Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-16
Remarks Of Mr.. Lancaster Of WiscasSet,
IN House OF REPRESENTATIVES,, FEB. 49, on
THE AMENDMENT TO THE PHARMACY ACT.

Mr. Speaker;-This question has been so ably
and fully discussed beto,e the Committee, that it
seems to IN almost unnecessary TO enter into a
discussion at this time. Every memoer of this
House must be fam liar with thus subject. | snail
therefore detain you but few moments.
wish to state some of the objections that may
be urged against the proposed amendment to the
pharmacy act. In the first pace the necessity for
tins amendment does not exist Chapter p,
sec. II, of the revised statues provides that an
agent may be appointed n every town aud pla nta-
uoD, To furnish liquor for medicinal purposes
But forty towns in the State at the present
time avail themselves OF the benefit of this proyi
81 20 and ask who are these fory-seven town
agents OF this state whom the learned couus- for
the petitioners stgmatiz-s as Old fogies. Why, a
large number of them are druggists, and a large
number OF the agencies oil Thu, state, whlCn he
truthful said "are odlous and coutemptible in
toe eyes of the community" are kept by drug
gists.
Ii is sail that the town agents sell adulterate1
liquors and tina, they charge eXorbtant prices.
Now the commissioner appointed by the tONet nor
TO furnish the municipal officers with lquois is
obliged to give bond in he sum of ten thousaud
dollars for the tihful discharge of his duty. lie
Is to keep on hand and furnish these officers with
pnle liquor AT cost not exceeding seven per
cent. above the cost of the same where it is pur-
chased. The public cannot under this restrict on
be imposed u1on by pay Iug eNorbitaut prices, nor
will they, under this restriction, be liable 10 pur-
chase impure liquor. These liquors are to be
pure. Iney are to be untdulterdted. They are
not 10 be mixed with any drug, with
water or ony other ingredient, or with other liq-
uors of an interior quality; aud further, they are
not Oe sold offered Tor sale until their quail
ties have been tested by a competent assaylst.
1t will be seen then that the piice of liquors fur
nshed hy the State cs nmI,siOner is limited; 1t is
fixed by law it is seven per cent. above tue cost
where it is purchased, and ii he charges more than
that he liable to be indic d. He Is to sell pure
quo, aud If he violates this act by selling impure
liquor, he renders himself liable to heavy fine.
II ne sells or offers for sale quor which has not
been tested by al assayist he Is liable to indict
ment, and an action may be brought TO recover
damages for any violation OF this section.
1t is argued that the drugeisl Is better qualified
to judge Cf the qualities OF liquor than agent, en-
ployed by towns. That NAV in many cases he tue,
out it is not necessary for the agent to be a Itge
of liquor, since all The liquors VIII ch he receives
from the commissioner must be tested by com
petent assayls before It Is sent to hm and let me
here say that think the assaylst Is much more
competent Of iadging of tue qualities OF liquor,
thau an ordinary druggist. lie has been schOoled
and is skilled IN the art, and II these quors con-
IAN any ppi-Ohous drug, or If they have been III
luted attn VA er, or il they have beel mixed with
other liquors OF inferior quality, he ca detect
the fraud at Many towns do not have
town agency, for the simple reason that they do
not want II, and the reason they do not want ii Is
because town agency is generally town rum
shop.
If this bill should become q law, every town
wouli be OBJ iged to lave town rum shop, how
ever obno NiOls it might be to the ct zcus Of that
town; and every ci zen who could raise sufficient
funds, from the moderate drlnger down to the gut
ter druukaid, could get it-though, |. rlap,, IA
many casc' he might procure II uudt false pre-
tenc, ). II would open wide the flo ID gates of
intemperance IN this state.
1t may he atg led tlat under the Pharmacy act
OF lo'' no rson can engage 10 The drug business
except those who have ga III ted from a school Of
pharmacy or from medical 60 iege, OF those who
have been employed three wears n a drug store
where physicaus prescriptions are compounded,
and who eau 20 before h lard OF comml ssiouers
aud receive certificate. Aud hence il is argued
that the great mass are excluded from the light to
engage IN the rum tratfie, should this bill
become law; bat let me say thar to-day there
are hundreds OF clerks employed in dug stores IN
this state who are as competent to cary on the
business a. those who employ them, and large
number Of them would at Ouce engage in the drug
business, II they could engage IN the lucrative
business Of selling rum, and everybody else be eK
cluded ftom the tight to cary on thai business.
There many who have retired from the drug
business, who, if this bill should become a law,
would at once resume the duties oil that proits-
sion. II all were excluded from the right TO sell
rum in this Sa,e except the druggists. and they
could enjoy that right without any restrictions
whatever, what an nducement il would he to
those engaged in the bssiness in other States to
come to Name and open a drug store. Here
tn, Y could sell rum with no competition except the
profession.
You would be asked at the next session of the
legi'latu to make an approximation to establish
college oil phai macy, TO educate men to carry on
the drug business every druggist would have