Year: 1859

AdulteratiOn of Wines and Liquors.


We have obtained copy of Mr.. Fuller'a
Bill, in the Legislature, to prevent the adul-


teration Of wines and liquors. The following
is copy;


SECTION 1.-The sale Of any wines, liquors
beers, Oles, or drinks of any kind to be used as
beverage, in this State containing any drugs of a
poisonous character whatever, is prohibited


SEC. Amy person, or persons convicted of a
violation of the provisions Ofthe last section shall
be punished by fine in any sum not less than five
hundred dollars, or Imprisonment in the county
Jail for not less than six months, or both, at the
discretion ofthe Court


SEC. 3.-The Board ofSupervisors of each coun-
ty in this State, shall appoint competent chem


st as inspector, whose duty it shall be to inspect
all wines, and other drinks that he may deem
proper to inspect, or that he may be called upon,
by other persons making proper complaint OF the
violation OF this act to inspect, and where he shall
lind that any liquors have been sold, with which
poisonous drugs have been mixed in violation OF
the first section of tins act he shall give notice
thereof to the District Attorney Of the county
and upon receiving such notice, it shall be the du-
ty of the District Attorney to institute proceed
ings forthwith for the punishment Of the party,
or parties, guilty thereof


SEC. 4.-Said inspector shall, upon entering up
on the duties OF his Office, give bond which shall
be approved by the Board of Supervisors, in the
penal sum of not less than one thousand dollars,
and shall take and subscribe oath to faithfully
discharge the duties Of his office.


Sec. 5.-The inspector shall have as compen-
sation for his services the usual fees and mileage
of witnesses in civil cases, together with fee for
each inspection properly made by him, not to ex-
coed fifteen dollars, and to be determined by the
Board Of ofSupervsors and to be paid out of the
funds arising from fines collected for violations of
this act.


SEC. G.-In all prosecutions under this act, the
testimony of the Inspector shall be admissible.


SEC. This act shall take effect on the first
day Of July next,


In addition to the above, it is proposed to
add the following section:


In counties where competent Inspector can
not be had or may not be appointed, persons COM
planning of the violation OF this act may apply to
the nearest official Inspector.


The intent of this law is n good one. hay
ing for its object nothing more nor less than
the preservation of the mental and physical
health of the community, which is now be-
ing rapidly undermined and destroyed by the
poisonous liquors which are vended on every
hand. Our Judgment may be incorrect, but
we should suppose that the law would be
better carried into effect, were the third sec
tion changed so as to make it the duty of the
Inspector to inspect the liquors generally in
every establishment in the county, at least
once month, regularly, and to make his re-
gular report to the Board of Supervisors-
This regular and systematic inspection of all
the liquors in every establishment where Ii
quors are sold, either by wholesale or retail
shonld be peremptorily required, in addition
to the inspection provided for in the section
alluded to, to wit; whenever the Inspector
thinks proper himself to examine liquors or
whenever he is called upon to do SO by com.
plant Of other parties.


We think also that the bond of the Inspec-
tor should be much larger than one thousand
dollars. The office is too responsible one
for so small bond Let it be at least five
thousand dollars.


Section sixth provides that, ain all prose
cutons under this act, the testimony of the
Inspector shall be admissible" The testimo-
ny should be absolute and conclusive, for any
number of quack chemists could be found
who would readily take the stand and swear
the official chemists reported examination
and analysis into empty nothingness, but
courts of justice might not feel at liberty to
exclude other testimony. Under this view of
the case, then, we should think it would be
a good amendment to the Act to require the
Board of Supervisors to annul every mans Ii
cense, for one years time, against whom the
Inspector shall make complaint, no matter
whether he has been convicted in court or
not. No man who may have been reported
by the official chemist as guilty Of selling
poisonous drinks should be allowed in fact, to
sell another drop of liquor in the county.


Unless the law is very stringent, indeed, it
will totally fail of its Object, because the
temptation to sell deteriorated and deleteri-
GUS liquors is so great, from the immense pro-
fit that is attendant upon the sale, that the
more unscrupulous dealers ,ciH adultera.e the
articles they offer, if there is any earthly
chance for them to do so with impunity.


This subject is one of immense Importance,
however trivial it may appear to superficial
minds Disease and death are being spread
broad cast over the land broken constitu-
tions and wrecked minds are strewn on every
hand, like ghastly monuments to the fell De
stroyer, and the evil is of SO terrific a charac-
ter as to require the interposition of the law
to stnn II in its desnlntincr cnnrse