The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-07
PROHIBITION IN PORTLAND.
Views of Prominent Men as Stated to
Canadian Commission.

Hon. Char les f. Libby Gives the History
of an Effort at aforementioned
- Opinion That Only Intermittent Re-
suit Are Secured.
In 1899 special Canadian commission,
headed by Sir Joseph Hickson, examined
into the liquor question in the United
States. Among other places they visited
Portland, and examined some of the
promient citizens. The report has now
been published.
Speaking of the history of efforts to
enforce the law, Mayor Baxter said ::
They have been spasmodic. There is this
difficulty, there is great temptation to
the policemen, of course, to take brides,
and the men who keep these liquor places
can afford to pay something: and have
no doubt that somo of the police, at
least i'll times past, do not know that
that is the case now, have taken brides
I have no doubt about it. / have
no doubts at ali in my mind that there
were quite number of men last year
arrested and allowed to go away without
any record being made. There cannot
be nearly SO much liquor drank here now
as formerly, in proportion to the popula-
ton. If there could be licensing system
which could be controlled properly, it
seems to me that it would be better than
our system here. l OWL considerable bust
ness property in Portland, and I am per-
fectIy satisfied in my mind that the
prohibitory law has not damaged me in
any way. I think, perhaps, | get
better class of tenants. Now there Is \
difference of opinion about that. Mr.. j.
B. Brown used to argue, and his sons
argue similarly, that the prohibitory law
does great damage, and that buildings OF
theirs would be occupied without a pro-
hibitory law, which are now idle. Mr..
Brown claims that it is a damage to the
estate. but think it is owing to the
nature of his property more than any
thing else that some of it is not occupied.
He has certain buildings which perhaps
should never have been built.
OF Colonel Fred N. Dow the following
questions were asked: Can you state
generally what are your impressions OF
&.
am unable to speak comparatively, OF
course, because my recollection does not
extend back beyond the days of the pro-
hibitory law; but so far as my observa-
tions have extended and my opportunities
of comparing this State with other states
of similar size, l am very positive in
my opinion that the conditions here in
Maine are generally much better than in
others states with similar class of popu-
lation.
Is the law enforced with increased rigOr
from year to year?-I suppose it is better
enforced just now than it has been for
many years. The enforcement, however,
is
RATHER INTERMITTENT.
What accounts for that yariableness in
the enforcement. the law?-It is very
much like the swing of pendulum.
Sometimes the enforcement gets very
slack and loose and this is apt to be
followed by period of rigorous enforce
ment; and then some people are not SO
fond of an enforcement of the law as
they thought they were going to be, and
then the pendulum swings back again.
If a candidate for office took that
position (enforcing the law what do you
think would be the effect in Portland?..
1t would depend somewhat on circum-
stances. say that the man who publicly
processes that he is going to do his full
duty and privately had an understanding