Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-02-27
Under Democratic Rule.
From 1915, 900, to $780,
900 deficiency the past
year, to be made up next
year by increased taxa
ton, or increase Of debt!
The City Rum Shop.

The City Rum Shop.
Aside from q few notorious facts con-
corning the city rum chop patent to all who
are in any way acquainted with that estab-
lishment the people Of this city have been
able to obtain but little information. 1t il
known that the city government appropriated
several thousand dollars to establish the
sgency and then looked upon their handi-
work a. good. This being the only in
novation of any account introduced
by the local Democracy this municipal
year it was but natural that they. should
look upon it As good. There are IN my who
do not share that opinion, however. 1t is
seen from the last auditors report that
there had been audited bills amounting to
SGICO.37, also that this sum exceeded the
appropriation by SGs5.37. OF course the
auditors report did not show whether bills
had been allowed to lie over without being
audited. II is said that such bills do exist
10 the amount Of nearly $1,000, which
will likely go over to the next
city government to pay. 1t certainly looks
a. if the agency had not been financial
success. 1t is evident to everyone that it
has not been moral success.
The city government at the same meet
ing when it voted to establish the city r. m
shop passed an order that the Office rs of the
law should enforce the prohibitory law in
this city. What did that order amount to !
Or what did the city government intend it
should amount to?
If the law has been enforced it has
enforced itself. Certainly the local
authorities have not enforced it. The
reason for this laxity, the reason commonly
ascribed and commonly believed, is that
the local Democracy did not dare to en-
force the law for fear of weakening its
political Influence.
But if the city government did not shut
off all avenues for obtaining rum how could
it expect the city rum chop to thrive
and perhaps, you know, contribute
to the campaign fund? The an
swer to this pulling question was ap-
parent after the agency got under way.
Sell to all who came and ask few if any
questions. 1t soon became common talk
all along the street that the gutter drunk,
ards who could not get their rum elsewhere
had no trouble in obtaining it at the city
agency. We do not say that pocket ped
dlers got their supplies regularly at the
agency, for time at least, but this was a
common report and there seemed to be
many reasons for believing it. Indeed in
connection with an establishment like the
city rum shop 1t has been demonstrated that
it is difficult to prove what everyone at
all conversant with the matter i'm
plicitly believes. For instance a man
who had been working on the ice this win
ter came into town drunk one night. The
next day he had an iutolerable thirst and
tried, he said. at several places to buy rum.
He told to prominent man here the story
Of how he finally secured the desired liquor.
There seems to have been no reason why
he should lie about it and the man believed
what he said. He said he tried in several
places to buy some rum which he thought
he must have. Failing. he decided to try
the agency. He looked the gutter drunkard
in clothes, bloated face and in all respects.
But he put on bold front, evolved an excuse
from his added brain and entered. The man
behind the city bar spoke a. one of long expe-
rience with such cases, for before the appli-
cant could get his excuse out of his parched
mouth, the vendor spoke up, Rum, pint
or half pint?" The fellow said that rs soon
as he got that bottle in his hands he opened
it and drank without asking any ques
tons. This man had no occasion
for lying. and probably told the
truth. At anyrate his statements sur
pfised no one who heard them. The
JOURNAL readers have also heard of few
of the incidents in which the city rum Jug
hAs figured thus far in the campaign.
They will hear of more. The desperate
straits Of the Democracy are such that they
will not hesitate to make use of every in.
fluence at hand. The city rum shop 10 a
powerful influence. Already, it is
said, little slips of paper ordering
the agent to deliver so-and-so 4
certain amount of intoxicating liquor are
among the bills not yet audited and which
the city will have TO pay.
1t remains for the People Of Augusta to
say at the polls March 18th, whether the
Democratic party showed political wisdom
this pern!ciou', corrupting
influence into city politics.
How the Accounts Stand.