The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-08
bprcrAL TO TIE Pnnss.y

Augusta. February 7.-It was an old
fashioned cold water rally which was held
In the room Of the COMMITTEES on temper
sncs this afternoon. The gathering was
made mp of forty ladies, many wearing
the white ribbon Of the W. G. I. o., and
ten men, beside tho committee The
argument that the foreign born popula-
tion In cities 10 the cause Of the violation
Of the law, and Rev. Mr.. Willismson's 9
statement that regulation was better than
no enforcement were interesting points in
the discussion Of what IL regarded a. o
hopeless bill. The bill Is one drafted by
DIR. Reynolds of Livefmore who told the
committee that officers Of the Law told
him 10 WAS difficult to enforce the liquor
law because 10 is.so detective. A claimant
II sly snough can always get his liquor
lack. There was the case Of hotel
ke epsr from whom nine barrels were
seized. Then the hotel keeper said that
while. it was time that be had sold liquor
he didn't intend 10 sell any more. 30 the
LIQUOR was given back 10 him. Then
LIQUOR dealers, SO Mr.. Reynolds had heard,
did not object to paying dnes, so the bill
he had presented making imprisonment
compulsory. The deputy sheriff who was
Mr.. Reynoids's informant also told him
that county attorneys seriously embar-
assed the sheriffs BY settling cases out Of
court. So the bill forbade these settle-
ments Then the bill also provided that
sherifYs VITO are negligent and inefficient
shall be removed By the governor. Having
thus explained how he would brscs up
the laws, Mr.. Reynolds gave place to
Grant Rogers, ESQ.,. who told the oom-
mittee about the section of the statute
which makes the imposition Of ssntsnce
to imprisonment when fines and i'm
prisonment are the penalty. optional with
the court. ~ believe little more JAIL
would hs good thing" said Nh. Rogers,
but I think the way 70 bring 10 about
would be an addition to the section in
question declaring that 1t does not apply
TO offences against the liquor law" Mr..
Rogers thought that the provision relating
to the removal Of sheriffs was already
sufficiently covered. County attorneys
had now no right 10 settle cases out Of
court except by mol pressing them with
the consent of the court.
Mrs l.. NJ. N. Stevens was the next
speaker. She said that the gentlemen who
had spoken represented q great many
who favored better enforcement Of the
law. III you will permit me to say 20. !"
said Mrs. Stevens, ~ represent an army
of women who. for IS years have been
striving 10 all the ways suggested By
mother Low, to bring about better en-
forcsment If then this law wou Id bring
about . change In the enforcement Of the
law, / am In favor Of it. but have
found that 1t 10 not always the fault OF
the law. 1t is an open secret that there
is q shameful failure to enforce the law
BY the officers whose duty 1t is. II this
law would restore the imprisonment
clause, which was removed by sly
trick. some years ago. l should favor 10.
You gentlemen compose the most import
ant committee Of the legislature. know
that IL is not so considered but such 10 the
fact and in favor of the enforcement OF
this law Is strong sentiments and one
which could those who hold 1t be brought
toRsthsr would make itself felt !"
Mr.. A. W. Anthony spoke In favor of
DR.. Reynolds bill. He thought that the
burden OF proof should certainly rest on
the claiman of seized liquors, that being
obviously in accordance with the intent
of the law. The imprisonment clause
should b. restored TO the law. The oities
looked 10 the legislature for relief. The
foreign element in tho cities has set at
nausht the prohibitory law and the
native born Of the cities looked TO the
legislature for relief. The rumssller Of
the city will never be suppressed until his
person fssis the penalty. He can afford
to pay the fines. Prof Anthony also
favored the provision of the bill providing