The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-12-18

the acknowledgment OF their sigma.
lures on these prescriptions by no.
tary public surely the express COM
panies are cooperating with the gov.
| eminent, but we need not be surprised
after they have adopted this precau-
ton IL they be beset by litigation pro-
voked by liquor vendors In Baltimore
| and other places who VIII undertake to
| compel them to transport liquor for
them without a prescription.
we must make the exceptions which
the federal government makes as
/ above but should we not also show to
the government the same spirit of CO.
operation shown by the express COM
pantes and require a physicians pre-
| scription OF those who would take de-
livery of ardent spirits for medicinal
/ purposes q If we do not the bone-d dry
| feature will be failure.
| Second. There is a large quantity
| of ardent spirits In the possession of
various courts throughout the state
which has been seized and held as con-
traband. This should ali be turned
over to the commissioner of prohibit
ton to have the alcohol extracted. or
to be otherwise disposed of so that it
could be put to a useful purpose and
the proceeds covered into the state
treasury in accordance with law.
''The state itself continually buys al
cohoi for the e1eemosynary institu-
lions and laboratories in the public
schools and hospitals.
Third All persons having in their
possession In their homes or elsewhere
ardent spirits in excess of one quart,
which was bought and stored before
November 1. 1915 should be required
to file with the commissioner of pro-
hibition at Richmond a. sworn inven-
tory of each and all OF the liquor in
their possession. and All ardent spirits
not so listed should be declared con-
traband and subject to seizure and dis
position by the commissioner.
This would protect gentlemen and
gentiewomen who prize their cellars
and who under no imaginable cfrcum-
stances would permit an unlawful use
Of the same, and at the same time pre-
vent the spurious defense so frequent
ly set up by bootleggers who have
stored large quantities OF liquor for
sale. and give the power of seizure to
those who now must take all such ar
dent spirits to court. and II the defend
ant be acquitted. return the ardent
spirits to their door.
Fourth. Stills and appurtenances
for manufacturing ardent spirits should
likewise be registered under oath with
the commissioner OF prohibition at
Richmond and all unregistered stills
be declared contraband. The federal
government does this, and when an IL
licit and unregistered sttll is found it
and It's appurtenances are forthwith
destroyed by revenue agents--destroy-
ed because Illicit distiliers will not dare
to register their stills and they are all
contraband
Fifth. Judges of circuit courts and
justices Of the peace should be author
ICED to issue warrants for persons
violating the prohibition law in any
part of the state and -returnaofe before
justice OF the peace when the party
is overtaken In the offensc. This IS
the only wa5 to cope with offenders
whose offenses are committed in auto
mobiles, boats and trains rapidly NOV
ing from Jurisdiction to Jurisdiction
Sixth. Drunkenness should be more
severely penaliEed than by the present
state law.
Seventh. The Virginia navy now used
by the department of f1sh and game
should be so AFFILIATED by law with
this department of government that the
entire feet or any part OF 1t might be
used TO prevent the transportation OF
ardent spirits unlawfully In Virginia
waters and to Virginia ports and land
ings.
Eighth. The appropriation for this
department for the next two years
should be raised to one hundred thou
s"iiu upiiaiS tsiPuTVVo1 per ahnuTu rms
Will provide for a small boat and It's
operation until the Virginia navy is
released by Thea federal government
which now uses IL for war purposes.
and for necessary enlargement of the
present force and for the Inevitable in
crease which must be made ia the
force already employed.
Most of the persons employed by
me are on salary much lower than
they can obtain elsewhere and less
than they can live upon. From LOYALTY
they have continued but they cannot
continue longer without an increase in
their salaries Then there will be /
slight Increase in travelling expenses
under war conditions which has already
set in Il do. not think th9s department.