The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-21
LEGISLATIVE NEEO
Of VERMONT GIVEN
MENTION BY SMITH
Superintendent of League Sees
Demand OF Temperance Peo-
/. pie Against Liquor Traffic
LOCAL OPTION LAW ONE
THAT NEEDS REPAIR
It Is Not Intention of Vermont
ers to Make bringing More
Attractive; Drunken Auto
Drivers Furnish Problem.

Burlington, Vt, Nov. 20.-Clinord
I ii. Smith, perintendent of the Anti
Saloon League Of Vermont, in fore
casting the legislative future on the
wet and dry issue in this State, has
given out the following statement:
The question OF what to do with
the liquor traffic is always with us.
And the coming session OF the Leg
islature at Montpelier next January Is
no exception to the rule There are
some bills that ought to be introduced
and passed. and there are others that
undoubtedly will be introduced. but
which ought not to pass. 1t will be a
good thing 10 have these matters
talked over at home before the session
begins, so that your representatives in
both houses Of the Legislature may
know what you think about them.
"One of the first things to be done
by the coming Legislature should be
the repeal Of the prohibitory law
enacted in 1915. This Is simply a
question of good faith with the vot-
ers. and has nothing to do with a
persons own convictions about the
prohibition OF the liquor traffic. The
Vermont Ant-Saloon League favors
the repeal of the law now on the
statute book. which according to its
terms is to take effect In 1927. Thes
the way VIII be clear for any desir-
able further action.
Law Should Re Clearer
The local option law now in force
is rot clear in its definition OF the
rights OF licensed hotel keepers to
serve liquors TO their guests. In fact
1t does not explicitly give them such
right except In certain special cases,
N oh "a +af r5a ~
when and whore and to whom they
may sell. Certainly II ough. TO make
| impossible tho selling of intoxicating
/ liquors in grills and roof gardens
which are not a part Of the regular
dining service of the hotel. but are
thin}y-ve!le9 excuse for Increasing the
sale OF liquor and making drinking
attractive by the accom- painment Of
music and dancing and light refresh
ments. Whatever the people think OF
allowing hotels TO serve liquors to their
guests CT meals. IT is not the wish OF
Vermonters that liquor drinking
should be made attractive, and special
temptation be put in the way OF young
men and young women by these sub
stitutes for German beer gardens.
The original local option law
adopted in 1903 provided for the ap-
poirtuent of License Commissioners
in license towns by the selectmen.
This plan was soon found to work
! badly, because In a town where the
/ liquor element had a majority OF votes
they would ciect as selectmen men
who would favor the traffic rather
than those who were qualified TO man
age the town business So in 1904,
when the whole law vas rewritten.
the appointment OF License Commits
s!oners was put into the hands of the
assistant Judges OF the equity courts.
IN practice this plan has not worked
well IN some cases It leads TO the se-
lection % ss's slant Judges not because
OF their qualification 10 sit upon the
! bench, but because Of their attitude
toward the liquor traffic. In some
cases there has been open scandal in
connection with their nomination and
election.
Is Difficult Question
TT Ia n difficult question and any
Her~on who can solve II satisfactorily
will be public benefactor But what
ever else is done. the appointment OF
! License Com m1ssioners ought not to
he part Of the duties OF the courts,
It belongs to the executive branch of
the government not TO the judicial
branch.
Originally one-half OF the license
fees went to the towns and the other
half to the State. In some cases 1t
was found that the prospect OF turn
ing a substantial sum of money into
the town treasury led men to vote for
license IN spite OF the evils that might
follow. and TO remedy this condition
the law was amended in 1908 so that
all tho fees should go into the state
treasury He believed that so long as
license are granted this 10 the best
thing that can be done with the fees.
and We hope tho law will not be
charged.
This proposition. so EN- pha.cally
voted down in the Legislature of 1912.
10 likely to make It's appearance again
this winter. In spite Of the fact tina.
the people have 20 decidedly expressed
their opposition to It again and again.
the hotel keepers Of the State, or
rather some Of them. seem to think
there T. . chance OF getting such a
measure through.
Prosperity In Hotel.
but II It appears again 1t will again
meet with tho most determined OPP
position, and we do not think It will
fare much better than before. Yer
mont wants her hotels to thrive when
they meet \ legitimate need. And they
seem to have done a prosperous bust
ness this year. But when q town has
driven the saloon out Of the front
door by a no-liccnse majority. 1t can
not consent TO have II sneak in again
by the back door of licensed ho-
tel.
I'VE hope the Legislature will take
strong action to prevent the reckless
driving OF automobiles by persons
who have been drinking. No man
ought to be granted q license to run
an automobile who In not a total alb
stainer. And II man Is found to be
running a car contrary to such pro-
vision OF his license, the license should
be revoked at once. There Ia no safety
for tho public on tho highway short OF
such drastic action.