Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-07-29

Ing.
The Central Temperance Committee met
at the Congregational chapel last evening
according to adjournment to discuss meas
ures for arousing public sentiment and for
backing up the officers in the enforcement
of the liquor law. All the committee were
not present, some being out of town at the
summer resorts. f S. Fogg, Esq, was
present, and read from the statutes to show
that according to an old statute it remained
optional with the Judge u impose either a
foe or imprisonment, or BOTH on rum
seller.
Invitations had been extended Mayor
Lane and Marshal Morse to be present, al Il
Mayor Lane was present throughout the
whole meeting, Marshal Morse coming in
later. Rev. J. B. Jordan, who presided,
called on the mayor after Mr.. Fogg finished
his report regarding the prohibitory law,
and in doing so stated to him the nature Of
the meeting and what it was hoped could
be accomplished, asking him for sugges-
tons. Mayor Lane sal that he was not
feeling strong enough to make any ex-
tended speech but he would offer q few
suggestions. Naturally people looked to
the mayor as responsible officer regard
the enforcement of laws 10 the city, when,
according to the city charter, he was as
helpless as babe. The way to have of
hcers enforce the law was to show them
that unless they did enforce the law they
could not continue to hold office.
This could be done, he said, by so
amending the city charter, at the next leg
stature, that the mayor should be given the
power to appoint AMI remove the police
officers. instead of having the appointing
power in the hands of the city council, as
at present. Then there would be some
one TO be held responsible, and if he didn't
do his duty the majority at each election
could defeat him. He made strong plea
for such an amendment to the charter, and
advised those ~ho wished to see the Nv
rigdly enforced, TO attend caucases and
take 40 active interest in political affairs.
He was asked if the officers weren't ex
pected to do their duty without any form Il
complaint being made. when they knew
crime was bsing committed.
Certainly when he knows it the Mayor
replied mot when he is simply morally
certain of it. When, however, the citizens
know it u well as he does and don't choose
to make any complaint the officer isn't
likely to excite emmity by sggressiveness
Money fines were not likely to stop a rum
seller unless he also got imprisonment, and
unless every man who professed temper
ance was willing to make complaint whe n
he saw liquor being sold, and not wait for
some one else to do that dirty work. the
officers were naturally iaciined to take
thing, easy"
| Marshal Morse, who had come in during
the discussion, was called upon and said
tina. he hadn't received much encourage
men. from the citizens to take any active
measures and that it wasn't pleasant TO ar
rest men, have them indicted by the grand
jury and leave town before they could be
caught. wait until court was over then re.
turn AMI give bail and go on selling to make
up for lost time. Members Of the COM
mittee expressed themselves a, DESTROYS of
getting at the facts and believed that the
citizens of Augusta were in favor of the
| rigid enforcement of the Law. The com
mittee are just preparing themselves for
work to come and are hopeful of bringing
about good results in the near future.
| W. A. Gree nough & Co. are to get up a
new city directory Of Augusta, and the
men who are to do the work are already
here. Along with this, in which all take