The Portland daily press., 1872-02-03

THE New LIQUOR LAw.-The following is
the "act relating to the duties of Sheriffs and
County Attorneys" reported from the Commit
tee ON Prohibitory Law last Tuesday:
Section Lit shall be the duty of sheriff to
obey all such orders and directions relating to
the enforcement and execution of the laws of
the state, as they shall from time to time receive
from the governor.
Section 2.-It shall be the duty of sheriffs and
their deputies, diligently and faithfully to in
quire into all violations of the laws of the state
within their respective counties, and to insti-
tute legal proceedings against viOlators or sup
posed violators of law, and particularly the
laws against the illegal sale of intoxicating
liquors, and the keeping of drinking houses and
tippling shops, gambling houses or places and
houses of ill fame, either by promptly entering
complaint before magistrate competent to
examine or try the offence charged, and exc
cute such warrants as may be issued on such
complaint, or by furnishing the county attor-
ney promptly and without delay, with the
names of alleged offenders, and of the witness
es For services under the provisions of this
law, sheriffs and their deputies, acting under
their directions, shall be entitled to the same
per diem compensation, asI for attendance ON
the supreme judicial court, and the same fees
for travel, as for the service of warrants in
criminal cases, together with such necessary in
cidental expenses as may be just and proper;
bills for which shall be audited by the county
commissioners, and paid from the county treas
ury.
Section 3.-County attorneys shall cause to be
summoned promptly before the grand jury of
their several counties, all witnesses whose
names have been furnished them by any sheriff
or his deputies, as provided in section two of
this act, and shall faithfully direct inquiries
before that body into violations of law, and shall
prosecute persons indicted, and secure the
prompt sentence of such as shall be convicted
Section 4.-Whenever the governor shall, af-
ter investigation, be satisfied that any sheriff or
county attorney has wilfully refused or neglect
ed to discharge the duties imposed upon each
by this act, it shall be his duty to bring such
fact to the attention of the legislature at the
earliest practical day.
THE ALABAMA CLADIs. London despatch
says the discussion of the Alabama Claims con-
tinues and grows more vehement as the OPEN
ing of Parliament approaches. The English
case laid before the Geneva board of arbitration
has not been published and no opportunity is
given of forming an estimate of the British de-
mands. but the case of the United States has
now been before the public two or three weeks
and all the newspapers and other organs of
nublic opinions TEEN with hostile comments
and false reports in reports in regard to it.
The Advertiser asserts that Chief Justice
Cockburn, one of the arbitrator, will withdraw
from the board and the government VIII repu-
dlaUe the treaty at w asniISeoh. ooiiooPon
dent of the same journal advocates this course.
He suggests as precedent what he assumes to
be the reputation of the treaty of Client by
the United States and advises England to fol-
low the example of America.
The Daily News says it has reasons to believe
that the claims of the United States for lndl-
rect damages have been declared out of the
question and maintains that this opinion is
backed by the undivided sentiment of the
country.
Nothing has been published of the Cabinet
discussions on the subject nor is it known that
any action has been taken by the government.
All dispatches to the Continent and to America
to give accounts of the proceedings
TO the Cabinet on this question are pronounced
without foundation. They are mostly made I'D
Of irresponsible newspaper statements.
The New ENGLAND Society of New York give |