Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-23

can 20 out of the rum business, anu
think the sooner we do it the better, con-
sidering the position we occupy before tne
country as prohibition State. 40 hot
believe that the bill now before us Will
make any improvement in the old condi-
ton Of things. It will simply create new
offic, do not believe In the bill, anu AZ
one member of this body, desire to place
myself right before the people as being
thoroughly in earnest for the abolition OF
the State liquor agency, and have there
fore offered these two amendments.
Mr.. Savage of Androscoggin: l would
like to ask the gentleman from Washing
ton if the effect OF his amendments would
be to allow municipal. officers to buy
liquors when, where and in what quaint
ties they please.
Mr.. Hume: These amendments would
abolish the State liquor agency. The law
on the statute looks now seems to me to
be amply sufficient, and for one am per-
fectly willing to trust this buying and
selling to the municipal officers. My col
league, Mr. Ames. who is absent just now,
knows all about this matter, and he has
labored long and earnestly with the sena-
tors, and he has convinced me that this
State liquor agency should be totally
abolished. l believe that it would be as
we'll to entrust these municipal officers
with this buying and selling as it would be
to entrust it to any gentleman we could
select as State liquor agent. l think that
the town liquor agency business is grow
ing less and less every year, and conse-
quently there is less and less necessity for
the State liquor agency.
The Senate then rejected Senate amend
ment A by vote of to 10.
Mr.. Spofford of Hancock asked the sena-
tor from Washington what the effect of
amendment B would be.
Mr.. Hume replied that it would abolish
the State liquor agency.
Mr.. Higgins of York asked if the effect
would not be to establish local liquor
agencies.
Mr.. Hume replied that there were but
90 town agencies now in the State, and he
believed that they would decrease in num-
beers as time went on. He pointed out
that if this amendment were adopted, the
State could go forth with clean hands, as
having no part as State in the liquor
business.
Mr.. Shaw of Aroos.ook: ] believe that
the interest in that part of the Governor S
message which referred to this subject is
due to the fact that they understood it to
be blow not only at the State liquor
agency, but also at the whole OF the
agencies in the State The people under
stood that the Governor thought that
there was something radically wrong, not
only with the State agency, but also with
the practice and management of the local
agencies. While the amendment would
not do away with all Of the agencies,
l believe it is better than the present law,
and therefore hope it will be adopted.
Mr.. Savage: The result which will be
accomplished by this amendment will be
that town agents will be virtually order
ing their liquors direct from Boston or
New York, and there will be no improve
ment at all in the matter. So far as
know, that is precisely what the people
object to. We never can have pure liquor
in the town agencies until they are put
under supervision, inspection and control;
and if we leave it to each town that con-
troll will not be exercised properly, and the
condition of things will not be bettered in
any way. I hope the amendment will not
be adopted.
Senate amendment B was then rejected
by q vote of to 12.
Mr.. Hovey of Somerset: should like
simply to explain my position on this
matter. l should prefer very much to
vote to wipe out the whole system of
liquor agencies. l believe the people are
sick and tired of these agencies. think
they are gradually going out of use, be-
cause the people are Disguised with the
agencies and the way they are managed
The bill was then passed to be en-
crossed.
On motion of Mr.. Warehouse of Cum
barIand, House document No. 1856, an act
to incorporate the Yarmouth Water Co.,
was taken from the table, read second
time and passed to be engrossed.
On motion of Mr. Marston Of Somerset.
House document No. 375.an act to amend
section "a, chapter 6, Revised Statutes,
relating to ways in unincorporated places,
was taken from the table,
Mr.. Marston: l was told by the gentle
man who presented this bill and by Mr..
Keegan of the House. that the call for this
bill was from Washington county. l con-
suited with the senator from Washington,
Mr.. Hume, and he said that he knew very
little of it, and with the senator from
Washington, Mr.. Ames, who said that
there was no call for it whatever. In my
own county there is no call for it what
ever and therefore move that it be in
definitely postponed.
Mr.. Hume said that he was not con-
suited by the gentleman who drew this
bill and had heard little or nothing about
it; but that so far as he knew there was
no reason for the passage of such bill,
and he therefore concurred in the motion
of the senator from Somerset
The bill was indefinitely postponed.
On motion of Mr.. Savage of Androscog-
gin, the Senate then took recess until
3 o clock p. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
On motion of Mr.. Engel of Penobscot,
Senate document No. 254,an act to make