The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-01-29
THE PROHIBITORX LAW.
Tuesday Nights Henring Before thc Tenn
pePance Committee at Augusta.


The Representatives Hall was about half
filed Tuesday evening at the hearing before
the temperance committee Of the Legislature.
A few ladies were in the gallery. General
Neal Dow was the first speaker. He argued
that the continued persistence of the rumsel-
lers in defiance of the laws Of the State consti-
tuted condition of rebellion as well as that
of Sumter. With these rebels there is contin-
usl war. in Portland he andshis associates have
been fighting them since 1875 with efficient
sheriffs and policemen, and in Portland today
there are as many rumshops as there were In
1875. One man. Rufus Waite, was prosecu-
ted forty-six times before he was driven out
By a sentence to jail, and then his brother con-
tinued the business. They drove his brother
out and now they are hammering away at his
brother-in-law who continues the business at
the old stand. Thus these presevering rum
sellers have paid their fines and still continue
to thrive until the jails have stopped their ca
reers. So, in view OF such cases of pertinacy,
General Dow and his friends propose for this
fret offence $500 fLe and six months in
jail and, if the fins is not paid, one year in
jail; $50 much fine, SO much jail, rot cent
less, nor day less"
In Portland they have judge who is a most
excellent judge and man, bat who unhappily
has, as General Dow terms it,, tender spot in
his heart. And this, he afirms is the case
with many judges; so it is proposed to take all
discretionary power from the Judge by an
amendment providing that no case shall be
continued for trial or for sentence except
for the accommodation of the judge or court
but never fol- convenience of the prisoner.
whenever liquors are poured out or destroyed
by the seller to prevent detection, the evidence
OF such destruction shall be evidence to the
court that the article was held for unlawful
sale.
In case Of search and seizure the punishment
shall be fine Of $500 and costs, and six
months in jail, and if the fine is not paid one
year in Jail.
liquors, as in the memorable case of the police
men who watched car load of liquor until
they were started, car, liquor and all, ont Of
Portland. For such obstruction one of
General Dow's amendments provides q fine of
800 and costs and six months in jail for the
agents.
These are not the only notifications of the
present law. The numerous amendments pro-
posed Tuesday evening embody the results Of
Mr.. Dow's experience and the latest views OF
the temperance advocates in the State.
Gen. ended by declaring that these amend
ments were not intended to demonstrate how
much the rumseller can stand and continue in
his iniquity, bat how much he can't stand.
But even these stringent measures fall short of
Gen. D0w's ideal, and he returns with regret
full remembrance to the efficacious reforms
which he once wrought by martial law and
3O-pound ball with leg chain attached.
DR.. Warren, editor of the Christian Mirror,
followed. he argued that the constitutional
amendment is mandatory and bids the legisla-
ture TO enact laws to put the traffic completely
down. The present law fails to 90 this. Dur
ing his remarks DR.. Warren gave some inter-
estiDg experiences OF his own while accompa-
Dying policemen upon their liquor raids.
Rev. Mr Munson gave to the committee an
account of the campaign which he is now con-
Quoting against the saloons Of Portland. His
experience shows that five things are necessary
to render such var effeetual:
I-Tbat the penalty for first offence shall be i'm
prisonment in addition to the fine.
1t is absolutely import ant that the fourth
section shall be 30 amended that it shall become
operative. This section provides that the person
who knowingly lets building for the sale Of
liquor shall be punished. The proposed amend
ment provides that the selling Of liquor vacates
lease, or rental.
3-rhe watchmen at the saloons who give warn.
ing OF the approach of officers must be made part
4-The dump or hopper or any continuance for
destroying liquor, found in a saloon must be evil
dences of Illicit sales.
5The carriers Of liquors for Illicit sale must be
punished by imprisonment.
Remarks favoring the petition we're made by
Rev. |. Luce, Rev. d. B. Randall and Rev
Mr.. Skeele.
Mr.. w. w. Perry of Camden thought that
drunkards should be held equally responsible
with sellers of liquor.
Mr.. Looney, city solicitor Of Portland,
thought the present law could be enforced il 1t
was sustained by public sentiment. In his
view there Is no occasion for new legislation
until the present law has been faithfully tried
in the light of an honest and we'll educated
public sentiment. 1t is needless TO say that
these remarks did not please Mr.. Dow
Mr.. j. w. Porter, Jail inspector, advocated
giving drunkards definite term OF imprison-
ment, and if they are released before the end
Of the term, it should be only upon disclos-
ure of where they obtained their liquor.
After brief remarks by II. Fl. Harvey OF Au-
gusta, the hearing closed.