called "keg
parties" to be held on their premises.
imposes similar liability upon the
owner Of property where liquor is sold
or given away.
| North Carolina passed an anti
shipping act. known there as the
| "anti-jug" act which forbids the ship
ment to and receipt by any one per-
son Of more than one quart of spirit
uous liquors and five gallons Of malt
beverage every Is days.
Tennessee, where the prohibition
laws have not been strictly enforced
in the larger cities, it is said, passed
an custer law, modelled after a Kan
sas Statute, which provides for the
removal from Office Of state, county or
city officials (other than holders Of
constitutional offlces) who fail to en-
force the laws Of the state. The leg
islature also enacted measures for
bidding social and fraternal clubs to
dispense liquor or maintain lockers
for members; placing the supervision
For soft drink stands under the pure
food and drug department and for
bidding them to sell beverages con-
tanning more than one-half per cent
alcohol and prohibiting drug stores
from selling intoxicants except on
bona fide prescriptions given to per-
sons who actually are Ill.
West Virginia enacted amendments
to the Yost prohibition law limiting
shipments Of liquor into the state and
forbidding person to have liquor in
a public place even for his own use.
Nor hereafter can any one in West
Virginia give q drink to another ex-
cept in his own home, home being
specified as permanent place Of res
idence, not hotel or other public
place.
!. All attempts to revise the prohibi-
ton laws Of Oklahoma were defeated.
In Oregon, where prohibition be-
comes effective in January next as the
result of previous action by the vot-
!. ers on constitutional amendment,
the legislature enacted law to en-
force the amendment. The law pro-
hibits the manufacture of intoxicat-
ing liquor in the state and it's sale
except on physicians prescription or
for scientific sacramento or mechan-
, ical uses. 1t allows a limited amount
to be imported by the heads Of fam
lilies.
A law for a similar purpose was en-
) acted in Colorado where a prohibition
amendment goes into effect the same
date. The Colorado law forbids the
buying, selling and giving away of
| liquor except for medical or sacra-
? mental purposes and prohibits COM
mon carriers from transporting liquor
, into the state except for lawful pur-
poses-this includes the transporta-
, ton to individuals who must sign a
, receipt that the liquor is for their own
, use. The law contains a search and
seizure provision and gives the gov
ernor $4,000 yearly for it's enforce
ment
The legislature of Washington
where prohibition Is also effective in
January next, ignored Governor Lis
ter's request for an appropriation OF
$4,000 to enforce the law.
The liquor traffic in Arkansas, hav-
ing been banned by the previous legis-
lature with a law which likewise takes
, effect in January, was not up for con-
! sideration this year. Virginia, which
goes into the dry" column in Novem-
| Der, 1916, held no legislative session
this year.
Statewide prohibition proposals met
, defeat in Connecticut, Indiana, Mich
igan, New Mexico. New York and Wy
oming. The question was before the
General Assembly Of Connecticut as
proposed constitutional amendment
which the legislators declined to send
to the next Assembly for ratification
The legislature. however, increased
the cost of retail liquor licenses 66 ga
per cent and for the first time placed
social and fraternal organizations
serving liquors to members, under ex-
J else regulation. In Indiana a state
! wide measure died in a committee OF
the lower houses.
In Michigan the question promised
, to be one Of the features Of the ses-
!, sion, but nothing came Of it. A bill
, was introduced into the senate pro-
viding for the submission Of statutory
prohibition to the vote Of the people
at general election next year, but
the prohibition leaders themselves
voted against 1t after the liquor fac
ton had attached certain amendments
2 to it which, in the opinion Of the
"drys." defeated the purpose of the
bill
| While a strong effort was made in
the New Mexico legislature to secure
, action on a constitutional amendment
} resolution, the issue was not allowed
} to come to vote in either house. In