The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-05-30

pThbOheus
If THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE PRO-
HIBIToRY LAW ARE RATIFIED.
AL to be imprisoned thirty, sirty or ninety
days who supply ale porter, wine, or other
Alcoholic Liquors, whether Daedtcdted or "ct,
by physicians. prescriptions or otherwise, III
cases even of the greatest emergency, either ny
night or on the Sabbath, when the agency Of
flee is closed, or in towns where no agent mas
been appointed; no matter If the patient me,
hangs as it were by a thread and death Is likely
to ensue from delay. The Apothecary must
suffer equally with the keeper OF the common
est dram shop; no distinction can be
made.
essences or other alcoholic officinal prepare
tions susceptible of being used as Intoxicating
drinks. be found therein, he is liable under the
letter of the law to three months Imprisonment;
there is no saving clause,
Let the next Legislature SO modify the
present law as to allow apothecaries and drug
pists in the legitimate and regular line of their
profession to furnish alcoholic liquors and
compounds under judicous restrictions, keep
ing record of names &C., such as town
agents now keep, and it will not only aid the
physical and the sick in perilous moments,
but be tie means of adding very large num-
Der of votes of apothecaries, physicians and
their friends in support of the proposed amend
ments, which would undoubtedly be submit
ted to the people again next season. .
The above named classes in voting against
the existing law, but merely suspend their
"yeas" until the law is so modified as to pro-
tect under all circumstances those who use
alcoholic liquors purely as medicine. In the
mean time, under tn Q State Constabuary, the
law as it now stands can be much more rigid
ly enforced til an heretofore.
MANY PATIENTS.
We don't be lieve all the apothecaries in
Maine will be imprisoned under the amended
Liquor law for two reasons: LIST. The amend
ments do not change the lato but the penal
ties, and as the apothecaries have not suffered
under the law heretofore, we don't see how
they are likely to suffer hereafter. End Even
if the law were to be changed in its prohibitive
character, we believe the apothecaries would
conform to its provisions. The truth is our
friends have discovered mares nest" Medi-
cines, whether they contain liquors or not, can
be sold under the law by apothecaries
but liquors cannot be sold under the
name of medicines of the purpose of
evading the law. Tho penalty of a
third conviction of illegally selling liquors has
since 1858 been three months imprisonment
The amendment simply attaches the imprison-
ment penalty to the first conviction. If the
law as it now stands could be vigorously en-
forced it would accomplish precisely the same
results which are aimed at by the amendments;
but its advocates say the amendments are es-
sential to its enforcement, because the Ger
tdiaty of imprisonment on conviction will be
more impressive than the remote possibility of
such consequence. Whether the law should
be modified, SO as to enable all apothecaries to
become agents, is not now the question. Tho
question upon which the people of Maine are
to vote next Monday lis simply, whether the
law shall be enforced and practically tested, or
left dead letter and subject for abstract and
endless discussion. ..I