New Britain herald., 1916-03-13
AN OASIS IN THE DESERT.
Washington, Capital of the Nation May Soon Be Wet Spot Be-
 tween Two Dry States.
(NeW Haven UniOn.)


 shortly Washington, D. C., will be a ] much sought wet spot between two | very arid states, Virginia and Mary l land.
 AS the Mapp Prohibition Bill pro- 1 ceeds on ball bearings through the l Virginia legislature and as the 'drys" appear to have the upper hand in the 1 Maryland legislature, it is quite prob 1 able that in a few months the District of Columbia will be a liquor oasis. l Washington will be a wet" spot 1 between two very arid states The 1 national legislators, who so far have 1 refused to deprive themselves of l strong drink by law, will undoubtedly 1 have many visitors coming in from ! Maryland and Virginia of a Saturday night to enjoy the capitals untram- l melled hospitality with them. The Mapp Bill has just passed the l House of Delegates by the crushing vote of SS to 5. It now goes to the Senate, and as this body had already ! passed the measure by 33 to 6 in a slightly different form, it is quite cer- tain the opposition to the bill as l amended by the delegates will be of no avail. Nor is there any doubt that , the governor will sign the bill, which seems to please the state. The Mapp Bill provides, with cer- tain concessions, for wide pro- hibition in Virginia after November i of this year.
 An independent arm of the state government, to be presided over by an officer to be elected by the Gen. eral Assembly for term of four years at salary of $3,5OO a year, and to De known as the Commissioner of Prohibition, is created for the sole purpoce of carrying the act into ef- feet.
 The commissioner is given wide powers in running down and convict ing V1Olators of the law having au- thorlty to appoint as many deputies as he may deem necessary for the conduct of his office, all of them vest ed With powers of sheriffs of the commonwealth. The sum of $50,00O is placed at his disposal for the first two years.
 A person, not a minor or a female, may order from without the state one quart of Whiskey, or one gallon of wine, or three gallons of beer within period of 30 days. He may drink this, however, in no place other than
 
 Druggists, under regulations, may sell pure fruit or grain alcohol for mechanical. scientific or pharmaceu- tlcal purposes, and wine for-sacremen- tai purposes. They may also fill pre- scrIptlons over the signatures of rep utable physicians, who have made a personal examination of their pa tients, provided a prescription does a "a nj of whiskey. A majority of the quail fled voters of a district may prevent the granting of a license to a drug gist.
 Liquors of all descriptions are pro- hibited in clubs, lodge rooms, frater- n1ty houses and other public places Hotels, however, are permitted to keep ardent spirits for culinary and bath purposes
 A court may, in it's discretion re- move trial, move the accused's pro- test, from the jurisdiction in which the alleged offense occurred to any section of the Commonwealth. The Commissioner of Prohibition, or an attorney connected with his office. may associate himself with the attor-s ney for the Commonwealth in prose- cution.
 
 not more than 1 per cent. of alcohol. may be sold.
 Newspapers, published in the state are prohibited from carrying liquor advertisements but the sale and dis tribution of newspapers published outside the state and carrying liquor advertisements are permitted.
 The first violation of any provision Q nt ics6 r,,ic Io,, carrying a fine of not less than $50 nor. more than $500, and confinement in jail for not less than one nor more than six months; the second offense, if not a felony, is punishable by fine of not less than s10O nor more than $5,000, and confinement in jail of not less than six months or more than one year; the second offense, if a felony, is punishable by confinement in the penitentiary for not less than one or more than five years or in the discretion of the jury, by confine- | ment in jail not less than six nor more than 12 months and by a fine not exceeding $500. The purchase or ] having in ones possession of liquor l in violation of the act, it is provided, i shall in no case be considered a fel- | ony
 This bill carries out the will of the l people as expressed in the refer 1 endum of September 22, 1914, when l prohibition passed by 30,000 majority. 1 It makes prohibition more drastic than ,, It otherwise would have been.
 INSANE HETR SHOOTS WIFE.
 New York. March 13-After fatally ! shooting his wife in their room at |