Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1854-01-05
no Some two weeks ago, "a petuon was

enforcement oil the Name Law u was
referred 10 committee, who made
the following Report last Tuesday eve-
uing.
Report OF The COMMITTEE ON THE
MEMORIAL OF BENJAMls Finch, Er.
AIS.
The Committee 10 whom was relerr.
ed the memorial Of Benjamin Finch
AMI others, citizens oil Newport IN rela-
ton TO The non-enlorcement OF the laws
of the State against the sale OF Inloxica-
ting liquors, and the consequent Increase
of crime and vice in this community,
submit following report.
The TACT is sufficiently evident OF an
increase within the las. eighteen months
in the indulgence in intoxicating liquors
IN this CITY. The precise number of
places where liquor Is sold Is not ascef'
iained, because II many places II Is
dealt in secret. bat j. is sale 10 say thut
the number oi places where II ~ pub
licv sold without disguise is upwards
of one hundred. The number Of llcen'
ces last granted by the Town was AZ
aud allowing three or four resorts winch
were unlicensed. we nave all increase
OF 100 per cent oi the number OF liquor
shops within the time Jus. menlIoned.-
The numb r of commitments 10 INC
Watch House for drunkenness alone
according TO returns ol the CIly Mar
.hal. from the Sth July the date Of the
frs, return to the Both, 10 commits
ments, in Augrsi eighteen III Septem-
ber sixteen, IN October Ten, IN NOveiii-
Der, tweniy, and in December up 10 The
i lih ten, making IN all eighiy'slx per-
sons lOr the last five mouths oil ihem
f[ty.one were convicted before the
Court OF Magis,ra rs. This Is exciu-
siye OF the number carried immediately
to the Jail OF which no returns are iurh-
ished. The memoralsls are oil H'e
opinion that this fearful spread oI mtem-
perance is to he referred 10 the non
enforcement Of the laws oi the Safe,
nluding IL 10 presumed particularly TO
the law passed by the Legislature IN
Nav 1852, and amended al the Janua-
~ session commonly called the Maine
/ Law. The question arises, what are
the duties aud obligations ol tie CITY
authorities in relation 10 this act. In
the first place by the 81 sec ION OF the
act, il is made The duty Ot the Mayor
and Aldermen, on Monday next follow
ing the annual election Of town officers
or as soon thereafter as may be con.
venient TO appoint some person or
persons, for agents for the sale
OF strong and malt liquors. Your
Committee need not remind the Coun'
Gil that up 10 this time 1t has not been
Convenient for the Mayor and Aldermen
TO appoint an Agent, because no suitable
person, whom The law requires has OIL
Tered Or could be found 10 fill that OIL
fee.
But the occasion of the presentation
Of the memorial under consideration,
your committee think now presents an
/ opportunity 20 the Board Of renewing
/ their etrJrts To select Il suitable pers n
! for this office. The agent should be u
person OF capacity. ol undouhtcd IN eg-
! rlty. and one who would not bC tempted
when here IL 70 much temptation 10
I prostitute hls Office 10 private GAIN
/ The Committee have no doubt that n
I person with these requirements might
/ be selected irou. the list OF The Memo.
rallsts, who ior the sake ot the great
cause OF temperance, would accept the
appointment, ahd perform lis duties
wlh alacriIy and zeal The additional
charge on the Treasury, which this es-
; Iabllshment would create, ls not ascer-
tanned. 1t would not be probably less
| thanSl000 perannum, unless the Council
| propose to deray the expenses incurred
/ from the profits derived from The sale
OF liquors. The power oil the author.
ties to make IA profit through their
gent, out Of the sale OF intoxicating
! liquors is derived from the law Ilsel!,
aud 1t is the plan adopted in most pIa-
I ces where this law prevails but the
| Committee trust that IT will not be eX-
ercscd by the Cay Council OF Newport,
! for independently ui the inducements 1t
would afford the Agent 10 betray his
trusts. the moral effects OF such All ar.
rangemcnl would be highly Injurious TO
the'cause, which the law was designed
10 promote. The manifest Inconsistent
cy and injustice oi breaking up the bus
mess of our cillzens and transferring II
and It's gains into City Monopoly, TO
enrich lis Treasury would be comment
cd on, exposed and felt The expenses
OF the Agency, be they more or less,
! ought 10 I've considered as so many ad
dllona charges TO be provided Tor from
the general lund.
ri. The law of May so, in lis l7th
section provides that the voters OF any
town or city IN this State qu' liied TO
vote Tor General Officers, shall AT their
annual town or ward meetings held Tor
! the election OF town or city officers, aL-
! point one or more persons IN tach OF
! their respective towns, and one ~ earh
ward al 'ch city, whose duty II shalt
be TO complain OF and prosecute all per-
SOUS guilty or susI ectrd Of being gully
Il of any violation OF any oi the provisions
Il oi thus act. This section is not retained
| in the amended law ol January '52. but
! not being inconsistent with any OF the
! provisions Of the latter act, II is believ-
/ ed to be still ~ force. There was no
election OF complaiuants at the spring
town meeting, nor was the omission to
elect, so Tar as your committee are
aware, complained OF or commented on
/ m any way whatever. Ii certainly was
the duty OF the moderator at that time
10 invite the attention OF the voters TO
this subject lie may have performed
n his duty and the voters neglected THERE.
IL is much to be regretted that the com.
plainant was not then appoiated. lor in
1 the opinion oi your committee such an