ADULTERATED LIQUORS.
The PRESIDENT pro tempore announced the special order, it being Mr. Cooper's bill (130) to prevent the sale of adulterated liquors and the adulteration thereof; the question being upon the adoption of the amendments proposed by the Committee from which the bill is reported.
Mr. HEFFREN took it that if the bill was amended as is proposed by the committee we would have a law that would be carried into effect, and one that would effectually do away with drugged or impure liquors. Members, if they were to drink the liquors furnished them now-a-days in this city would be burned out in the time they lived here during one session of the Legislature. [Laughter.]
Mr. SLACK thought the analysis of the liquors proposed in the bill was impracticable, for he did not believe there was a competent chemist in half the counties of the State. He thought the thing impracticable and was opposed to the whole bill.
The first amendment - requiring the County Commissioners at their first regular meeting in June to appoint a competent person to examine and analyse all spirituous and malt liquors and vinegar to be sold in the county was adopted.
The second amendment - requiring the chemist to give certificates whether the liquor be pure or adulterated - was adopted by consent.
The third amendment was then read. It allows to the chemist $2 for his examination of the first barrel or parcel and 50 cents for each additional parcel presented at the same time; to be paid by the person presenting the same.
Mr. TURNER was opposed to the pay of the county chemist. Every country merchant sells vinegar. According to this bill they would have to get it analyzed, and as they hardly ever get more than one barrel at a time it would materially increase the price of that article. He was in favor of striking out the word "vinegar" wherever it occurs, but would vote for the bill, because he would throw no impediment in the way of any temperance bill that may come up.
Mr. BOBBS thought if we could make this bill perfect it would be a good thing.
Mr. WALLACE preferred the bill passed by the House of Representatives to any other bill that had been introduced. He desired to see it perfected and passed by this body.
Mr. HEFFREN was in favor of giving the people a law and trusting to the courts for the right construction. He hoped the amendment would be concurred in.
Mr. MARCH had no objections to the general principles of the bill where it refers to intoxicating liquors, but thought the vinegar clause was impracticable.
The third amendment was then adopted.
The fourth and last amendment was then adopted by consent. It provides that any person who may barter or sell any impure or drugged liquors or vinegar shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and be fined for the first offense not less than $10 nor more than $50; for the second offense not less than $25 nor more then $200, to which may be added imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding 30 days.
Mr. McCLURE moved to recommit with instructions to amend by incorporating in the bill some kind of a standard by which the purity Or different kinds of spiritous liquors and vinegar may be tested.
On motion by Mr. HEFFREN, this was laid on the table
Mr. MARCH moved to amend by striking out of the bill all in relation to vinegar.
The motion was agreed to by consent.
Mr. McLEAN inquired if this bill would conflict with the Temperance bill which had been reported from the House.
Mr. HEFFREN said this bill was intended to stand upon its own merits, entirely independent of any other.
Mr. BROWN thought the compensation was too little for the chemist.
Mr. BLAIR proposed to amend by striking out of the second section the provision which requires the chemist to have a diploma from a medical college.
Mr. Bobbs and Mr. March favored the amendment, pending which -
The Senate took a recess till 2 o'clock P. M.
