Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-06
clude has been the price Of the saloons

the notification of law under statu-
tory and constitutional prohibition in
this State that the time is at hand
when the law-abiding element within
our borders must take the question
in hand and settle it in the interests of
good government and in harmony with
the wishes of the majority.
1.-The internal revenue records ex-
amined Friday last, show for the fis-
cal years 1901 and 1902, 1908 special
United States licenses taken out for
the sale of liquors at wholesale and re-
tail in the State of Maine; for the fls-
cal year 1902 up to and including
January 30th of this present year, 1927
such licenses were taken out, making
from the legal standpoint of the case,
one dealer for every GIG of the popula-
ton. This evidence of the liquor traf-
fic of course can make no account of
the hundreds of sellers within our
borders who take their chances with
the law and procure no license; or
rather take nou no special tax. To be
fair to the friends of Constitutional
prohibition, and to give them the full
benefit of the statistical argument, I
will deduct the 1876 cancellations and
eight transfers as shown by the In
ternal Revenue records for the past
year, and will add to the list forty
special taxes that have been endorsed
for the sale of nom Intoxicating bev-
erages such as Uno, Lithia, Germania,
Hungarian and other three per cent.
beverages, leaving in force for the ifs
cal year 1902, and up to January Both
of this year, $50 United States special
taxes or licenses, or one dealer to every
700 of the population. Taking the In
ternal Revenue report, the number of
special taxes issued in Vermont and in
force for 1902, were 533; one to each
GAP, of the population. The number
in New Hampshire for the same year,
1882. or one to each 270 of the popula-
ton.
Now for a comparison of the traf-
fic in Maine at the present time with
the traffic from 1883 to 1887 inclusive,
the Internal Revenue statistics show
for these years, one retail dealer for
each 610 of the population in Maine.
The revenue statistics for 1887, when
the benefits of constitutional prohi-
bition were supposed to be apparent,
showed there were 919 retail distilled
malt liquors and II wholesale liquor
dealers, making a total of 1923 as
shown by the Internal Revenue re-
cords, or practically the same amount
of legal business per capita then as
at the present time.
1.-THE attorney generals reports from
1894 up to the present time show a
total of rising 10000 violations of the
liquor law, or more than 1900 per year.
In spite of the fact that the assertion
was made by a prominent member
of the Kennebec delegation recently
that there was practically no liquor
sold in Kennebec county, a report sub
mitted to me by the county attorney
shows, after deducting the cancella-
lions, Sc special taxes in force distri-
buted over the following cities and
towns: Augusta, Waterville, Gardiner,
Hallowell Oakland, Winthrop, Ran
dolph North Vassalboro and Clinton.
l further submit. Mr. Chairman, a list
of the fines and costs imposed and col
lected since 1880, with the exception
of the two years 1887 and 1888, as
shown by the attorney generals re-
ports, and this list makes a total of
fines collected for these years of
$1,5S2,O941S.
"The years 1885 and 1886 immediate
ly following the incorporating of pro-
hibition into the constitution, shows |
respectively, $34,571.57 and $29,693 so in |
fines collected against $17O,354.23 and |
s177,61S.23 in 1901 and 1902. What |
ever these figures may prove
to you, gentlemen of the temper |
ance committee, to me they show |
20 years of increasing disregard |
of statutory law; of substitution of |
fines for license, and an argument for
a regulation of the liquor traffic in |
Maine.
I'm the face of these facts and many
more which could be presented from |
the criminal records of the State, this |
Legislature will be asked to continue
the present laws, constitutional and |
statutory which are upon our statute
books, today. The requests thus made |
will be largely upon the grounds that
these laws should be given a chance
to demonstrate what they can do. In
this connection, Mr.. Chairman, it may
be profitable to consider what has been
done in the way of legal suppression
of the liquor traffic in this State"
Mr.. Davis then went on to describe
the various laws that have been es-
tablished from time to time in Maine,
and then continued:
Mr.. Chairman. It seems to me that
If there is State in the Union which
can boast of an abundance of law for
the suppression of the sale and use of |
liquor, that State is the State OF Maine; |
but, with all this law which has made |
tipping. drunkenness, transportation
of liquor. single sale, the holding of a
United States special tax, pocket ped
ding, sale of adulterated liquors,
crimes to be punished, we are, in point
of suppression of the traffic, but little
If any ahead of so years ago.
I'VE must look not to statutory or
constitutional law for any real progress
made but to moral suaSiOn, education
OF our young men and women, and a
growing sentiment for sobriety and
temperance which is superior to all
law, and which has made the best of
our laws.
THE State of Maine is facing
crisis: we must decide whether our
statutes shall cont al in nrovisiopS which |