South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-12-19
DECEMBER 10. 1922
THREE GOOD PROPOSALS

Three recommendations Of the Indiana Municipal
league To the next session Of :he legislature all de-
signed 20 put tech in Che present prohibition en-
Corccmeut laws. ought 10 be enacted by the incom-
ing legislature. These recommendation. coming as
tbey 1o from body which have no selfish per-
sonal aims and whose members have been in closest
touch win matters relating to the enforcement Of
she liquor laws are worthy Of the greatest consid-
Grafton
Two OF these three recommendations are necessi-
ttss to make the present statutes more than joke
and the third recommendation is in the nature Of
most promising experiment.
The first two call for the mandatory imposition Of
a Jail sentence for conviction OF violation or the
laws ana the increase OF the pcralty for driving
automobile while intoxicated, from nominal fine
to six months I'm Jail The third recommendation
Is that cities should be given the power license
soft dr4nk rarlors as a police measure
The first recommendation, making it obligatory
On cour; TIC impose a jail sentence anyone con-
yictcd OF violation of the prohibition laws, would
have a most wholesome effect. Booteggers do not
fear a dne-they can make that up I'm a single days
businesz.-but they do fear term in jail Such
law would resul: in uniforn policy in handIing
liquor cases in every court in the state. Reversal
81 disregard Of established Local policies would
no longer be the scauda! il has become in many
communities. wet special Judge would be bound
under the law to impose jail sentence on convic-
tion Where the only loophole through appeal
to a higher court would be reversal at the hands
of a jury Of a lower court verdict, such law would
not tend for long a least. increase the number
Of appeals to higher courts.
For years this state has been far behind other
states in dealing with cases of drunken auto drivers.
The present law. in force since automobiles first
came into existence has long been out Of date and
the penalty has become far too light in comparison
with the gravity Of the onense A drunken driver
is the greatest menace safety the highways
that this country knows. He menaces not only his
OWE fool but that of everyone whom he happens
To meet \ six months jail sentence staring a pros
pectlve drunk in the face should act to make him
think twice before making himself amenable to the
heavy jail penalty. It should deter him, while still
sober. either from getting drunk from driving
car if he should decide he must get drunk.
The third proposal giving a municipality the right
to license soft drng parlors may provide the most
effective weapon yet devised combat bootleEgins.
The right to grant license carries with it the right
to revoke that license and it viii enable munich
paIty to put out OF business Bookkeeping Joint
doing business under the guse of being soft drink
dispensary.
Police records show very great proportion Of
violations Of liquor laws in places doing business
as solft drink parors Obtaining evidence of viola
tions is becoming increasingly difficult Under the
proposed new law violations would be checked 10y
revocation Of the license to conduct such estab-
Ishment. and a most effective weapon against the
bootIegging trust would be in the hands OF every
city's law enforcement officers.