Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-02
Sl37.3S3

What has been the result of these town and
city agencies that had been established by law
They had become obnoxious and a stencil i'll the
nostiis Of communities, and they are fast dying
out from their own inherent rottenness, and in
nine tenths of the State We have to-day agen-
cies. there being but AZ places 10 the whole State
where liquor may be obtained without violating
the law. Ii the sales gwen in the figures above
were all genuine sales, for legitimate purposes,
the f. ct Is shown that the people demand q vast
amount of liquors for medicine. Take the other
horn of the dilemma, if they were sold illegally,
the town and city agencies have become rum
shops.
Now, in places where there are not agencies, what
do people do in emergency. such sickness, &C.
cldent OF calamity sometimes caused They 20
To a respectful ole ap1thecary, and get the medicine
necessary; and II the apothecary has the inter-
ets Of nun tnlty at heart he will listen to the ap
peal, and dispense the medicine. We DO not ask
that Tue prOhiBtory side of the law be weak ned
at all-let the screw be turned on TO the rumsell-
CT even more than 1t has been; but we ask, now
that the old system of town agencies has become
deiunct to substitute the apothecares.
but IL is sal that apothecaries Gre not to be
trusted. He claimed that under the pharmacy
act safeguards were thrown around the profession,
and 1t had been elevated Only competent re-
sponsible men are engaged in the profession now.
l his i an important element In this controversy.
Ought not these men to be trusted in dispensing
liquors rather Than the old fogies that had usually
been appointed town agents : 1t would be better
for the cause OF temperance in Augusta TO have
tue seven druggists sell liquor for medicines, I'M
der the proposed restrictions, than to have one
agency here. We trust these apothecaries in
every hing else in the sale of opium and other
poisons; why not with this Why don't some of
these gentlemen propose separate agency for
the sale OF all these medicines lie thought it
altogether appropriate that this article recog nzed
as medicine should be placed in the hands OF
these apothecaries. lit had beenl claimed that
these druggists want the law SO as to make money
by selling. They have the same and even greater
inducements TO 10 so now; why don't they i'm
prove II If this act is passed they subject to
the same penalties now, should they step over
the dead line, and would be deprived of their
standing in the profession. There now 226
registered druggists In Maine suppose they all
sold-would they do more injury than the 491
agencies contemplated by the law as it now Is
Physicians had been denounced in the course
Of this controversy, but who stands better IN
your judgement, or 10 the community than your
iamlly physician! DO you think he would sci
his soul and body for a ten cent perscliptloni
He next considered the legal side OF the ques.
ton. The apohecaries may now, under the law,
keep liquors, but If they make compound, that
Is lntoNcsuug, and sell ii, they are liable to the
penal les OF tue law. Then liquors may be seized
and summary destroyed. BY the law the apoth-
ecaiy Is presumed TO be guilty, and the burden
OF proof /, on him to prove his innocency. This
Is contrary 10 the spirit and intent of oar form of
government. We want the law changed, so that
tue burden of proof may be placed on the gov.
eminent, where 1t belongs, and that these men
be ree .sed from this great injustice.
Inc law protects no man who undertakes to
sell Tor wrong purpose. lie maintained that
There Is mo"Al necessity for apohecaries to
sell liquors AS medicine. We believe 1t would
he perfectly safe to trust this TO their hands Be-
ileted this Was the best agency 10 furnish liquors
while people demand liquors Tor medicines.
Mr.. Bakers remarks were listened TO with the
1T by he 0hn6
audience, aud at Its close he was warmly congrat-
u.aled on his able argument.
The case is now closed, and the committee will
make up their verdict.