Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 61, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 October 1915 — Why Is Not An Attempt Made to Enforce This Law? [ARTICLE]

Why Is Not An Attempt Made to Enforce This Law?

Some of the Rensselaer dealers apparently think that the age limit for selling cigarettes or the “makings” to any person, male or female, is sixteen years. This is a mistake. The limit is twenty-one years, and any dealer violating this law is liable to a fine of not exceeding SIOO for each offense and jail imprisonment of not exceeding three months. They are also liable to prosecution under the 1905 law for contributing to the delinquency of children. The same punishment is provided for a' minor misrepresenting his or her age in order to purchase cigarettes of the makings, or to buy, sell, or have in his or her possession any cigarettes or cigarette paper, etc. (See Acts 1911, page 643.) It will thus be seen that it is unlawful for any clerk under 21 years of age in any place where such articles are kept for sale, to sell same to another person even though the purchaser may be of the legal age to purchase them. No attention whatever is being paid to the enforcement of this law in Rensselaer; and probably not in other parts of Jasper county. We respectfully call the attention of the prosecuting attorney and his deputies to the open violations of this law/ which are observed on every hand, and ask why it is not enforced?—A READER.