Court Opinion

ID: 3665925
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:15:58.833674+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:29:13.790896
License: Public Domain

Under the provisions of chapter 255 of the acts of the General Assembly of 1874-'75 a prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquor by the measure less than a quart was effected in Northampton County. At its session of 1883 the General Assembly enacted a law entitled "An act to regulate the sale of liquor in Northampton County." The limitations and conditions imposed by that statute upon the applicant to sell spirituous or malt liquors, wines, or cordials in quantities less than a quart before a license therefor should be granted by the county commissioners were different from those imposed by the general laws of the State on that subject, and they were also more numerous *Page 123 
and stringent. The regulations concerning the sale of liquor (116) after the license might be obtained, as set out in the last-mentioned act, were in many respects the same as were prescribed in the general law. It was provided, also, in the last-mentioned act that all laws regulating or prohibiting the sale of liquor, in so far as they applied to the county of Northampton, were repealed. At its adjourned session of 1900 the Legislature enacted into law a bill entitled "An act to regulate the issuing of liquor license in Northampton County." Under that act jurisdiction and power to grant license were taken from the board of county commissioners and conferred exclusively upon the judges of the Superior Courts while holding the courts for that county (an honor which we feel sure was not sought by any of the judges).
At the August Term, 1903, of the Superior Court of Northampton County George P. Burgwyn made application for license to retail spirituous and malt liquors, wines, and cordials in quantities less than a quart at his place of business, not in an incorporated town, in Northampton County, under the provisions of the two last above-mentioned acts. Upon the hearing of the petition his Honor was of the opinion that Laws 1903, ch. 233, was applicable to Northampton County and repealed the acts of 1883 and 1900, and that he had no power in law to grant the license. His Honor declined to hear the evidence and pass upon the application, upon the ground that he had no power in the matter. We concur with his Honor upon the disposition he made of the petition, but not for the reason assigned by him.
We are of the opinion that by chapter 9, section 76, Laws 1901, the jurisdiction and power to grant license to retail spirituous and malt liquors in Northampton County were taken from the judges of the Superior Courts (as we think, most properly) and given to the board of county commissioners.
Many changes, for the better, in reference to the manner in which liquor license may be procured were made by section 76, chapter 9, Laws of 1901. Amongst them are provisions to the effect that (117) every person, company, or firm wishing to sell liquor by retail is required, first, to advertise his intention of making such application by publishing a notice of such intention for thirty days next preceding the day on which the application shall be presented to the board of countycommissioners, and proof of such publication, or posting at the courthouse door in case there is no newspaper in the county, shall be shown to the satisfaction of the board before they shall consider the application. Any one who may consider himself aggrieved should the license be granted may contest the same before the commissioners. Every such application for a license to sell liquor shall be in writing, *Page 124 
signed by the applicant and accompanied by the affidavit of six free-holders who are taxpayers and residents of the township in which the applicant proposes to do business, all of whom shall declare, upon oath, that the applicant is a proper person to sell spirituous, vinous, or malt liquors, etc. Upon the filing of such application and affidavit the board of county commissioners may grant an order to the sheriff to issue such license, except in territory where the sale of liquor is prohibited by law. There are other changes, but they need not be mentioned.
So it is seen that the law as written in chapter 9, section 76, Laws 1901, applies to every person, company, or firm in the State who may wish to sell liquors, and extends over every county, city, town, and township in the State, except territory where the sale of liquor is prohibited by law. The sale of liquor is not prohibited by law in Northampton County, and if it had been intended that Northampton County should be excluded from the provisions of section 76, chapter 9, Laws 1901, the exception would have been named under the head of territory where the sale of liquor was regulated by special or local statute.
(118)     It is required, too, that the application be made to the board of commissioners of the counties, and that the license must be issued by them, when issued. The statutes of 1883 and 1900 conflict with section 76, chapter 9, Laws 1901, in the respects above pointed out, and the latter statute therefore repeals the former in the points of conflict.
It does not become necessary to discuss the question whether chapter 233, Laws 1903, applies to the sale in Northampton County.
Affirmed.
DOUGLAS and WALKER, JJ., concur in result.
(119)