Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1866-06-22
From Boston lions Herald Of June IS
The State Liquor Agent vindi-
Gated.

men OF uls city, fioic thssh PA yooiS "Eo ""' W
pointed State Liquor Agent to keep pure liquors
for medicinal purposes, and sell them according
to the provisions of the Massachusetts, Prohibito-
ny Law. His well known temperance principles,
combined with good business habits and integrity
of character made him the choice OF the friends
of temperance for this important and responsible
trust. AS the prohibitory law made the sale ,ot
liquors contrary to its provisions illegal, the men
Illegally engaged in the liquor traffic have been
persistently hostile both to the agency and the
agent. No pains have been spared by the active
emissaries of rum to injure both the business and
the reputation of the agent; but from all their
false charges he has been vindcatcd, and nothing
worthy of censure has been proved against him,
We publish the following extracts taken from pa
pers some of which are by no means friendly
either to the prohibtory law or to any engaged in
efforts TO sustain il:
LIQUOR LAw-The former law partner [R S,
Spofford, Jrl of the distinguished counselor re-
tanned and employed by the so-caled "Public
Safety (Liquorl Association" is making quite
noise in the Legislature We wonder if he is al
so retained by that Association with an under
standing that he is TO n AXE his pleadings in the
House of Representatives 3" Licence Law Id
rocaten in Transcript.
CONCLUSIONS FROM THE STATE AGENCY IN
vEsTIGATIoN.
Mn. EDITOR We think the greatest argu.
ment ever made in favor of the present liquor law
is in the fact that Mr. Porter has sold over mil.
lion dollars worth of spirits and wines during his
administration of the Office, which have been pro-
nounced pure and unadulterated by DIR. Hayes,
one of the State Assayers. DIR. Hayes testified
before the Legislative Committee that he had Wis.,
ted Mr.. Portcrs place of business once or twice
week since Mr.. p. took the Office, and examin-
led the liquors and wines to be sold at the agency
Notwithstanding the persistent efforts that have
been made by the able counsel and feeble witness
es to find something to the injury of Mr. Porter
and for a damaging effect against the law, no ey.
idence has been introduced that any but pure and
unauthorized spirits and wines fit for medicinal
purposes have been sold at the agency that these
were sold at the cost or a low market price was
proved This evidence fully compensates for the
expense to the State of the examination, and is
undoubtedly, source of deep regret and NORTH
cation to those who were so free in grave charges
against the agency. Friends of the law in the
country have, for the past six years. felt obliged
to use for medicinal purposes the articles deliver
ed to the town agents by Mr.. Porter the State Ii
quor Commissioner. They have great cause to
been protected from the use of vile and poisonous
mixtures and adulterations Uftener calculated to
kill than cure when used in the " healing art"
Upon charges made by Omar Binney the man
agement Of the agency was investigated in the
summer of 1864, by a committee of Gov. An
drew's Council. Binney had then Just left the
Liquor Commissioners office, full of disappoint.
ment and Indignation because Mr.. Porter would
not increase his salary, and with every motive to
break him down as therein lay Binney's chance of
keeping from public exposure his embezzlement
of $4,000. After this investigation was closed
Gov. Andrew stated that Mr.. Porter had carried
out the law as we'll as any man could do that
Gov Andrew believed this no one will doubt
else he would not have continued Mr. Porter in
Office. Gov Andrew must feel great satisfaction
at the course he took in the matter; he will also
doubtless, be pleased that the recent investigation
proved nothing against Mr.. Edward f. Porter
That Omar Binney should have the effrontery
to reiterate statements last Friday evening that
had only few minutes before been fatty contra
dicted by the testimony of the Hon. Dwight Eos.
ter shows the desperate position ne occupies.
Whether or not much capital will be made by
the investigation, for the Hard listed Democrat
from Newburyport, or whether or rot the reverend
gentlemen from Chelmsford is likely to get Ii
cense Law for his friends by the part he has tax.
in the matter. is somewhat doubtful Traveller.
The STATE LIQUOR AGENoY.-The investi-
cation which has been made by the Legislative
Committee into the transactions of the State Ii
quor Agent have been reported at length in our
not Be apt to haze hV with Mi T9s sS
Edward f. Porter, has given expression to the fol-
lowing opinions, which are endorsed by the many
personal friends of Mr.. Porter
The State Liquor Agency.--The State Liquor
Agency has been of late the subject of Legisla-
tive scrutiny by committee holding its sessions
in the Green Room. No disclosures Of any par
ticular interest to the public have been made
Quite number of witnesses have been examined,
and attorneys have appeared on the side of the in
vestigation and in behalf of Mr.. Porter of the
Agency.
While we have no faith in the efficacy of the
Maine Law and its instrumentalities TO accom-
plish the object proposed by its passage, we are
of the opinion that the State Liquor Agency, as
managed for the past six and half years, has ac-
tually afforded to the community those most i'm
portant desiderata for the sick, pure iiqnors both
distilled and fermented. As dispensary Of gen.
uine goods, the establishment has been of great
advantage to the people of this and neighboring
States. 1t has had the advantage of obtaining its
supply of foreign liquors upon the most favorable
terms from the well known firm of Foster & Tay-
Tor, one of the largest importing houses in the
United States. The testimony of DR. Hayes, the
Assayer of the Agency, in reference TO the purity
of its goods, was most full and interesting and
left no doubt in the mind of those who listened
to it that the brandes gins, whisky and wines
furnished by the Agency have been of the best
quality. And this is the most important point in
the whole business.
When the community is assured that it has
been honestly dealt with in this regard, it has no
room for complaint. The scandalous disclosures
brought to light by a similar scrutiny into the
management of the Agency by former agen:
caused the public to be ready to believe almost
anything that might be made about it. But the
present investigation fails to develop anything of
moment and the report of the committee cannot
be otherwise than favorable, One or two instances
of watering liquors were testified TO, but the IL
quors Thus watered were much above proof and
the watering was done to reduce them TO proof
In these DAYS of sophisticated liquors, which are
Of course deadly poisons when administered to
the sick, the fact that the State Agency has dis
pensed none but goods of the best quality, fact
which has been well established by the investiea-
ton now going on, is the best recommendation
which the Agency can rsceive-Joa nal
The LEGIsLATURE.--The Legislature il is ex-
pected will finish its work and adjourn to.mor-
row. Saturday, as will be seen by our report, it
disposed of several important matters. The SEN
ate took up the report of the Special Committee
on the Liquor Agency, rejected the minority re-
port which proposes TO abolish the Agency and
allow importers to sell to town agents, and then
indefinitely postponed the whole matter thus yir
tually saying that the serious charges launched
against the agent in the House, and which result
ed IN the appointment of the committee. had en-
tirely failed of proof In this opinion we believe
those who read the evidence fully concur.-.Jom-