Evening journal., 1907-09-13
PUTS vt UP TO SHERIFF.
Biddeford City Council Urges George
o. AthOrne to Enforce the
Liquor Law.
9lDDEFoRD rs WIDE OPEN.
Is Declaration Made and That the
Police Refuse to Suppress the
Sale of Rum.
PUTS IT UP TO SHERIFF.
elDDEFoRD rs WIDE OPEN
T0 Ge0rgo Q. Athorno. shorlff o. the

To George o. Athorne, Sheriff Of the
County Of York:
The City Council OF the City Of Bid
deford respectfully represents that .byi
special acts of the legislature the gov
ernment elected by the voters OF Bid
deford has been deprived of all au-
thority to enforce the laws relating to-
the Illegal sale OF Intoxicating liquors.
as follows:
First, That in 1898 all authority
formerly exercised by the Mayor and
Aldermen Of Biddeford relative to tpo-
lice was revoked and delegated to a
board of police appointed by the Coy
ennpr Of the State.
Second, That in 1895 the citizens
OF Biddeford were deprived Of the
right to elect constables.
Third. That in 1897 all constables.
city marshals and police officers in
other cities and towns were deprived
of authority to enforce the prohibi-
tory law in the City OF Biddeford.
Fourth, That as a result Of such
special legislation the authority to en-
force the said laws is wholly vested in
the Governor Of Maine. said board Of
police and the Sheriff of the county
of York and his deputies.
Fifth, That dhe said law IS now, and
has been for years past openly, no
tpriously and flaguantly violated in the
CITY Of Biddeford
Sixth, That the report of the Chief
of Police for the last fiscal year shows
422 arrests for intoXication and 78 fof
assault Cnearly all the latter being
due to the effects of intoxication)
amounting to about 500 arrests from
the effects of liquor and but 10 ar
rests for the violation of laws prohi-
biting its sale.
| Seventh, That on May IA, 1907. tn,
city council represented to the BOart
of Police the conditions which exis
and earnestly requested said Boar,
to adopt such measures as would closl
the illegal resorts and prevent the sal,
of Intoxicating liquor
Eighth, That the Board of Police
in reply thereto. while denying thu
conditions TO exist as represented
still admitted the law to be violate,
to some extent and said it was unabi
70 prevent such violation.
Ninth. In conclusion the Board o
Police gave that hacllneyed suggestion
which has 1been worn sthreadbare b
city years Of use by .elasive and un
faithful officers when attention ha
heen called co their non enforcement
of the nrQhibit0ry law. viz, that pri
vate citizens procure the evidence
make complaint before the court an
assume the role Of prosecutors, or il
other words, do without pay the wor
that the officers are paid and .swoF
to do.
Tenth, That the several members q
the city conncil haye peither the tim
; means nor inclination to do police. dut
and thereupon il requested the Boar
ef Police 80 qualify man TO be sc
lected by the city council, he to D
paid by a special appropriation to b
made by said council in addition {
the regular police appropriation, tha
the officer, so appointed should devot
his time to the enforcement of III
prohbitory law in the city of Bidde
ford in such places and against sue
persons as such Board should be IN
able to reach.
Eleventh, That the Board of polio
failed to reply TO said request or {
offer any reason for its non-comp pl
ance with said request
Twelfth, That two Of your deputi,
J in this city are known as special iiqu,
deputies RRd have each drawn fro
the county treasury during the last II,
, cad year about $1,000 for the allege
, enforcement Of the prohibitory law.
: Thirteenth, The results obtained I
= you and your deputies from out of II
0l city when you or they have come tur
announced to Biddeford justifes OF
belief that your local deputies and Il
3 police force of Biddelord are not NAL