The Portland daily press., 1871-05-01
The Liquor Commissioner.

Is was announced in the PRESS a week ago
that the Committee Of the Executive Council
appointed to investigate the charges against
Liquor Commissioner Shaw would report that
the accusations were without foundation, and
that the Agency has been conducted in the
most satisfactory manner. At the meeting OF
the council last week, the committee, consist
ing of Messrs. Decring, Knowlton aud Hatch,
submitted the subjoined report:
The books, bills correspondence and other
papers in the office OF the agency are kept in
very clear and methodicai manner, ard show
the date OF all purchases, of whom made, the
price paid, ard by whom assayed, to whom
sold, and the tune of sale, and the price The
certificates Of the State Assayer are ON file and
numbered, Stain. the lots aud giving the an
alysis OF each. The sales Of each lot are kent
entirely separate, thus showing whether they
were short or held cut. Everything in re-
on tire books and is full in detail Tho com
mittre bave had the bills of the agency aud
conpsied hem with the purchases Of reliable
parties made about the same tinae, ard fiud
tney compare very fayorabiy 10 prices The
books agree with the bills made TO tue agents
in several les ard town as appears by COM
parison made by your committee, and the
books and bills show that the liquors are DIS
posed OF at cost, and sever per cent is added
Tor commission, one per cent. of which il maid
government aside from license A car,fnI in
vesligaton has satisfied your Committee that
no discount or commission has been allowed
either directly or indirectly 10 Mr. Shaw on ac-
count OF purchases The same kinds of liuuors
werekold - New York and Philadelphia par
ties ~ the Same prices The purchases scner-
ly lave been made at first class and long es-
tsblisbed houses, ard the parties making the
saesigive tho most positive assurance that Mr.
Shaw has never asked or received any thine in
consideration OF his patronage. The facts fail
ed 10 show that Mr.. Shaw ever gave sny orders
or directions for mixing liqnors. Some Lirec.
lions some tine 81 ce were given to color
signtty win burned sugar or something OF the
KIND 10 give II q pt culiar tingc, a process for
winch nothing was charged, and ON account of
which no charge was made To agents. The
liquors which Were cOoreG We're of the same
csst and sold at the same price as those which
were not.
The report that Mr. Shaw has made large sums
oil mocey fiom the agency, Which he has in
vested IN cal estate and III business. appears
TO be entirely groundless. The facts, SO far as
your committee were able to discover both
from an examination Of ,the records and ttate-
ments HON various PERSONS, show that MIR
Shaw has not accumulated money in the bu,i-
hess, and youI Committee are most decjdetf1v
OF the opinion that the agency will afford, ii
conducted III accordance with the letter and
spirit ut the law, 10 more than "A reasonable
compensation.
The excessive prices charged by agents TO
consumers are in consequence of the profit
ny toWH agents directed OV ulluiC-
lpal oincfis, varying ii ON thirty to two hun
dred per cent, and perhaps more in rome
cases ~
Your committee called upon Mr.. Shaw with
ou' hc'lce, and were furnished cheetfully with
any and all papers. books and corfesnopJcnrn
relating ID the business, aud no disnosi,ion
was shown 10 conceal any thing relating to the
agency, or tnc manner of trausacting the bnsi-
ness generally, or in detail
Your commit Tee took samples fran four Of
tho lots OF liquor on tap, and from which ,ha
principal sales were being made; also the Ger
tfcates OF assay, and caused them to be anal
yzed by other chemists, and the certificates
were fGuud upon comparison 10 agree as near
Iy as could he expected fully as 10 the essen
tias.
The charge that liquors have been sold and
forwarded to part aud no record made of
the transaction in the agency. appears, SO far |
az the committee are able to discover ntirely |
without foundation.
a quantity of liquor was Orwarded to Gar |
S S,ef from some house in Boston having Mr.. |
cd =, eaIn as agent upon the barrels, direct |
Is, W ~ nie " f. Glidden, Town Liqnor Agent |
lies o,a Gs, and were seized by the authOri-
Ines' Oh M. Carleton ESQ ,nd tho ,,nn;o;
r.. IL M Vi mat town. thew claiming
- tney were purchased in Good faith and
we're 10 DO disposed OF purely ,or ,"i.u anu
and me- chancal purposes. IT, 'or neaic,hai
not disclo'e that MIR. Shaw had a,,n uonce uofs
OF 'ne purchase ana sale in ary war 1880
ny "h'I auin"rhy those Interested Ia ,L"I
qunrs used the carG of the Stale AGENT ''e IL
Id our examination it Appeared ira, H.,
agent OF 8argor purchased n anautiiv nr ~ WY
at the Sia:c agency and soon ate, in,nrIi'i
MIR. Shaw that The liquor was poor and nn,;,
for medicinal purposes, and Mr.. Shaw reon..i
ell him 10 for wand a sample sc led secu,elv in
order that it be re-assayCd, 10 detect if mss
bic the difficulty, and he was informed that
the lguor had been put in n cisk with some
purchased at another place, and the sample
for analysis could not be- furnished. The state
nent male ty Certain parties that a discount
was made TO Mr.. Shaw on bill Of liquors puI.
chased Of Alestrs. VI. j. Cote q g., is shown by |
.ne writt"n slat"mrus of the film, under the
~ ~; VI march Is 1870, to be without fUuuda-
IN ~ uu'h From the several accounts OF
.vmn as' nus. as shown by ther reports, ard rs
appears ty the books at The State agency the
b..n y. nahy OF let9w, that enc NUT have
VS., ~ IA ger Than purchases Of The St,i, AGENCY
aha con% Inently in yio zion a, i,,. r, assny
na, I"e cry OF Bangor Tor The past year ~ re-.
poi .e 10y ny Tie liquor agent of tl'.,t a., 40
oaei Soooo. whilr their purchases of ~. CO. 49,
Inc complaints generally that h." o"h 1T
':.u hnowh 10 your Committees nr;o;o.oi
WI" parties interested in the traffic ,n..; i -,