Extreme Prohibition in Iowa.

This State passed a Prohibition law, which took effect on the 4th July, 1884. By it no person shall manufacture or sell, directly or indirectly, any intoxicating liquor, with certain exceptions. The sale by the importer of foreign intoxicating liquor imported under the authority of the United States law, and in accordance with such law is allowed, provided it remains in the original casks or packages, and liquor can be manufactured to be used for mechanical or medicinal purposes. The fines are £20 or thirty days for first offence, and £40 or sixty days for second offence against the law. Any citizen, except hotel or saloon keepers, may sell or buy liquor for mechanical, medicinal, culinary, or sacramental purposes, after having procured a certificate from a majority of electors, and having filed a bond of £400 with sureties. Record books of such sales must be kept. A limit of profit on such sales is fixed at 33 per cent. The law prohibits the sale or giving away of any liquor to minors or drunkards without order of guardian, parent, or family physician. No intoxicating liquor may be mixed with wine, beer, or cider for sale. No person shall own or keep with intent to sell, any intoxicating liquor. A warrant for search, on sworn information, will be issued, and all liquor found will be seized and destroyed. No liquor can be brought into the State by rail or otherwise without a copy of certificate of authorisation of sale. A further law of 1886 provides that a district or country attorney or any citizen may bring suit to abate a saloon or nuisance, and, if successful shall receive £4 to be collected from the defendant; and pending action a judge may issue temporary injunction against it, violation of which is subject to a fine of from £60 to £200, destruction of stock of liquor, closure of saloon, and forfeiture of chattels. The finding of liquor is presumptive evidence of intent illegally to sell. Persons under this Act who shall again engage in liquor traffic shall be subject to a term of imprisonment of from three to six months. All railway companies and other carriers carrying or delivering liquor shall be fined £20 and costs, unless provided with a certificate from the County Auditor for each package, and any shipper of liquor misleading such carrier shall be similarly fined. The strict enforcement of this prohibition law has been found to be a matter of great difficulty.