Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-01-14
IHE LAW DEPARTMENT..

The report ofthc Attorney General pre-
>cut> 4 valuable and Interesting record uf
the success which has attended the adj
miu>tratipn ut the criminal laws OF the
State daring the past year. The >ug.c~-
tipn- which he makes relative 10 certain
amendments OI tiIc-e laws wl!l doubtless
receive that consideration which their in-
pprtJucc demands.
kNfoECEMhNr OF PKoHlBIroEY LAWS
The Attorney General embodir, in hi,
report communications from the several
I county attorneys. furnishing important Of
ii'iul STATEMENTS aud statistics relating 10
the enforcement of the law, pruAihuiuy
dnuhfnS-h"u>c> and tipping shops.
Ihc>" statistics show that dlrIhg The past
year. IA The >nprcme Cnurt atone, there
have been 316 convictions, Al commit
meas To- iii and $50 SJS collected Ia fines.
under these law>-more OF each than il
/ any utnrr year, and four times ~ many
i convictions and ten times 4, much in fines
n ia >6G. when the general enforcement
OF these !dW- was resumed after Tie close
ol the "ar. which had eugrossrd Tie pub
lie attchtlon aud ehergics. II Is si.niii-
can; al,o that during these nine or ten
/ years ot gradually Increasing efficiency in
| The enforcement OF the laws against dram
I shops, the numoer of oouvGts ia the State
Prison has fallen of more than one fourth
The report OF the Attorney Gener al and
! the statistics accompanying. cunclu~ivrly
F! show that the laws prohibiting drinking
houses and tippIng shops have for the
( most part been enforced during the past
year more generally and eff rctivc!y than
ever before. aud with corresponding sat
I i>iactory results IN the dinuutinu OF dram
| shops and intcmpcrauce. These results
/ are due, 10 Il considerable extent. to the
/ increased efficiency gwen 10 hese laws bv
/ the >htrin enforcement act. but more cs-
! peclilIy 10 the Improved temperance Sen-
/ tment which has beeh created Dy the ac-
| tive moral Efforts put forth in this State
1 within a lew years. Experience has shown
/ thar however faithful officers may strive 20
/ be their permlu success in the enforce
| ment OF any laws, and particularly laws
/ opposed by unprincipled avarice and de-
| based appetite. will largely depend on the
| strength and activity of the pubic senti-
ment which supports the object they have
/ III vieN, in the several counties and mu-
| inequalities. IL is gratifying t. know that
| TIL, sentiment bss become so predominant
i, TO secure the very general suppres,ion
ot known dram shops. aud the consequent
/ marked mitigation oi the evils OF intetnptr-
ance i'll tUur-iiiths OF the State. In the re-
msnder OF the State. comprising some Of
| the larger cities and villages. the results
are not so satisfactory, although even
there. as compared with the condition thir-
| IS years since. there has been al improve
| ment
am happy to bear witness 10 the fidel-
/ ity AMI efficiency with which most OF the
sheritfs and county attorneys-tor the lat.
ter "tticers are as important in this work
"a, the tormer-have labored to enforce the
laws against dram-shops. as well rs osher
laws ot the State, as required By the act o
! 1872, and As directed by special orders OF
the executive. No case has been present
ed to me involving such '.wiiul refusal
| or neglect on the part of any officer. as
would probably afford ground for the lie.
i,lature To cite him before that body for
trial with view 10 remove by address; al
though IL has seemed to me that on the
part OF a few officers there has been fail.
ure to do all in their power 10 secure the
enforcement of the law in their respective
counties. As sheritfs and county ATTORNEYS
are not appointed or removable by the
Executive-as they formerly were, and as
it seems to inc they should now be, in or
der to secure the highest efficiency il the
execution of the laws,-but are elected by
the people of the several counties, it is Of
4 the utmost Importance that those voters