Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-03
Enforcement of the Law Against Drink
Ing Houses and Tipping shops.

ing houses ana tripping ShoPs'
The report OF the retiring Attorney General of
The State, Hen II. NJ. Plaisted, to be published in
few days, will contain some interesting facts and
statistics, bearing upon the enforcement of the
laws against drinking houses and tipping shops.
The efficacy Of the law as it now exists is shown
in those places where an effort has been made for
its enforcement the effect has been to close up
the rumshops.
The Attorney General has received reports from
ost of the county attorneys in the State, giving
an account of the manner in which the law is en-
forced in their several counties; and from these
reports we condense the following interesting
facts.
ARoosTooK COUNTY. The Sheriff has been
very active in furnishing testimony against the
volators Of the liquor law, and there is marked
improvement as regards liquor drinking IN the
county. Three years ago six open shops were
kept in lioulton; now the place is free from rum.
CUMBERLAND COUNTY. The law has done
much TO restrain the sale of liquor even IN Port
land nv old dealers have been driven out ofthe
business by the large fines and other penalties i'm
posed, but their places have been taken by new
offenders. The amount of fines collected in liquor
prosecutions during the past year is largely in en-
cess of that Of any previous year, amounting to
some SOS, 900 in the Superior Court alone, while
during the same period there has been paid in the
municipal court of Portland, the sum of $4,000
The to- a! CO. Is of the criminal terms of the court
during hat time amounted to little more than
$4,000.
HANCOCK COUNTY. A marked improvement
in the temperance cause over last year; the tenn
l. 4 tI,,, III
ty, and people are generally pledged to the good
cause. Several of the rumsellers in Ellsworth
have quit the busincss-they were all indicted at
the April term of court
KNOX COUNTY. We give the report of the
county attorney entire THE liquor law in my
judgment is we'll enough when the public are ed
ucatcd to proper standard. l am in favor of a
license law"
LINCOLN COUNTY. The open sale of liquors
has been substantially suppressed, although the
traffic has no. ceased. No complaints have been
Gisre garded by the Trial Justices. Many who talk
piously in temperance meetings, will not sign their
names to warrant for the arrest of a rumseler.
At the last October term of court there were four
teen indictments found in violation of the liquor
law, and about $500 collected. The law works
admlfaDly Wnen supported ny asouho OIL" h@"i'"'
public sentiment.
PENoBscoT COUNTY. Since the middle of
April, the Sheriff has been very active in en1orc-
ing the liquor laws, in which he has been ably as
sisted by four deputies. At the criminal term Of
court in August, One hundred liquor indictments
were found, and there were entered at that term
seventy-ive appealed liquor cases. Quite large
per cent. of these indictments 60 over for trial at
the next term Of court, the respondents absenting
or secreting themselves so as not to be found at
the last tern. Liquor prosecutions have driven
some out of the business
ANDRoscoGGIN COUNTY. The Sheriff and his
deputies have faithfully enforced the liquor laws,
until the county has no open bar within its bor-
ylers, and rum is under complete control.
OXFORD COUNTY. This county is now poor
field for liquor dealers. No radical defects are
found in the law; the main difficulty coming from
disposition on the part of the people to leave its
enforcement in the hands of the county officers.
The law will be complete success when public
sentiment shall have advanced to that point where
no more odium is attached to complaints against