Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-07
strict CURBON
LIQUOR SALESIS
NOW CONSIDERED
CONTINUED from page one)


report as to renewals, transfers, is
suaHces OF licenses, etc, and not the
police duty of raiding illicit sellers
OF intoxicating liquors. Further, it
has not the funds at its disposal to
employ a sufficient force to suitably
police the city, and, even II ample
funds were available, We believe that,
on account of the great temptation Of
fered and the small likelihood Of de-
lection. the local and federal laws
regarding the sales OF intoXiCants
would be violated about as flagrantly
as they are being violated at present.
Difficult TO Convict
There is no difficulty whatsoever
in obtaining information that so-and
SO is doing 'bootlegging, or that such
and such a place is a blind pig, but
it is extremely difficult to obtain suf-
ficient evidence to warrant a convic-
tion,'3 declared Mr.. Cooke.
Some months ago the board passed
a regulation prohibiting the sale TO
persons whom the licensee has rea-
son to suspect will resell the same H.
licitly. Unfortunately we have re-
ceived very little cooperation on the
part Of the majority of licensees in
preventing or checking Illicit selling.
Also there are So licensees on this is
land, the majority being in Homo
lulu. and a customer who intends to
going to a saloon or wholesaler at
which he is unknown. Further, by
employing numerous purchasers, and
by using a little judgment in distrib-
uting his purchases, he can easily de-
ceive the conscientious licensee.
we are advised by the attorney.
general that, in his opinion, we have
perfect legal right to pass and en-
force a regulation prohibiting sales
unless accompanied by a requisition.
Whether or not we have a legal right
to refuse individuals acquisitions
seems to be an open question. Ger
tainly, if the licensees will agree to
refuse all sales unless, accompanied
by requisition. there should be no le-
gal difficulty" said Mr.. Cooke.
In general the idea as explained by
Mr.. Cooke is as follows:
THE inspector is to have a con-
veniently located office at which all
acquisitions will be issued, and at
which he or one of his deputies will
always be present during liquor bust
ness hours. BY card indexing all
purchasers, posting all sales from the
duplicates of the acquisitions on the
index Of purchasers, obtaining sigma
lures on acquisitions Endorsements
and proper Identification, ETC., fair
To- q 70 nNY,Ia hn 4hfainnI
and certainly large number Of sales
to Illicit sellers prevented.
I'VE would intend to cause the least
possible amount Of inconvenience to
legitimate customers, and we believe
that by allowing customers to leave
with their wholesalers signed orders
for acquisitions, dates and quantities
being blank, little or no inconvenience
should be experienced.
"Of course there would be consid-
cradle confusion at the start and it
Is difficult to estimate the amount Of
clerical work which would be iil-
volved. For this reason, We intend at
the start to only require acquisitions
for large amounts of liquor and, IL 1t
seems advisable. when the machinery
is running smoothly. gradually reduce
the amount until acquisitions are re-
quired for all sales for consumption
off the licensed premises.
"As far. as is known, there is no
place where scheme, as outlined
above, has been tried out. Switzer.
land, it is believed, has laws regulat-
ing the use of intoxicants by licens.
ing the purchaser rather than the
seller. The board welcomes any sug-
gestions along the lines as mentioned
above. or along any other lines by
which it can legally check, at the
source. the present large amount Of
illegal traffic in intoxicants.
This regulation will prove imprac-
ticable without the backing of public
sentiment. 1t is possible that some
unforeseen obstacle may render this
plan unavoidable, or that more prac-
ticable method may be suggested. At
present, however, the board feels that,
on account of the emergency which
has arisen. and in view of the state
of affairs existing, regulation along
the lines as outlined is well worth a
fair trial" concluded Mr.. Cooke