Middletown transcript., 1907-09-21
PUTS IT UP TO sHKRrrr
BiddsfOrd city Council Urges George o.
Athorns to Enforce the
Liquor Law

h1udeford City Council Urges george
| Athorns to Enforce ths
: Liquor Law
70 George o. Athorne, Sheriff OF u
County of York:
The City Council of the City OF Bidd'
ford respectfully represents that b
special acts OF the legislature the go'
ernment elected by the voters of Bic
deford has been deprived of all authorit
TO enforce the laws rt latfug to the illegs
sale of intoxicating liquors as follows:
First, That in 1898 all authority form
erly exercised by the Mayor and Alder
men Of Biddeford relative to police wa
revoked and delegated TO board OF polio
appointed by the Governor Of the State
Second. That in 1895 the citizens o
Biddeford were deprived Of the right tc
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 prohibitory law in the
City OF Biddeford.
Fourth, That SIS a result Of such special
legislation the authority to enforce the
said laws is wholly vested in the Cover
nor Of Maine, said board of police and the
Sheriff of the county OF York and his
deputies.
Fifth, That the said law is now, and
has for years past openly, notoriously and
fagrantly violated il the City of Bidde-
ford.
Sixth, That the report If the Chief Of
Police for the last fiscal year shows 422
arrests for intoxication and Is for assault
lnearly all the latter being due to the
effects of intoxication) amounting to
about 500 arrests from the effects of liquor
and but 10 arrest for the violation Of
laws prohibiting its sale.
Seventh, That on May IA, 1907, the
city council represented to the Board Of
Police the conditions which exist and
requested said Board TO adopt
measures as would close the illegal resorts
and prevent the sale Of intoxicating liq-
nor.
Eighth, That the Board OF Police, in
reply thereto, while denying the condi- |
lions to exist as represented, still admit |
ed the law to be violated to some extent |
ind said ii was unable to prevent such |
violation.
Ninth, In conclusion the Board OF
Police gave that hackneyed suggestion |
which has been worn threadbare by fifty
iears of use by eyasivs and unfaithful
,ficers when attention has been called to
heir non-enforcement of the prohibitory
aw, viz, that private citizens procure the
evidence, make complaint before the
'ourt aud assume the role OF prosecutors,
" in other words, do without pay the
work that the officers are paid and sworn
o do.
Tenth, That the several members Of the
;ity council have neither the time, means
lor inclination to do police duty and
hereupon it requested the Board Of Police
o qualify man to be selected by the
ity council, he to be paid by special
appropriation to be made by said council
u addition to the regular police appro-
,riation,. that the officer, 80 appointed
hould devote bis time to the enforcement
Il the prohibitory law in the city Of Bid
leford in such places and against such i
PERSONS as such Board should be unable
o reach.
Eleventh, That the Board of Police
allied to reply to said request or TO offer
my reason for its noncompliance with
'aid request.
Twelfth, That two OF your deputies in
his city are known as special liquor dep
titles and have each drawn from the
county treasury during the last fiscal
Iear about $1,000 for the alleged enforce
nent ofthe prohibitory law.
Thirteenth, The results obtained by
you and your deputies from out of the city
Shen you or they have come unan-
iounced to Biddeford justi6es our belief
hat your local deputies and the police
orce of Biddeford are not making that
earnest, conscientious effort to enforce
aid law which is contemplated by the
statutes.
You are therefore respectfully request
ID to adopt such means as will thoroughly
md impartially enforce the provisions Of
aid law in the city OF Biddeford.