The Republican journal., 1905-03-23
THE STURGIS BILL.
Majorities. Something About the Meas
ure and its Author.

Majorities. Something About the Meas
ure and its Author.
Out of all the great grist of measures
that have drifted into the legislative
hopper this winter the Sturgis bill has
excited the most interest and been
watched with the greatest concern 1t
is perhaps the most revolutionary meas
ure that has been presented for consid-
Grafton.
The bill, in brief, authorizes the gov
ernor to appoint commission of three
persons, to be known as enforcement
commissioners, to visit all localities in
the State where the liquor law is not
being enforced, and take hand in the
more rigid enforcement themselves.
1t is provided that one of the men,
bers of the commission shall be law
yer, and that two of the members shall
be from the dominant political party,
and one from the political party cast
ing the next highest vote. Each men,
Der of the commission shall be paid a
salary of $500 a year and actual ex-
penses.
These commissioners are to be vested
with all the common law and statutory
powers of sheriffs in their respective
SoululCos ICS arc W NC Rlfcl pOH I'll
to appoint any number of deputy com
mlssioners they think best, and ap-
point special attorney in any county
where it is felt that the regular county
attorney is not doing his duty in the en-
forcement of the law.
1t is furthur provided that whenever,
in the judgment of the governor, the
commission is no longer necessary, he
is authorized to remove from office all
the members of the commission and
suspend it entirely, until such time as
he deems its services are again requir-
ed.
The bill passed the Senate March sth
by vote of % to 5. 1t was made the
order in the House for March 18th, but
owing to the great grist of routine mat
tiers the debate on the bill was not
reached till O'Clock, when Represen-
tative Henry w. Cakes, Republican, of
Auburn, in view of the lateness of the
hour, moved an adjournment. Instant
ly there were cries of ''no, no." The
vote was taken, which resulted 50 to 80
against adjournment
Representative Cakes then spoke
forcibly in favor of the bill, saying he
believed that, in event of its passage,
the liquor laws would be thoroughly
enforced for once. He said that the
bill would be right arm to the chief
executive of the State in enforcing the
prohibitory law. 1t was aimed at the
sheriffs of certain counties who are not
doing their duty. He thought the COM
mission for which the bill provides
would not be needed should the meas
ure become a law, as the county attor-
neys would see that the sheriffs en-
forced the prohibitory law.
Representative Michael T. O'Brien,
Dem, of Lewiston, opposed the meas
ure, saying he did not believe one man
could do what 16 sheriffs and 200 or 300
deputies had not been able to do in so
years of prohibition in Maine.
"Under the Sturgis bill Maine would
be subjected to more graft than she has
ever witnessed, even in her most de-
generate day." said Mr.. O'Brien.
Representative Joseph B. Reed, Rep,
of Portland, called it a freak piece of
legislation and dangerous measure to
enact. He called attention to the fact
that Col Fred N. Dow of Portland, son
of the late Neal Dow, the great apostle
of temperance, and the author of
Names prohibitory law, was opposed
W JIG ulcdSuF6.
Representative Joseph M. Hutchins,
Rep, of Penobscot, thought the COM
mission was a bad precedent to esJab-
fish, saying that it would open the way
to all sorts and endless commissions,
the expense of which was to be saddled
on the taxpayers.
Shortly before the house adjourned
to 10 a. M, Thursday.
The House Thursday by a vote of II
to so, passed the Sturgis bill. When
the bill came up as unfinished business
of the day before large number of the
members wished to get to a vote at
once. There we're som e cries of 'ques-
ton, question:" but some of the men,
bers were still filled with oratory and
after a few moments of confusion Mr..
Littlefield of Rockland was recognized
and the debate began. johnson Of Wat
erville made strong speech in oppo-
sition to the bill and Merrill of Show
hogan spoke in its favor. In closing he
said:
eff this last card is not successful,
let us come to our convention two years
hence, and say SO, and if resubmission
and q license law are thought to be the