Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-16

complaints. All ask and all l expect
is for the committee to take some
means to satisfy themselves of wheth-
or this law needs enforcement. If it
does then by some means, and we here
give them the powers in this order 10
select the means, let this committee
discover and recommend to US those
changes.
There are row before the Legislature
two measures, one for the repeal of the
law which authorizes these agencies
without substituting therefor anything
in their stead. I should regard this
unwise legislation. The other measure
Authorizes the substitution of drug
stores for the agencies. 1t may be that
this measure, if properly safeGuarded.
would be wise one. Whatever the
committee determines l will be
satisfied with. In the usual leg
iSlativo way these orders will
come before the committee. What
seems evcrybody's business. is
| nObody's business. The usual course
| that such measures take before COM
mittee is this: If it is presented to
them through an order of this Legis-
lature, and notices published, then. if
it simply passes out OF existence and
the complaints under such circum-
stances and the criticisms and the con-
ditions which now exist would remain.
1t may seem to the gentlemen of the
Senate that l ought to be more specific
| in referring to these agencies and not
by congratulations bring before you
| this subject | know it is invidious to
make comparisons ard so regard it.
| My knowledge Of the workings of these
agencies is limited; and l make refer
encc to them particularly l may cause
! them to think that | have selected
| them personally for criticisms in pub
| lie. 1t is not 50. But. for the purpose
of bringing it before this Senate fairly
ard honestly, l am going to make ref
ercnce to certain agencies in the State.
| will first refer to the agency that
| exists in the city of Gardiner. l be-
| lieve there is no agency in the State
/ more carefully protected than * that
| one. We have an honest aSCCt. l
| think he despenSes liquors there with
| out any personal gain to himself rt.t-
| side of his salary; yet / do know ttat
| the joint committee selected by our
| city government only the other day
went into that agency to investigate.
What did they find? They found that
/ liquors were sold there at 100 per cent.
| higher than they could be purchased in
| the open market. That is the condition
| found on investigation. l know how
| that operates On the minds of the Leg
| isIatuvc 1T tie present time; and they,
| by an examination. might find q way
to remedy that fault.
| know also that one of our manu-
| facturcrs which has occasion, as the
senator from PcnObscot will under
stand, is the case in all paper mills, of
using alcohol for mechanical purposes,
| was out of alcohol. He went to the
| agency to get alcohol to use III the
mills; and it vas Of such poor quality,
| 50 aiultcrated and reduced in proof
| that he could not make use of it and
it WIS spelling the product that was
being manufactured in the mill.
This committee. after careful ex-
animation. might find some way in
which such conditions as those might
be rcmcdicd
| I know. further than that that little
| agency has been established out here
| in Chelsea, four miles from any col
lectcd habitation, within half mile OF
| Togus Homo, where 300 old soldiers
are collected, many of them sent there
because of their misuse Of alcohol and
alcoholic stimulants. l know that Of