Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-16
Committee Hearings.

ing of Wednesday afternoon. if one
may Judge from the crowd in attend
alIce and The interest displayed was
that before the committee on temper
al"e concerning the SO-called Sturgis
tlll. This measure. whose main object
is the creation of Il State commission
OF three men by the Governor to secure
Il better enforcement of the prOhibitory
l.wS. has been widely discussed in the
newspapers since 1t was presented by
Senator SturgiS and has aroused nuci,
feeling. The hearing was in the hall
OF The House and continued from to
= l.. NJ, with Il crowd in attendance
Which taxed the capacity of the big
room. There We're many speakers and
much eloQuence on both sides and at
times considerable acrimOny was dis
play ed. At the conclusion of the hear
ing the bill was tabled for executive
session.
The hearing was opened by Senator
Sturgis of Cumberland. who explained
at length and in detail the features of
the bill. He made it Tlain that he spoke
for the original bill, and not for the
bill in any of the new drafts which
have been made or with any amend
mentS taScked on. Continuing he said
in substance: THE whole State is
aroused now in favor of enforcement
and there is an increasing demand
that the officials be true to their oaths.
The Old-faSiiiOned Bangor plan is Civ
ing away to honest enforcement over
in Penobs"ot county. In Cumberland
county under Sheriff Pennel there is
complete notification and it is ut Cum
berl;ind under existing conditions and
any other county where the officials
failed to do their duty that this bill is
aimed at. Sheriff PennelI is quoted
as declaring that if the SturgiS bill is
passed he will enforce the law so that
there will be no need to send any State
commissioners or their deputies to
Cumberland county. If he can enforce
the law then. why can't he enforce il
now" One OF the best things about this
bill is that it would spur local officials
to enforce the law themselves. The en-
forcement of the liquor laws by state
commission would deprive SheriffS of
their opportunity to make money out of
the runlsellers and being deprived Of
this opportunity they would enforce
the law. Even if the liquor interests
could buy up the three commissioners
as they now occasionally buy up
sheriff, it would not do them any good
for the Governor could any day dis
charge the commission and appoint
three new men. The only hope of the
rumselers would be to buy up the Gov
ernor ana everybody knows that could
ont be done in the case of Governor
Cobb. Every man has his price. but
the price of Governor Cobb is higher
than the rumsellers can pay. Let us
give the Governor full power i'm this
matter and make enforcement State
matter and not county or local mat
fer. Let us remove enforcement wholly
from politics and especially from To-
cal politics.
p. II. Gillen, Esq, of Bangor fol-
lowed Senator Sturgs with a ringing
speech in opposition to the bill. Mr..
Gillen is always an eloquent speaker
and he was at his best. yesterday.
He declared that he appeared as Il pri-
vate citizen without fear or favor or
Zee" ana proceeded 10 bring his bat
teries Of sarcasm. law and logic TO
bear upon the measure in most vigor-
Gus fashion. Il ana wholly in favor
of enforcement" he said, but the
present laws aa2inst the liquor traf-
tic are ample and sufficient. The
present laws are as perfect as laws
can be made. and it is admitted that
i'm all but one or two counties the
honest enforce mcnt of the present laws
!lecps the traffic down. The SturgiS
lill is based on the theory that the
,,eopln cannot be trusted. and that tho
county attorneys. sheriffs. mayors ana
c,ne,. ofticI:ls WHORE they elect cannot
he trusted. Ii the Law is not enforced,
today. in Cumberland county. any two
citizens have power under the exist
ing laws Ia demand the enforcement
of the law bv the municipal officers.
md if such officers wilfully refuse to
90 thoi;. duty they are liable to il fine
of $50 Why do rot the temperance
2cop,, Of Cumberland county invoke
the law The proposed Sturgis law
is 4 legal montrosity. 1t takes away
rh. dutv NJ enforcement from the peo-
pIa IN their chosen officials. 1t would |
r1ddIa ! great burden OF expense IN |
on Tho stare The salaries of the COM |