The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-03

the gallery could be made strong enough
but the front entrance was dangerous in
case of rush and the back entrance was
more dangerous. This putting more
people in there without better way of
getting out is very bad. He did not con-
slider the exits any more than sufficient
for the number of people seated on the
floor.
I Questioned by Mayor Baxter, Mr.. Ward
thought there might be a way to improve
the exits.
At this point it developed through the
statement by City Clerk Dyer that no
license had ever been granted for the
running of this theatre and that now it
was runningswithout any legal authority
a Aldermen Thompson and Dam said
that they had understood that the theatre
was to hold only about SOC people
The matter was finally left just where
it always has been and that is awaiting
the report of Inspector Ward as to the
proper fulfilment of the requirements and
Improvements in the strength OF gallery
and widening of exits, beforeManager Nc
Gone can legally use the gallery.
CITY SOLICITOR CHAPMAN ON
MILK
The following communication from
City Solicitor Chapman in regard to in
spection of milk was read
In pursuance with the order of the
Mayor and Aldermen of November 4th,
'95, directing the city solicitor to prose-
cute all cases of violation of the milk
law, the inspector presented list OF "a
cases and requested prosecution. am
satisfied that successful prosecution is
practicable in very few, if any, OF the
cases presented, although in every case
the milk was deficient within the terns
of the statute. The condition of affairs
seemed to me of sufficient Importance to
justify special report to the Board of
Mayor and Aldermen.
Mr.. Chapman here quoted the statute.
The board will notice that the offence
created by Statute is to knowingly and
wilfully sell impure milk. Of the "a
cases all are bad, according to the
standard of the statute. Six cases con-
tanned skim milk added, and in % cases
cream had been taken off. But the
burden is upon the prosecution to
prove that the seller knew that the milk
knowledge on the part OF the seller He
may have bought it for good milk and
sold it without suspicion of its impurity.
The same difficulty was felt in Massachu-
setts and remedied by new statute
making it an offense to sell impure milk,
whether with knowledge or without, on
the ground that the danger to public
health was SO great as to Justify this
measure. This matter, however, is for
the iapiSlatllra to deal with
The inspector is further handicapped by
the city ordinance which provides that
he must rely for compensation upon one
half of all fines imposed The tendency
of such a system of fees must inevitably
be detrimental
The present condition of affairs is al
most worse than no law at all. That we
have an inspector misleads the public in
to the idea that there is protection from
impure milk. But no means is provided
| for adequate compensation for the in
| spector or reimbursement for expenses in
CURED, except out of fines imposed. This
makes the present system OF milk in
speotion of little value.
| The only remedy that I can suggest
must be slight, until the Legislature
changes the law of the State. Some of
the evils could be remedied by city ordi-
nance, but the most effective seems to
me to be for the board to call upon the
inspector for an official report, contain
ing the names of all persons found by
him to be engaged in selling impure
milk. This last means will at least
enable the public to protect itself by re-
fusing to to buy milk of such dealers.
annex hereto detailed report Of cases re-
| ferred to.
Very respectfully,
WILH ORD 6. CHAPMAN.
~ Following is Inspector Blake's report
of work accomplished in every depart
ment since May 1st, 1896:
Certificates issued for milk, 2S5
Certificates issued for vinegar, 101
Total, 1856
One person refusing to register was
fined total of fines and costs of SIS. 95.
Inspection was begun on September I'd
and continued till the present time with
a total of 200 inspections
Of "a cases specially sampled for
chemical analysis six contained over the
maximum per centage of water allowed
by statute, six contained added skim
milk, twenty-five lacked the necessary
amount Of cream, showing that cream
| had been distracted. One bad case of
gargetty milk was found, a report of
which from William H. Ohler, chemist,
is appended.
Inc boaru OF dealth was at once nobl-
fed.
Mr.. Blake concludes by stating that he
presented 81 cases to Mr.. Chapman for
prosecution, but that unexpencted diff
culties arose. He then states: Assuming
that the receipts of fines in the above
cases would be sufficient, I promised to
pay the expense of analysis, the charges
of the chemists being reasonable. Being
prevented from receiving any fines, take
the liberty herewithsto present bill for
my services as above and for payment of
chemical work.
Respectfully submitted,
| GEORG H. BLAKE.
INSPECTOR BLAKE'S BILL.