The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-08-16
LIQUOR LAW ENFoR CEMENT.
Hearing before iIie Board of Mayor and
Aldermen.

calling the Board to order, that the petitions
fIom Arcana Lodge, the Independent Temper
ance Union, a meeting held at Congress Hall,
Portland Division of Sons of Temperance and
other similar organizations were referred to the
Committee on Police. They were of the im-
preston that the petitions should be given a
public hearing before the full Board, aud had
so reported to the Board.
Alderman Small moved that the report be
accepted and the Board proceed to hear those
who wish to speak on the matter.
Ex-Mayor Kingsbury was the first speaker
for the petitioners After thanking the Board
to the large number OF persons who had signed
the petition. They do not wish to throw any
slur upon the efficiency of the police, but
knowing them to be honorable men we wish TO
ask for them their cooperation. When the Pc
lice before had this matter they had 10 assist
ance from the sheriffs and the work was too
much for them. The sheriffs were accordingly
appointed to do the work, and they took it en-
tirely out of the hands of the police The Ie-
suit has been that row we have no open rum
shops in this City. None of the hotels sell and
there is not saloon where it can be had. 1t
has been, therefore, driven into the slums, a nd
it is here that we want to attack it. The
sheriffS cannot do this alone, and we want the
police TO help them. We do not ask for the
exclusive services of the police, but when they
see violations of the law they shall act upon it.
The sheriff says that he is willing to take any
position in the work, either captaiB, lieutenant
or private. There is no need of dividing the
work, it can be done together. We do not ex-
pect to stop the sale absolutely, but we do wish
TO "a h0 tom Afnf InFa
men and especially the reformed men of our
city. If the police do this work there is no
reason why they should have the same pay as
the sheriffS now receive
Mayor Butler said he had given the police
orders to give the sheriffs all the assistance in
their power. He was of the opinion that these
orders had been obeyed strictly, and he knew of
cases where they had furnished valuable ir.
formation. That being the case, the matter
comes down to the point SIN what manner
shall the police cooperate with the sheIiffs in
the enforcement of this law?" The time of
the Marshal and deputies is now all employed,
and they have no time of their own. IL the
sheriffs cannot do this work. the question is,
what is the remedy? The increase of the
sheriff's force could properly be considered in
this connection. The Mayor remarked in
closing that he hoped that now the question
was fairly opened, the speakers who followed
would consider the practical points of the case,
viz: What is the remedy?
Gen. Neal Dow said that the matter was one
of great Importance. He presumed that vote
would be taken on the matter when it was fist
presented, but it was not so acted upon. The
only question here is, Shall the police do their
duty or shall they not? That is all there is
about it. The Marshal has authority to tell
the officers to do their work or not, as he likes.
1t is his duty to do this, whether he does it or
not. 1t is well known in the United States
officers of law decide whether they will do
their duty or not. Every one knows that as
soon as whiskey thief is caught the President
pardons him. This is done all over the coun-
try, and We have to go to the Legislature and
ask for law to punish the officers of the law
who do not do their duty.
1t is question whether the police shall do
their duty. The Marshal is Independent of the
Board of Mayor and Aldermen. If an officer
sees man setting fire to house, he is arrest
ed, but if he sees man selling rum he does
not arrest him, but runs and tells the sheriff,
and in the meantime the liquor is put out of
the way and the sheriffs are pJwerless in the
matter. The police can stop this traffic if they
are empowered to Go SO. There are but two
American born citizens who are suspected of
being connected with this business. 1t is the
lowest of the foreigners who sell liquor now.
When the police arrest man they never ask
him where he got his liquor, simply because
they have no orders to do so. If you stop the
selling of liquor, you will suppress the other
crimes which take up the time of the police
Senator Morrill, calls the liquor traffic the
gigantic crime of Crimes and so it is.
The Mayor talks of the police having other
things to do. If that is SO. should they neglect
the gigantic crime of Crimes The traffic is
even thousand times worse than ncendiarism.
The Mayor has made his mark in the matter of
finance, but this is still more important mat
ter One hotel sold Sal 1000 worth of liquors
year ago, and in all there must have been
$500, 900 sold in the city. But the money is but
a very small matter compared with the effect it
has upon the morals Of the city youth who are
growing up. L was Mayor when this law first
went into effect. Then the City was small
compared to what it is to-day. The growth of
the city has been owing to the fact that the
money formerly squandered for rum now gees
for other purposes.
At this point Mayor Butler interrupted Gen.
Dow and asked him if the question was not
How the police shall do their duty? or, in other
words, how the police department can do all
their duty for the best interest Of the city?
How shall they act most judiciously?
Mr.. Dow resumed, promising to answer the
question by giving an illustration. The police
see car loaded with liquor come into the city,
and instead of stepping up and Selling the
liquor and arresting the men who are bringing
it into the state contrary to the law he goes
and calls the sheriff out of bed at 3 O'Clock in
the morning. Before the officer can get his
team out, the rumsellers, who have their jig
gers on the spot, carry the liquor away. Why
didn't that man seize the liquor? Simply be-
cause he had no orders TO do SO. If 1 were
City Marshal, would not ask this board for
orders before giving instruction to the men. To
illustrate the point further, what did Ponce do
when he was preparing to entertain party of
Lewiston roughs? He asked for number of
policemen to preserve order while lie sold rum
before their face and eyes.
Mayor Butler-Did not the officers'gseize the
liquor?
Gen. Dow-Yes, they did but his attempting
to sell openly before them shows how the
police are looked upon in this matter. The
rumsellers are not afraid of the police, and
they drive ale and beer about the streets right
under their noses fearlessly.
The Mayor here asked Mr.. Dow if his COM
plant was that the warrants iwere not made
out to the police direct. Mr.. Dow replied that
if the board would order this law enforced the
same as others, there would be no trouble
The police will find out how to do the work
and do it effectualIy.
Marshal Bridges and Deputy Black stated
that they had received orders from the Mayor
to assist the sheriffs in all possible ways, and
that the patromen had been given the game
orders.
Alderman Cunningham said that the last
speaker (Gen. Dow lad repeatedly contra
dicted the Mayor in his statement in regard to
orders being given to the police, and if the
future speakers repeated this, he should move
to adjourn the hearing.
Deputy Sheriff Chase, in reply to question
from the Mayor. said that the police have rem
dered very important service aud they continue
to do so. The traffic cannot be stopped entire
ly if all the police force were employed. The
traffic is now driven into the lowest sums of
the city. Old women carry liquor about on
their person or hide it in the earth. If the men
who profess to be temperance men would rem
der US assistance by furnishing information it
would much advance the work, but they are
afraid to do this. He also related number OF
instances of the .haIdships experienced by the
officers
Sheriff Dresser, who was present, said he had
listened to the discussion with much interest,
and arnsa IN dismal tine idea that there was anv