Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-02-04
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mr. Vn-

What has been the result of these town and
city agencies that had been established BY lawf
They had become obnoxious and stencil in the
nostlils OF communities, and they are fast dying
out from their own inherent rotteuness and in
nine tenths of the State We have to-day no spen-
ces. there being but AZ places in the whole State
where liquor may be obtained without violating
the law. If the sales given in the figures above
were all genuine sales, for legitimate purposes
the fact IS shown that the people demand . 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 an emergency, such as sickness &C.
cident or calamity sometimes causedl They 70
to respectable apothecary, and get the medicine
necessary; and II the apothecsry has the inter-
ests of humanity at heart he will listen TO the ap
peal, and dispense the medicine. We do not ask
that the prohibitory side of the law be weakened
at all-let the screw be turned to the rumsell-
er even more than it has been; but we ask, now
that the old system of town agencies has become
defunct to substitute the apothecares.
But il is sa id that apothecaries are 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-
sponslbe men are engaged in the profession now.
MS Is an Important element in this controversy.
Ought not these men to be trusted in dispensing
liquors rather than the old foges that had usually
been appointed town agents 1t weud be better
for the cause OF temperance in Augusta to have
the seven druggists sell liquor for medicines uu-
der the proposed restrictions, than to have one
agency here. We trust these apothecaries in
every thing Gse, 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 He thought it
altogether appropriate that this article recog nized
| as medicine should be placed in the hands of
| these apothecaries. git had been1 claimed that
these druggists want the law to make money
hxsaa L.w. ~. 4
inducements to do so now why don't they i'm
prove it If this act is passed they subject to
| the same penalties as now, should they step over
| the dead line, and would be deprived Of their
standing in the profession. There now ZIG
registered druggists in Maine suppose they Ill
| sold-would they do more injury than the 497
| agencies contemplated by the law as it now Isl
Physicians had been denounced in the course
OF this controversy, but who stands better in
your judgement, or in the community than your
| family physician Do you think he would sell
| his soul and body for ten cent prescription?
He next considered the legal side of the ques-
| tion. The apothecaries may now, under the law,
| keep liquors, but If they make compound, that
| is intoxicating and sell it, they are liable to the
penalties of the law. Then liquors may be seized
| and summarily destroyed. BY the law, the apoth-
ecary is presumed to be guilty, and the burden
OF proof is on him to prove his innocency. This
is contrary to the spirit and intent of our form of
government We want the law changed, so that
| the burden of proof may be placed on the gov
eminent, where it belongs, and that these men
| be released from this great injustice.
The law protects no man who undertakes to
sell Tor wrong purpose. He maintained that
there is moral necessity for apothecaries to
sell liquors as medicine. We believe 1t would
be perfectly safe to trust this to their hands. Be-
lieved this was the best agency TO furnish liquors
| while people demand liquors for medicines.
Mr.. Bakers remarks were listened to with the
greatest interest by the committee and the large
audience, and at its close he was warmly congrst-
ulated on his able argument.
The case is now closed, and the committee will
make up their verdict.