The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-18
DOMINION TO VOTE
ON BEER AND WINE
Referendum Set for April
Makes No Provision for
Soldiers Ballots.
Special Correspondence Z, Tun Sun

QUEBEC. March 15.-On some date yet
to be definitely decided. but probably
between April l and 10, the people of
Quebec will vote on the referendum bill
on the question OF light beers, wines and
cider. This was virtually DECIDED YES
terday following lengthy discussion OF
the measure in the Legislative Council.
The only question which will be submit
ted TO the electors for their decision will
probably be: rs it your opinion that
the sale Of beer, cider and wines as de-
fined by law should be allowed"
The ballot paper will be In similar
form to that used in general elections
and the question will be printed in both
English and French. All electors who
were on the electoral lists prepared for
the election of members of the Legisla-
tive Assembly will be permitted to par
tlcipate in the referendum election.
Under the terms of the bill the Liex-
tenant-Governor-in Council may set any
fate between April / and 10 when the
voting shall take place in all OF the
So districts. The agents OF both fac
tions--those for and those against the
measure-are provided for In the bill,
which allows for the attendance OF two
representatives of each at every district.
\ great deal of comment has arisen
a. a result of the prohibition bill brought
in by the Provincial Treasurer, the ques-
ton having arisen rs TO whether IL is
Intended primarily TO regulate the con-
sumption of alcoholic spirits and meet
the medicinal and other specified needs
of the population or whether IL Is in
tended moro as q business tax and a
source of revenue for the province with
discrimination against tho city OF Mon
treal.
Comment along this line was made
by Peter Bercovitch, members for St
Louis. when the resolution was intro
duced fixing the license fees to be paid
by authorized vendors in Montreal at
$4,000, in Quebec at $4,000. in munich
palities with a population of 10000 TO
$4,000 at $4,000 and all other munici-
psIitIes at $1,000 -saA
In connection with the April referen-
dun on light wines and beer a great
deal of criticism has arisen from the fact
that no provision has been made to take
the vote of returned soldiers who are. il
Is declared, virtually disfrnnchised under
the terms of the referendum bill The
question appears TO hinge on whether
voters will be taken from the old cleo
toral list of April. 1917, or from the new
One to be made effective next month.
If the latter, then II is claimed that sew
eral thousand citizens OF Montreal will
be disfranchised because the assessors
did not properly prepare the municipal
list. which is the basis Of the provincial
list
The soldiers who have returned from
the war, II is ead, and who are not on
the list as proprietors will be unable
to cast vote on the referendum be-
cause their names will not be found on
tho electoral list.
No little discussion on the Quebec
prohibition bill has arisen following the
introduction of the resolution fixing the
strength of beer at 2.j1 per cent. weight
alcohol and wine and cider at G.9i per
cent. Much opposition was encountered
by the resolution on both sides of the
house, but It was finally passed on
Thursday after considerable debate.