106 
Urdahl—Historical Survey of Fee Systems. 
lie, and furthermore that all licensed houses shall be “on or near 
the high roads, streets, and places of great resort. ” As early as 
1712 we find a statute which attempted to accomplish the same 
thing, by giving the licensing authorities power to suppress 
unlicensed establishments and to decrease the number of licensed 
ones. It was further provided in 1787 that all persons apply¬ 
ing for a license outside of the regular time, shall pay six shil¬ 
lings to the county, besides the usual fees; and the old pro¬ 
vision was continued in force, to the effect that all licensed 
houses must keep on hand provisions for entertaining men and 
beasts. 
One of the most significant characteristics ol all the liquor li¬ 
cense legislation of the colonial period, is the fact, that it con¬ 
cerned taverns and ordinaries only. The taverns and inns 
were very important factors in colonial life. Every crossroad 
had its tavern or inn for accommodation of travelers and car¬ 
riers, which was an absolutely necessary part of the transporta¬ 
tion facilities of the time. The licenses were aimed, not so 
much at the regulation of the liquor traffic, as at the regulation 
of the taverns, so as to make them furnish suitable accommoda¬ 
tions at reasonable rates. In fact it was not unusual to regu¬ 
late the rates, prescribe what provisions must be kept on hand, 
fix a minimum standard of quality of beer, and regulate the 
maximum price per pint. 1 The modern saloon or grog-shop did 
not exist and was not recognized by law until 1816, when the 
first act was passed authorizing the grant of licenses to persons 
who did not maintain taverns. Two years later we find the li¬ 
cense fee raised from one to four dollars per annum, 2 besides 
the usual fees for registration and other services. From this 
time on the liquor license fee has gradually increased until it 
became what we have it today. 
1 In Virginia the licensee bound himself to sell his liquor at the price set 
by the commissioners. 
Applicants for innholders’ licenses were required to take an oath not to 
violate the law against monopolies, nor to sell liquor at higher prices than 
was prescribed by law. Acts and Resolves of Province of Massachu¬ 
setts, V, 647. 
2 Colonial Laws , Mass., from Boston Courier , p. 19. 
