The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-01-17

Mayor chapman's Answer to Rev.
Mr.. BayIey's Sermon.

A reporter for the Advertiser saw Mayor
Chapman yesterday morning, and made some
inquiry about Mr.. Bayley's sermon. The
mayor expressed some surprise that Mr..
Bayley had not conferred with him about
these matters. He had known Mr.. Bayley
he said, for many years; they were in col
lege together and were members of the same
college society; they had met frequently
since Mr.. Bayley came to Portland, but no
intimation had been made that Mr. Bayley
was dissatisfied with the administration of
public affairs. On the contrary, he ex-
pressed last'summer his cordial approval of
the mayors efforts to secure better observ-
ance of Sunday.
Coming to tho statements of fact in Mr..
Bayley's sermon, the mayor said, in sub
stance:
/. That the police statistics do not justify
the conclusion that drunkenness is more
common now than in 1885. The police signal
SYSTEM now in operation. facilitates arrest;
and besides, it is understood that in 1885, the
police were instructed not to. bring drunken
men to the station but to help them home.
As matter of fact, there is not an extraor-
binary amount of drunkenness and disorder
and few complaints have been received of
violation of the liquor law.
2. On the only Occasion when Mr.. Bayley
has spoken with the mayor about the liquor
law, few days ago, Mr.. Henry Trefethen OF
Peaks Island, being accidently present. said
he was glad the subject was agitated because
he believed that fishermen, from whom he
bought fish, wasted their money for drink.
After Mr.. Bayley retired, Mr.. Trefethen said
he had called to get permission to cut trees
on a roadway laid out by the city govern
ment on Peaks Island. He did not call, as
is implied in the sermon. to complain OF the
negligence Of the city government.
g. 1t is true that boy was removed from
the Centre street grammar school for drunk
enness, one day in December. The police
man who was called, ascertained that the
boy got his liquor at a dwelling house, and
has since made three seizures there. Some
months ago another boy was drunk in school
but it was learned that he got his liquor at
home. The saloon opposite to the school
house has been closed for year, and the
keeper has been in Jail. There are no chill
dren nine years old in the kindergarten and
no child there has ever been intoxicated.
The story about the drinking habits OF the
boys, is grotesquely untrue. AS nearly as
can be ascertained, the room meant is Miss
Plummer's. Miss lPlummer says that one
day she wrote on the blackboard, the words
Sarsaparilla, Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Lager
Beer, and asked the boys whether they mad
tasted any of these drinks. Three or four
she thinks. replied that they have tasted
4. Mr.. BayIey reported his discovery of
the Commercial street saloon to the Mayor.
H. 4sra4Na n Inf a
said that the officer who refused to act upon
his information was derelict to his duty
using the very illustration which Mr.. Bayiey
afterward used in his sermon. The ofncer,
the Mayor said, needed warrant 70 searcn
house for liquors or for stolen goods, Ply IL
was his duty to arrest man actually selling
lauors contrary to law, as be should arrest
burglar in the act of robbing. mouse. Inc
policeman was suspended for this offence,
and is still suspended
5. MI. Bayfey's friend, Mr.. LeLacheur,
having complained of the Clark street sa-
loon, as was his duty, was promptly sum-
moned before the grand jury, and on his evl-
dence the barkeeper was arrested and con-
victed. What more could be done?
6. Seizures have been made at the three
hotels to which Mr.. Bayley alludes. 1t Is
not long since Mr.. Bayey himself was
quest at one of these hotels and took part In
a vote Of thanks to the proprietor for his at
tentions. 1t cannot be that he considers
that hotel disreputable place?
In conclusion, the Mayor said that the en-
forcement of the liquor law is reasonably
thorough, considering the fact that we have
only twelve policemen by day and eighteen
by night to guard a city of 10000 inhabi-
tants The best proof of the proper admin
istrat ion of the law is the testimony of pro-
hibitionists living in other cities, who, on
visiting Portland, say that the state OF
things here is all that could be desired.
Without attributing any political motive TO
Mr. Bavley the MayOr said he could not
help regarding the sermon, just at this time,
as inspired byl persons whose interest in the
approaching election is much keener than
their regard for the Maine law.