Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-02-02

College; an act to prevent the fraudulen, re
moval or concealment of mortgaged persona
property.
PASSED TO BE ENACTED.
An act to legalize the doings of the towr
of Bethel; an act 10 authorize Converse Pur
rington 10 erect a wharf in tide waters of the
town of Bowdoinham; an act additional
to and amendatory of chap. 2l6 of the
private and special laws of 1868 entitled at
act to incorporate the Rockland and Thomas
ton Gas Light Co.; an act in relation to cor.
porations an act in addition to sec. 4, chap
81. of the revised statutes, relating TO rail
roads: an act TO permit the kennebunk and
kennebunkport Railroad Co. to lease its road
an act TO authorize the Green Mountain Rail
way Co. 10 change its gauge; an act TO change
the name of the town of How ard in Piscataquis
county to Willimantic; an act to set of T.
B. Rowell and Walter ID. Buuerfeld from
Hartland Village Corporation; an act
TO amend an act entitled ''an act
to incorporate the National Bell Telephone
Co. of the State of Maine; an act in rela-
ton TO corporations.
On motion of Mr.. Talbot of East Machias
bill an act 10 amend sec. :. chap. l36 of the
revised statutes was taken from the table, and
on motion of Mr.. Rodgers of Bath it WAS re-
committed TO the committee.
On motion of Mr.. Hale of Portland, bill an
act to provide for greater security against
fire in buildings used for public purposes was
taken from the table and recommitted to the
Committee on the Judiciary.
Mr. Eaton of Camden called for the special
assignment. which was resolve providing for
an amendment TO the constitution forever
prohibiting the manufacture of intoxicating
liquors. and prohibiting their sale, except for
medicinal and mechanical purposes. ana the
arts. The same gentleman moved the pas
sage of the resolve.
Mr. Wilson of Paris called the attention of
the House 10 the fact that the first clause Of
the first section prohibits the "manufacture OF
intoxicating liquors. not including cider. "
The addition to that clause prohibits the sale
of intoxicating liquors without any exception
When the matter was first reported bv the
sub committee to the Judiciary Committee ii
included the words Except cider Some
of the committee deemed the evils resulting
from the sale of cider full AS great as from any
other class of intoxicating liquors and moved
that the clause be dropped out, leaving the
law that cider could be manufactured and
disposed of outside of the State, but not with
in its limits. He called the attention of the
the House as to whether the sale of cider
should be forever prohibited in the State he
moved to amend by inserting in the 10th line
after the word .'arts" the words: land the
sale and keeping for sale of cider" that
cider might be manufactured and sold under
such restrictions as the legislature might
prescribe.
Mr.. Moore of Thomaston thought the
amendment unnecessary, but had no obJec
ton to it il there was any doubt about the
matter.
Mr.. Hall of Rockland thought the point
was well taken. 1t relieved the resolve of
an inconsistency; that while the manufacture
of cider was permitted, the very next
clause, by implication forbids its sale The
amendment simply permitted the legislature
to restrict its sale after il was permitted to be
manufactured.
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Moore of Thomaston offered an amend
ment to the effect that the vote by the people
on the proposed amendment should be by
sealed ballots. He believed there was large
number, both in and ont of the legislature
who would like to see the ballot
thus taken, and to have each individual, when
voting, express his independent. personal
judgment, without the aid of the whips of anv
fanatics in the temperance movement or anon :
those opposed to it. He regarded the ques
ton as one of vital Importance. 1t was not
a childish question, except As it might be so
regarded in placing in the constitution such
proposition. The Importance of the sub
ject was such that every person should have
an opportunity to cast an Independent ballot
without any extraneOus aid or undue intlu
eHce.
Mr.. Hall of Rockland hoped the dav far
distant when the people of Maine should re-
sort to the craven method of expressing an
opinion upon a great public question, by a
private ballot. He thought the State had not
yet advanced so far in decay that the men of
it could not 90 up mani fashion, and deposit
their ballots upon any question, especially one
that had been so long publicly discussed and
so well understood as this matter OF consti-
tutional prohibition. Such a proposition did
not teach to the people honesty, manlinass,
or courage.
Mr.. Moore called attention to the State OF
Massachusetts, and to European countries,
especially France, where secret ballot pre-
walls.
The amendment was rejected.
Mr.. Rogers of Bath said the legislature
was invited to lay before the people propO-
sition to be engrafted upon the Constitution
prohibiting the manufacture and sale of ar
dent spirits. If any question was to be sub
mitted he was in favor of submitting one that
would be readily understood, without any
exception" contained in it. We have a
law upon this subject that has been enacted.
reenacted and amended for thirty years. and
are now presented with a constitutional
amendment which is as full of exceptions
and objections as the statute law. This
statute law, according to many of its advo-
Gates in convention, was not sufficient to
prevent as much liquor being sold in the
State to-day as there ever was. If these
gentlemen were correct in this opinion, what
progress had been made? How much bene-
fit would be gained by the proposed amend
ment? Ii struck him that it would be as
liable to vital attacks and tvasions as the
statute laws. He then moved to strike out
the exception in favor OF cider All could
underst nd this. If members were honest
in their leavors II prohibit the manufac-
ture and sale of ardent spirits, they would
strike at thu root, and if the people voted for
it he for one would accept that as the verdict
He was opposed to submitting any amend
ment to the people which was full of uncer
talnties.
Mr.. Talbot of East Machias thought there
was number who desired to speak, and he
also noticed that some were absent, and to
give a chance for debate he moved that the
final vote be taken to morrow at ii O'Clock.
Mr.. Heath of Augusta opposed the motion.