The Portland daily press., 1895-02-22
Editor Patten Advocates Resubmiss-
ion Before The Legislature.
THE SORRENTO DIVISION BILL
PASSED THE HOUSE.

of the Proposed New Town From Eliza
beth to South Portland-SoIdiers Poll
Taxes-Other Legislative Happenings
Augusta, February 21.-The judo larry COM
mittes devoted the afternoon to the hear
ing on the crusade of Editor Patten to Sc
cure the resubmission of the Constitutional
amendment prohibiting the sale of intoxi-
eating liquor. Mr.. Patten said: II have
introduced this bill providing for the sub
mission of the prohibitory Constitutional
amendment to the people. mainly Lecause
l believe, the. law as it stands has long ago
done all the good it can do and is. under
present conditions. failure, and an obsta-
Gle to restriction of the liquor traffic and
temperance reform.
81 maintain that it is impossible to make
an approximately satisfactory solution of
the problem until two ends have been ac-
oomplished
''l-The removal of private gain from the
a1ic.
''2-The divorce of the liquor interest
from politics.
At assert that prohibitory law has utterly
failed to accomplish either of these objects.
I.shaIl not attempt to prove here that there
is money in rumselling in Maine, but think
there is no man familiar with the cities of
the state will deny that the pursuit is pro-
ftable. I think it is equally incontroyer-
tibIe that in the cities at least the rum in
terest is power in politics and power
for bad
This brings me 10 my own proposal of a
substitute for4the present law. 1t is proper
and fair that one who proposes to tear one
system down should state what he would
enact its place. Ishall only say now that
my plan would keep always in view the two
aims mentioned. 1t would. be an inadequate
description of this plan to say that it is a
combination of the principle of the Norwe-
gisn.la law with the principle of local option.
Yet that would be the finest possible at
tempt to describe it. ! would permit any
community to choose prohibition. but if it
voted otherwise / would have it compulsory
that the traffic should BIS exclusively con-
Quoted by company. the profits from
which business. over and above say five per
cent interest on the Investment. to be
turned into the city or county treasury"
Mr., Patten called.to his aid Editor Jeffrey
of that sheet called the Expose. Mr.. Jeffrey
road many figures to back up his assertion
that prohibition.do not prohibit. He said
that 973 residents of Maine had taken out
United States licenses and had sworn that
they desired to become retail liquor dealers.
Mr.. Patten unrolleG the list of names of
these license holders. the paper reaching
across the room. 1t was greeted with a
smile. Mr.. Jeffrey estimates that there is
a saloon to every 222 of the Inhabitants of
the state. He says Bangor has one to every
1874. Portland has l5s license holders.
,Jf hxyM NM Taffp n ata Ia to ho
committee his version of some difficulties in
Senator Higgins, that the witness should
confine his remarks to the question. Rev.
James S. Williamson of Augusta. ex-senator
Daggett and Rev. Mr.. Parsons spoke in
opposition to resubmission.
The committee didn't leave Mr.. Patten in
doubt as to their decision. They voted i'm
mediately. after the hearing that the resolve
ought not tc pass.
SORRENTO'S SUIT.
Little Sorrento had won the first step in
the divorce ease. the bill to.siye her the
rights of town being sendcrsed in the
House this morning by vote of 6s to Sc.
There was considerable debate over the
question which was heard by large audi
ence.
Mr.. S. Leavitt took the Sullivan reports
from the table and moved the adoption of
the minority report for setting off Sorren-
to.
Mr.. Patten of Bath thought there was a
large sized speculative cat under the meal.
Z he fact that the committee Was practical
ly unanimous.at first. ..and that then mi
n ority report was adopted. pointed to this.
He was prejuGiced against lobbyists and
il this case it seemed o HIM their ravages
were very apparent.
Jones pays the freight. The town had
treated Sorrento fairly. indeed been liberal.
| There were some who wished to know
more about it. It wasn't brought to his at
tention until two days ago. He moved that
it lie on the table.
Mr.. Hooper of Castine. hoped they would
go on with the smatter to get rid of these
lobbyists that Mr.. Patten had said SO much
about. The motion was voted down.
Mr.. Leavitt spoke in behalf Ut the minori-
ty 1t was another case of Gouldsboro and
| Winter Harbor. All the residents of Sor-
rento but one wanted to be set off. If made
town it would be larger than Old Orchard,
town in the.state.
MI. hyefSOn Oh IlveImOre. ueu tudL
| the majority of the committee heard all the
| evidence at the hearing. 1t seemed to the
| committee that the claims of the division
| lists were not sustained. They showed NO
| reason why they could not enjoy the same
privileges now as if set off.
| This new municipality proposed has but
| thirty five voters. 1t would be bad pre-
cedent to establish a municipality whose
future depends solely on a speculative land
company. Again while all but one of these
residents favored division, the great pres
sure brought to bear on this legislature the
past ten days came not from them but from
| the land company.
! Mr.. Hooper said that Sorrento is sure to
be set of in time, and it should be- done
now. 1t is not for Frank Jones that the
division is-to be made.
Mr.. Gates of Vsssalboro said he under
stood that the gentlemen who had spoken
for 1.-The minority was in Aroostook county
during the hearing.
Mr.. Leayitt said he thought he might as
well be in Aroostook county as to be at the
committee hearing asleep. Other members
o. the majority presented the idea that they