Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-01-28
THE TEMPERANCE question
nearing Before the Commit,e. e.. p
Ing.

lhere was hearing before the oon,;.
zee on temperance last evening in Renre..
.nta'iVes Hall as to the expediencv Of Al.
'"''nai temperance legislation. There ~.
very fair sized gathering of leoi.l.,o,.
around the committees table. and tho 80,
lef'es were occupied by a sprinkline of
spectators.
zen Neal Dow of Portland was the frs,
speaker He cited the enactment of tho
MAINE liquor law in 1854 and comnarad Tho
oonu''ioh OF the cities and towns with that of
'ouay ana presented to the committee several
amendments to the liquor law, the chief
provisions of which are as follows:
mat person who. after he receives in
Iormation that building which he lets i.
aseo ior the ssle of liquor. continues TO let
ioi the same purpose. shall be heavily fined
| ehe receive term of Imprisonment; that the
n,st oiehce TOR illegal sale shall be num-
.sneu Dy hue of 5000 and six months in
jan that the sentries at the liquor saloons he
made parties in the crime: that a dumn or
appliance for disposing of liquor shall he
considered sufficient evidence to convict that
iiquor supporting to be imported NAV be
selZed and the owners made to prove that
tnev were imported; that the first penalty for
,he manufacture Of liquor in the State shall
ne oiooo and SIX months imprisonment: that
teams used IN transporting liquor shall be
confscated and the drivers fined 5000 and
imprisoned six months.
Ten. Neal Dow read portions of the amend
ments, commenting upon them and making a
strong appeal in their favor. He believed
that the sentiment of the people would sup
port additional law and said that the state of
the temperance question in Maine influence
the cause throughout the world
Dr. Warren. editor of the Christian Mir
ror, addressed the committee He asked for
law that would carry out the constitution of
the State. NJ zine, the speaker said is looked
upon the wide world over as the common
wealth which has grappled with the liquor
curse. 1t is undeniable that Maine has reach
ed high plane in temperance reform, and it
Is your privilege, gentlemen of the legisla-
ture, to bring this question to fnaity in
this State The bill which has been referred
to has been drawn up with especial reference
to practicabiity. Every amendment pre-
experienced men. The amendments we ask
are all needed to do the work. IL would be
Illuminating after thirty years of warfare, for
the people of Maine to give up the work.
Rev. II. c. Munson said am somewhat
surprised that not more radical sentiments
have been expressed here this evening 1t is
time that we accomplished something. We
have been working in Portland for about
three weeks to suppress the gr0g shops, and
in our crusade have been no respecters of
persons. In our efferts we have put out 236
warrants, and secured 100 barrels of beer
But notwithstanding we have raided these
shops, they continue to sell every day. What
we get does not amount to much more than a
high license. This fight which we are wag-
ing in Portland is war of our State and city
against the combined liquor interests of the
country. The liquor sellers are aided by the
distillers and brewers out of the State, and
for this reason we ask stronger laws
Rev. | Luce of Gardiner said that the
amendments had been carefully considered
bv the different temperance organizations of
the State.
Rev. ID. b. Randall believed that there
were macy rat holes to be stopped and stated
that the purpose of the temperance people
was to close them all.
Mr., W. w. Perry of Camden expressed the
opinion that drunkards should be held equally
responsible with the man that sells liquor.
Rev Mr. Skeee said that the question had
been how much money shall liquor sellers
pay; now they would have both fines and
and Imprisonment.
w. II. Looney, Esq, of Portland, said; 1t
does not appear to me that public sentiment
is what it should be on this question If the
mayor and police officers of Portland were in
symapthy with the law there would be no diff
ticulty in enforcing it.
Gen. Dow secuted the idea that public SEN
timent did not uphold the liquor law and
cited the majority of $4,000 votes for the
prohibitory amendment in NJ line.
Prison Inspector Porter advocated more
stringent law against drunkenness.
II. II. Harvey of Augusta made brief re-
marks.
Adjourned.