Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-26

case there are no specific charges to be
made, but there is no evidenceeto sup
port any charges, but having full faith
IN the integrity and the Judgment of
the gentleman who introduced this Or
der, | myself make no motion in re-
lation to it for l believe that he will
cheerfully do whatever seems proper
and right. merely submit my per-
sonal views.
The question being on the motion to
take the order from the table,
The motion was agreed to.
Mir. NEWBERT of Augusta: Mr..
Speaker, having introduced this order
deem 1t perhaps my duty to make a
brief statement as to my purpose.
did not do it because desire to create
a sensation, neither to gain partisan
advantage. After elaboration and
frequent consultation with members of
both parties in this House and Senate
introduced this order, earnestly and
honestly believing it to be in the in
terests Of good government and the
efficient and honest administration Of
affairs.
You will notice that there is no
charge preferred against any official,
but the order does carry with it, gen.
tlemen Of the House, condemnation
Of the whole liquor agency system in
Maine. No other department Of BUSH
ness in the State is SO little known in
detail as this. Under our commission
er the State Of Maine does business
Of hundred thousand dollars year
in rum! I submit that the people Of
n rio 20 ,;y,1
about the business methods and the
transactions Of this department. am
not sure that the average member of
this House even knows the name of
our liquor commissioner. A hundred
thousand dollars a year. Seven
counties in the State embracing half
the population Of Maine do not call for
a State rum shop. They are very i'll
in some sections Of the State for rea-
sons unknown to me. My own town
of Augusta has not had an agency for
fourteen years, and we have kept
in pretty fair health, even surviving the
severe dispensation of Providence pro-
vided in the Sturgis law. Not only is
there lack of publicity in regard to
this matter, but no other department in
the State has been so long under sus-
picion as this. You hear condemnation
of the system everywhere. You get it
from people responsible and people ir-
responsible. The press has been full of
it. And because of this widespread
suspicion submit, Mr.. Speaker and
gentlemen of the House, that this order
is a proper one. Why, I never have
known of a town or city agency that
did not have attached to it scandal
everywhere. If the men who control
this department Rave clean hands they
iced not fear an investigation on the
part Of this 72d Legislature. If their
hands are dirty with pitch, submit
they should be punished, that is all.
The whole system has been a stencil
for years in the nostrils of decency.
I had intended this morning, Mr..
Speaker. to move the passage of this
order. The friends of Mr.. Leavitt have
advised Inc that Mr.. Leavitt is ill and
that to call him before the committee
as witness would entail hardship.
1 have no spite embodied in that order.
I do not wish to prosecute any man,
and 1 am perfectly willing, in view Of
the physical condition Of Mr.. Leavitt,
that the House should defer action; and
1 move you, Mr.. Speaker. that because
of these things this order lie upon the
table.
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