Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-05
AN OPEN QUESTION
As to the Good Accomplished
by the Raines Exise Law.
Bulk Of Evidence Shows That It Has
Many Glazing Defects.
"Raines Law Hotels Shown to be veritable
Dsns Of Iniquiy.

| clark, secretary of the board of health
was the first witness before the Raines
| investigating committee, today. He
, testified to receiving complaints about
| several Raines hotels violating the
| health laws. Some of the complaints
| he said, were unfOunded
| VIM. T.. Johnson said that by com
| pairing the number of arrests for drunk
enness during the four months in 1896
withthe similar number of months in
| 1895, he found the arrests had decreased
| l6 per cent.
Police Justice Teale of Brooklyn, tes-
tilted that from April to December.
1895. there were 1861 arrests, for intoxi-
| cation in his district, and only 1885 i'm
the same period 1896.
Morris Tekulsky. ex-president of the
Liquor Dealers Association. declared
that the policy of the Raines law was
correct but some of its provisions were
defective. One of the exceptions he
took to the law was that il allowed any
one to obtain license. He referred to
the cutlery made by some witnesses
against the saloon and said that not
one quarter of the liquor drank in this
city or state was sold in saloons. He
l..
today. in groceries. drug stores. big
dry goods stores and clubs than in the
saloons. There were plenty of unIcen-
sed places selling liquor. He believed
the open saloon. Sunday, would de-
crease intoxication. Witness said the
dryest Sunday that New York ever ex-
perienced was Sept. /. 1895. which was
the day the Liquor Dealers Association
gave its members instructions TO close,
under threat of expulsion. He asser-
ted that the liquor dealers could do
more to enforce the law than all the
police departments ever organized.
Senator Raines looked astounded at
this statement. He asked if il was not
a bad state of affairs when any organi-
zed body OF men whether Anarchists or
liquor dealers, could control the opera
lions of the law.
Il think that's unfair: the liquor
dealers are a lawabiding association
replied Mr. Tekulsky.
well when we have to depend upon
the liquor dealers to enforce the law,
want to move out of the state said
Senator Raines.
City Magistrate Wentworth, the next
witness. thought the term Hotel
should be REDEEMED. He said when
asked about discharging a man ar
rested for violation of the excise law.
that he was not there to argue the
case with Mr.. Roosevelt. who made
charges on eX parte statements. Wit
ness said he exercised his discretion in
dealing with the excise violations
Lawyer II. Digby Johnson said he
would substitute the word guest" for
the word meal and have the meaning
of the word guest strictly defined.
Lawyer Frank Moss. one of the di-
rectors of the Society for the Proven
ton of Crime, said the Raines law was
a good law and bad law. He thought
that election districts should have
something to say about the granting
of licenses. Mr.. Moss said he was
strongly of the opinion that liquor SELL
ing should be prohibited on Sunday.
He suggested that no Raines law hotels
should be allowed in tenement houses.
The witness was of the opinion that
on Sunday had increased
under the Raines law.
Supt. bennett of the Parkhurst So
ciety. said there We're more street
walkers in this city at present than he
street walkers want to take you into |
Raines law hotels" said witness Mr. |
bennett produced number of photo |
graphs Of Raines law hotels A great |
number of these hotels. he said, were |
merely designation houses.
At this juncture the committee adj
journed. The next session will be held |
in Buffalo.
Mayor Strong today, received a long
communication from the Society for the
Prevention of Crime, complaining of |
the fragrant violation of the excise.
building and other laws by keepers of |
alleged "Raines' hotels. The com
says that these hotels are
not only evasions of the law and pal
Fable frauds on the state but in many
instances centers of crime. The society
'aliS attention to the duties incumbent
IN the mayor as the chief magistrate of
he city to enforce the laws, and SAYS
hat it is unfortunate that the Raines
aw does not more clearly and closely
iefine hotel and a meal. Copies of
he letter were sent to the excise. police
md other departments.