Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-29


one possible personal advantage, that
ne, private individual has no inter-
est for money invested for the State
and the States money lying idle. Is not
that right, is that not good business
judgment? In this proposed law we
have said that the liquor purchased by
this State should be purchased with
the States money and owned by the
State. We have said that we should
purchase it in open market and should
purchase it as a United States govern
ment purchases its supplies. Is there
any fault to be found with that Have
we not injured the State liquor agent
in that2 have understood he has been
presented with the bill and has only
one criticism is that there is no prOvi-
sion for the State aSSayer to examine
the liquors. II is not necessary. We
have the United States government be-
hind US under the terms of this bill.
The bill regulates the standard and the
purity that your are going to have.
And then il comes down in tbs orig
inal package and the consumer gets Il
Just exactly as the State liquor agent
received il and as he stated to me he
thought il should be. ! cannot summons
him here as a witness but | think the
President Of the Senate will endorse
what I say because I have his word
that the commissioner stated to him
there were irregularities in subordinate
agencies which ne could not control
and among those Irregularities was the
possible adultcratiOn in local agencies
to prevent.
Now VIC have simply reduced or
eliminated. / will say the possibilities
of adulteration of this liquor, they
come down through each grade from
the distillery to the liquor commission
or, from the liquor commissioner to the
town agents, and by the town agent
they are distributed to the purchaser
in original package. He is assured of
the quality Of liquor that he buys, is
not that right? Is there anything
wrong about that? Before leaving this
diversive reference to this proposed law
let me call your attention to one crit
iciSn of this law made by one Of those
lpbbyiGts-hc said this: That five per
cent. is not sufficient for The town
agent; that would not pay the exrcn-
seS. That is not the limitation Of profit
gentlemen. That conditions was chang
ID at tn" suggest ion Of some of the
friends Of the proposed law, and if yon
will look 81 House Document No. 161
hich is this bill in the new draft you
win find that Section l. says this
Each town liquor agent. subject to the
approval Of the Governor and Council.
and subject to b. changed by them
from time to time, shall fix the retail
f'rire al which such liquors shall be
sold by his agency" The Governor
and Council fixed that price. Which re
tail price shall be limited as near as
pre- cticable to the cost of such liquors
at said town agency and gross prof;
sufficient 20 reimburse the town for the
expenses Of conducting such liquor
agency" IS not that all the profit thai
you as decent citizens would wish TIL"
lgenCy to have" Do you want them to
come into the competitive rum bust !
ness Another member of this lobby
said-our agent would close its doors
unless we had the privilege of making
money. They all do make money now
gentlemen, and are asked to defeat this
measure because one Of these men
suggests that this law will take away
| these profits and limit the municipali
| ties to actual expenses, that it will de-
prive these town agencies from going
into the rum business for profit. Does
| that argument appeal to you?
The liquor commissioner if he lives
will draw his salary OF $500 and if he
dies his successor will. There is no re-
Election on him and further is not this
all the profit you want the town to
! make, a profit which will reimburse for
expenses Of such agency? The town
agent shall be paid salary to be fixed
by the municipal officers of his town
and shall not be paid or allowed any
| commission or any other emolumenu or
peruuisite for services in such capa-
| city" 1t simply strives to strike Out
| the graft in these agencies which we
know exists in these town agencies and
YOU are asked now to sidetrack this
law and to put il over until the next
| session of the Legislature. That j.
practically what is asked. Why? That
| this condition of affairs may continue
| to exist. Now there is something that
I may call the attention of the RepIIb-
licanS to fairly, / believe, at this time,
and which you as rejecting Republi :
cans should consider.
do not blame Democrats who have
4
do 50 il ! were q Democrat, should
put the Republicans up 10 the test OF
whether they were willing To stand be-
hind decent enforcement of the laws
which they have upon the statute
laws to correct I'll" evils known to eX-
| list and this is one Of these remedial
laws for the Republicans to consider
And further whether you wish in this
way to Side-track 4 law which has re-
ceived the endorsement Of the House
which up to this time. has received the
endorsement of the Senate and House
and also has received the endorsements
Of the majority Of the committee on
temperance: and whether you wish to
come before this State in saying that
YOU are protecting or trying to protect
this condition of affairs. which there
is no one upon the floor Of this
Senate or within the hearing o.
my voice does not realize exists,
in the county of Kennebec, exist in
every county except Cumberland. in
the city of Portland where these liquor
s-l,o