Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-07-30
The United States and Maine.


Liquors Seized by L. $. Omcers In Maine
Can't BE Auctioned in Maine-A De-
cison of Importance to the Cause OF Pro-
hibtion.
RoCkLAND, july 20--lt is not, perhaps,
a matter of general knowledge that the
United States Government has authority
to sell at public auction, intoxicating H.
quorS seized for violation of revenue laws,
yet such is the case and the instances are
not few IN which the United States Gov
ernment has done this. Sales have fire.
quentiy been made In the border cities and
towns Of our State without attracting
very general attention outside the place of
sale. In the early part of June as our
readers will remember, the collector at
Rockiand seized from the British schooner
''Blithe" two cases Of Irish whskev, and
according to the law, advertised il for sale
at public auction in the city of Rockland,
July lst, 1891. The matter escaped gen
eral observation till shortly before the
sale. June i6, J. W Mitchell, secretary
of the Peoples Prohihtory Enforcement
League, on behalf of the League. called on
Collector Luce and demonstrated against
the sale Mr.. Luce Informed him that he
had no discretion in the matter, that the
the liquors unless otherwise ordered. He
said he would be glad to be ordered to
send them elsewhere. and suggested that
he bring the matter directly to the atten-
ton of the Department.
Acting ON this suggestion. Secretary
Mitchell addressed protesting letter 10
the Department. No reply was received
until four DAYS before the sale This reply
was to the effect that if the collector at
Rockland wa, of the opinion that the
financial interests of the Government
could be better served hy forw arding these
liquors to the port OF Boston, he might
do so. otherwise he would proceed with
the sale ut Rock,aud Mr.. Luce was very
earnestly and numerously pctltiontd to
postpone the sale for thirty DAYS that
further ruling nigh, be had from thu De-.
partment. He declined to d. so. and said
he should proceed with the sale II wts
not possible TO get further commune llian
with the Department. and a. last IT, 1T
Secretary Mitchell pr, sentcd the following
protest -
RoCkLANp. Me-, June 90. 1891
Yo ". II, Lnce. CoNecipr. Pouof PDHi1nd:
SRI respectfully Vet earnestly protest
sgain>i the al" OF intoxicating liquor. . adj
serlsrd bv YOU ~ collector. s-k YOU 10 cN-
70 postpone said >sle to a future date A. rc,,-
sons why this request should be granted. pre-
sent the follow wing:
fully recognize that the GIFTED Ststes has
full authority 20 hold this sale /, il j. deter.
mined 10 do a. but submit that Tor th4t rra-
son it should not netilcs~ly or " anton'v do il.
For tnany Years II has been tn. policy Of this
stat +" forbid the sale Of all lnfuN ...atin. H.
quu-- save for mechanical ami medicinal pur-
poses II !, drap--eatci ~ thc uuH.cjsH.o -
t4r people. lou ar" in this state sni sur
sHuied by thi> sentiment. | re>ye,t fully
>uhni that il i YOUR dutr a. sn officer Il the
general government, to not needle, ~ j. sio-
lrnc" 10 The sentiments OF this people. ar 1 a Il
citizen ~ thi- >i4te It i not les leur duty u
refrain a. long possible from s4 Il. 1 20
shomuah" to The moral sense 81 ,ouc = lie.
he general government ha- been ~ in
times pa-t 10 interfere With state, IN III r ST.
',mpt- to control his evil Ii ;, an. mon
>trou- 10 suppose that & VIII now decide Ia do
an act that outrase- the public sen i'm MT and
i against our laws. | ask time TO % a rliiue
from the department On the question wnrthrr
intoxicating liquors seized 4, prlA.h.f nv
state, may not be sent rl-sa here ,ar -ar Ia
answer to nv letter 10 the department al, Z
Tor rulu. an th> point, 81 indefinite gcgs
ha- ben sent II ! not possible to get Is more
definite answer unless ynn po-tI.pnt the : M.
owing 70 DELAYS whith | cuuid u1t coAfrol
y ha- not been pn->ihc f"r inc u take the steps
for which now AK time
Lastly. submit that yuu cannot lrzals "a
III liquor Al thi- time; ihr uo'ir" Of ,luu--
cation required ny seq. 3N,f Revised Stf'ufe-
~ the nitri >ta'c> not htNrUt pt-n Given.
nor the uoii-" required ~ $50 BOZ.
h'-ie''I,'' r"H,,,
ny - o''
VI lu'e sun aecilhei ~ postpone -"
~A'e Ahl 'Ht i44u'r> were accordingly SOLD
on me gay advertised i was decided by
we League 70 MAKE strong movement
l"F genera! order mat liqu prs forfeited
" pf"hl'lt'ry states ipT violations Of rev
'hue laws pe sent - other states Tor sale.
Such action. however, was rendered un