Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-15
sign. and swear to a complaint for a warrant
of search and seizure, instead of three per-

of search and seizure, instead of three per-
sons.
I'd. An officer may seize intoxicating IL
auors or the vessels containing them without
a warrant, and keep them in some safe place
q reasonable time until he can procure
warrant
Sd. The court or magistrate trying any
case of intoxicating liquors seized, when such
liquors are declared forfeited may order them
destroyed in all cases by any officer competent
to serve the process on which they were for
feited.
4th. When any municipal officer of any
city, town or plantation, after being furnished
with a written notice of violation of any Of
the provisions of the liquor law, signed by two
persons competent to be witnesses in civil
suits, wlfully neglects or refuses TO prosecute
he shall be liable to fine of not less than
twenty nor more than fifty dollars.
9Th. When person has been found guilty
of a violation of the law in the supreme judi
cal court, he shall be sentenced at the same
term unless for satisfactory reasons the case
NAV be continued for sentence one term, but
no longer.
9Th If any municipal officer or officers
shall purchase liquors to be sold under the
law of the State, except of such persons as
they are authorized to purchase from, or shall
sell or offer to sell forfeited liquors, or shall
adulteratc any liquors which they may keep
for sale, they shall forfeit sum to the city,
town or plantation of not less than twenty nor
more than hundred dollars.
It'll. All acts inconsistent with this act are
repealed, and nothing in this act, except Sec
ton FIVE, shall effect any cases pending or
offences already committed, or acts already
done.
In the preparation of this act no pains
were spared by the Temperance Commit
tee, and particularly by the Chairman.
Senator Lang. to make it of an effective
and iudcious character. 1t was task re-
curing a good deal Of patience and iudg-
ment, to give it a candid examination, to
hear all sides, and from the various opin-
ions to shape a bill that would be practi-
cable and best to check the sale of ardent
spirits and be sustained by public opinion.
That the committee have been remarkably
successful is attested by the fact that the
bill passed the Legislature without an OPP
posing voice. The principal opposition
which has been made to it has come from
the strenuous advocates of II State Police,
and even they acknowledge that it is
step in the right direction, though they
complain that their plan was not adopted.
If the action of the Legislature is any in
dex to the sentiments of their constituents
upon the matter. which after SO much dis
cussion among the people upon the sub
iect it may well seem to be, the new law
will be supported by an irresistible popu-
lar opinion until it shall have had fair trial.
All laws upon the subject of prohibiting
the sale of intoxicating liquors must nee
essarily be in some measure experimental,
and here comes in the difference of opin-
ion even among earnest and sincere friends
of prohibition. A law which in 1854
would be resisted with violence and blood
shed may have few if any opposers to-day
except among those Immediately engaged
in the traffic of ardent spirits, while an
act that may appear radical this year will
on account of the advance of public
opinion be considered weak and conserv
alive next year.
The unanimity with which this measure
has been adopted points to new era of
good feeling among the temperance peo-
pie of the State, and an advance Of tenn
perance among the people generally.
Union in the ranks of the temperance men
will give prosperity to the cause. We
trust that whatever differences of opinion
may have existed as to the best measures
for the enforcement of prohibition, they
will not be allowed to interfere with the |
success of the present law, and that the
honest intent of its authors will meet with
a satisfactory reward in its healthful oper-
alton as well as in the confidence which it
has already inspired.