New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-02-09
THE MAINE LIQUOR LAWN CONGRESS-.
,ponseoce Of The N. Y. Tribune.

Correspondence Of The N. Y. Tribune.
WAsHisoTos, ID. c., Tuesday. Feb. 6, 1855.
One Of the bills given notice Of by Mr.. Msyall, Of
Maine Ia entitled "A bill for the better protection Of
" bfe and property in toe District Of Columbia by
"prohibitDg the sale Of Intoxicating liquors as a
beverage therein" II commences with preamble
setting forth the dangers TO life and property aud the
insecurity Of the public in consequence Of
liquors beng employed as beverage, and then pro-
ceeds, with similar provisions TO those Of tbs Maine
Liquor law, with few important additions in char
acter with the title Of the bill.
In the fret section it defines infinitely the kinds
Of liquor embraced within the meaning of the bill;
and in the second, in providing for the appointment
Of agent, it limits his remuneration 10 such salsry
az may be fixed upon by the Mayor and Aldermen
and prohibits bis deriving any profit from the sale u
liquor that it will Lot be 10 his interest TO promote
Its sale or to offer any Inducements ~ purchasers In
succeeding sect tbs bond surety TO- the proper
performs Of the duties Of agent fixed az 81 900.
Ibe Instructions to the agent are prescribed by the
bill, requiring the agent to keep book which the
purpose for which toe liquor is purchased s specified
ana the book signed by the applicant; the book to
be open to the inspection Of ali legal voters in the
town or city where located.
The penalty for the first offense in volsting the act
by selling hquor rs fine Of go and costs aud pris-
opneRt Tor Lot lees than ten nor more than thirty
days The second conviction VII subject the convict
to fire Of $50 and cOss, and Imprisonment for not
lees then thirty more than fifty days For the
third and every subsequent Cense fine of $50 costs
and ess than three tn al Elk months i'm
prjsoDuen Mt and in default Of paying sny of the fines
the convict to be detained TO labor for the District
Ill the amount Is PAID, according to the usual prices
of such labor in the District
Offering liquor Of the sg mt under 1lse retenses
suljects the convict to fac of ei0 costs and not
LEES then ten tbs thirty days imprisonment,
and held liable to acton Tor any damages sustained
nv husband WIFE, and children, other relatives Of
The person or persons who may have become intoxica
ted By the illegal use Of liquor 40 obtained.
The clause OBTAINING the drunk ard until by his
disclosures the person who supphed MN with liquor
is col victed is similar to that ia the Connecticut
Liquor law except that the person convicted Is liable
not only for tbe fines and costs OF his own violation
Of the act but also for the cost OF arresng and de-
tanning the drunkard; and also liable 10 acuon ioI
dan sees sustained by the relatives of such arunkard
in beng deprived OF bis assistance or for any other
damage he may have committed while under the
Influence of the liquor thus Illegally supplied him.
III more than two days are required to bring the
ofIepoer 10 Justice the Justice Of the Peace is left to
his oiscreton to whether he receives bau for the
appearance Of the orunkard to give evidence.
The most novel and striking feature OF this bill Is
in The eighth clause, which reads as follows:
faetion Of Jury Ccrcners Inquest th.,sceMed died
the effects VI nemperanee and that the hador ducns
such obtained Of person or ersons 10 VIC
laon OF this sS such or persons shall be deemed
tbe Corortr 20 report any Justice, duty
will be warrant and cause the arrest Of The person or
who conviction sh. suffer la add ton
to the penalties herein provided for voiaon OF this law the
penalty provided for BY law Of The SAID dstnc for murdsr 10
and incurred ia Of such deah
either by the relatives friends OF the deceased By the
authorities In the city OF town In which deceased shall have
died
The ninth clause is also entirely new feature in
Liquor. law legislation:
"lf any injury death shall bs caused BY FIRE any acc
dent occasion by iDem shall be shown to
sseon ola Jury that such intemperance caused
violation Of this act The party Or parties gully Of such
violation shall 90 conviction be liable TOR all expenses aud
either whether such accident
shall Thin the said district the laod water 10
of Ia. United States the high vessels
sailns fIo to the United States
Tho tenth lection renders violators of the Law
liable for any expense incurred by town or city au-
tbortes in ptOvidiD for the poor, rendered large
able III consequence of such violation OF the Law in
the sale of intoxicating liquors.
The twelfth section provides that the damages oc-
casioneO by vioi.toDs OF the Law shall be recoverable
from such yioators by any person, insurance, rail
road or other company. on application to Municipal
Courts the amount ia all over $50 10 be decided
byjwy.
In most other respects the bill resembles the Maine
LIQUOR law or all Its Leading features
Mr. MAYA was once opposed To 'hs Maine Liquor
law wi en- broul bt III the Maine Senate; bu'
since he has seen resuits be has become Jealous
advocate Of it's principles, and, a. President oil the
Maine Liquor Law Statistical Society IN this City as
aided greatly ia collecting valuable facts showing the
benefits of the law wherever enforced.
He ato has given notice of introducing bill fol
prohibiting the importation OF sill intoxicating liquor
into the United Siates-a subject much talked OIL 10
the Maine Liquor laT States, and a measure which
will by and by be demanded by all the STATES Oh the
Union where The Maine Liquor lsw is enacted
Ms