Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-01-18
The LISTING Bill.
HEARING ON TEMPERANCE.
Gen. Neal Dow and Representatives Dole and
Patten Address the Committee.

Patten Address the Committee.
The was quite good audience in Rep
rcscntativcs' hall, Thursday afternoon, to
hear Gen Neal Dow in advocacy of the
bill he proposes to bring the prohibitory
law Unto harmony with the constitu-
tion."
Gen. Dow's presentation of his views was
apparently as vigorous as in years past,
despite his advanced age. His voice was
quite strong and clear, and the veteran re-
former as usual held the close attention of
his audience.
Rumselling earns nothing and we
spend hundreds of millions yearly upon
it," said the general in opening. He read
portions of the bill which he would like to
have passed would provide for fine
of $500 and imprisonment Tor six months
for the first offence, and $500 fine and one
year for the second offence. He should
have made it year in the first place, he
duucU, WcTt IL Ilou UlIttt tIIt Clllti JiSticS Vi
the State had said that the penalty of one
year imprisonment was excessive The
bill would punish railroad employees who
remove original packages from cars or
stations and transportation companies
would be fined $500 for bringing liquors
into the State.
All teams employed in the illegal trans
portation of liquor shall be seized and
This is patterned after the
United States law conflscating the teams
of smugglers
Gen. Dow said he did not see how any
body could object to this kind of a law if
they wished to stop rum selling. This
$500 fine and year in Jail isn't to punish
rumscllcrs for what they have done so
much as to prevent them from selling
rum. The English chief justice when the
man said it seemed very hard
to be hanged for stealing "A sheep, remarked
that it is not for stealing sheep but that
sheen may not be stolen that you must be
hanged.
II is the special duty of mayors, city
marshals and police, as well as sheriiis
and their deputies, to be diligcnt i'll en-
forcing the liquor law.
The Legislature of 1898 arranged it so
that the law could be one thing in one
county and another thing in another
county This bill will assure additional
for the second offence.
If a man has paid special tax, that
fact is now prima facic evidence. Such
facts, under the proposed law, shall be
held as conclusive evidence unless the
parties prove themselves innocent.
The bill contains this principle from
the original Maine law: Cases under this
act shall be given precedence to all cases
save those in which the parties are lying
in Jail; the liquor cases shall not be CON
tinued and the judge shall not have any
option in enforcing the law.
In case of any appeal, the respondent
shall recognize in two sufficient securities
of $1,000 each that he shall appear; and
he shall recognize in sufficient securities
of $1,000 that he shall not sell meanwhile.
In concluding Gen. Dow said that on
the evening of the next day after the pass
aye Of such a bill, it would be understood
throughout the civilized world that the
people of Maine are determined to rid
themselves of the rum traffic. Most OF
the rum shops would be shut up immedi-
ately. "This," he said, sis proabbly the
last time | shall ever be here. want to
see the beneflcent effects of such meas
ure.a (Applause.o
Gen. Dow Immediately left to catch
+ba train As he was going out, Mr..
p,tten of Bath. said that some other time,
when Gen. Dow had little more time,
he would like to make few remarks be-
fore the committee
Mr.. Dole of Biddeford said that after
listening to our venerable friend, he felt
assured that he was sincere But after
40 wears of temperance legislation in this