The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-02-02

pensary Bill

The purpose of this bill is to es-
tablish Cecil County Dispensaries.
Liquors above 40 alcoholic content
in sealed packages would be sold only
in County stores. No licenses for such
sales by individuals would be issued
after April 80, 1915.
This is no experimental proposition.
All of the Eastern Shore Counties ex-
cept Dorchester "a dry county, and
Caroline (dispensary bill pending)
have county stores. Hartford and
Montgomery counties have them.
Pennsylvania has State stores. We
are thus surrounded by this system.
The advantages of the system are
first, revenue, and secondly, better
enforcement. Citing from the 1914
report of the Comptroller, net profits
last year were, Montgomery County,
1921, 70O.14; Hartford county, $171,-
965.77; Worcester county, $169.384-
sc; Wicomico county, $109,300.34.
Conservatively, Cecil County can OBJ
tain yearly income OF we'll over
100000 from this source.
Control and law enforcement
would be greatly improved. The coun-
ty commissioners acting as the Con-
troll Board are elective officers direct
ly accountable to the people. Private
licensees can run their business as
long as they choose so long as no
competen tevidence can be produced
to convict of violations. Evidence is
hard to obtain and violations diff
cult to prove, as enforcement officers
well know. But public officials are
always under public observation and
abuses are checked by the force of
public opinion without the TECHNICAL
ties of court procedure. In addition,
the bill itself provides certain safe
guards: no dispensary can be located
within 1000 feet of school or 500
feet of church, stores must have
glass fronts SO the interior is visible
from public street; no chairs or
no lettering is permitted; hours OF
| opening are from a. m. to 9 p. M;
no sales can be made to kabitual
drunkards, minors or intoxicated
persons; no employee can have any
financial interest except his salary
under penalty of Imprisonment
These are the advantages and ben
efits of the proposed law The objec-
lions come naturally and most voci
| ferously from the liquor dealers. The
issue is between the public interes
and private interests. These dealer
pay $4,000 each as license fees, OF
total of $1875 annually to tn,
county from all five of the "Off- sale
licenses. AS against this, the county
can receive we'll over a hundred thou.
sand dollars year, net, from dispen.
saries. The right to sell liquor is no
private. vested or property right
t is privilege under license, which
he State may grant or withhold al
| it's pleasure. This has been SO from
the foundation of our government
| ikis has been so both from the poiu,
! If revenue as well as for purposes o.
,ontrol.
The time to adopt this system il
low Had it been made part of the
original law in 1888, no opposition
would have arisen. The longer licen
,es become entrenched, the more
1ifficult it will be to change it. The
imperative and immediate need of the
County for a new source of revenue
| requires action now. Increased school
costs are even now in the course OF
enactment; funds for postwar build
ng to match State and Federal ap.
| preparations ought now to be provid-
I'd; the end of war wages and prices
will reduce ability to pay. If we mis-
his opportunity to secure this large
amount of additional revenue, taxes
must inevitably go up.
The dispensary bill is now in the
lands of the county legislators. They
should be informed of the wishes o.
he people. Private interests are &C
tive and alert In opposing it. If the
I public generally is not equally alert,
we shall lose the revenue and the
chance better to enforce and control
in the public interest. AS little as
post card addressed to Cecil Count.
Delegation, Annapolis, Md, is suffi
cient. If you approve Of this law,
imply write on a post card, II ap
prove of the Dispensary Bill" ano
give your name and address.
f. T. KINTNER