Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-12-04

The chairman said that the
PRESENT hearing was to investigate
conditions existing in Gardiner, Ran
-iolph ;nl Chelsea.
Charles G. Wentworth. liquor agent
Of Gardiner. N&S questioned by Judge
CleaVes for the committee. The tern
Of the witness began May 5. 1908.
The Look of daily sales kept by wit
n IS was shown. He stated that wher
q customer calls for liquor at the Car
GiEer agency, he is asked whether thu
lquOr is for medicinal or mechanical
use. No liquor is sold unless q salts
factory answer is given. The sales al
in the majority of instances pints an
half pints.
The lowest grade of whslIey in bul
is sold for 20 cents pint and the mex
grade so cents.
THE lowest grade costs what a gal
lon?'
$40"
And that includes the 10 per cent?
No, sir"
The highest grade sells for so cent
a pint, and costs $4 gallon. The loves
sells for - cents a pint. Rum. brandy
NiiNIiN III dii'S ttIii SIN III biih " vi
best quality sells for 50 cents a pin
and costs 81 a gallon.
"Abcut what number OF daily sale
do You have. Mr.. Wentworth?"
The witness could not tell exactly
The sales occupied from half TO two
thirds Of page in the sales books
The sales were larger on Saturday
and days before holidays.
Are there any persons who com
with regularity as often as once
week."
There is no regularity about it,
don't think"
The witness said that he did not be
love he would refrain from selling
customer who called frequently an'
who was not seen intoxicated or Great
ing Il disturbance.
The witness had had but one reques
from Il city official to discontinue sell,
ing to any individual. and that was
the day before. from the Gardiner city
marshal. The Individual named haG
not bought any liquor at The agency
for some weeks.
He said that be receives $500 a yeal
salary. The Gardiner agency is oper
from to II o'clock in the forenoon ]
to o'clock in the afternoon and from
I to 8 O'Clock on Saturday evenings.
Liquor is received from the state
LIQUOR agent and not from any one lid
uor house
The State liquor agent had not visit
Ell the agency. The State assayer had
been there three times Customers pay
five cents for their bottles. From half
t. two-thirds OF the customers bring
their own bottles.
What proportion of your customers
are women
Il should say third of them"
young women"
mo: middle aged and old women"
The witness gave additional details
in response to questions by members
Of the committee and citizens.
Mayor Will c. Atkins of Gardiner. in
office since March /. 1907. was called.
His personal views were that the
agency at Gardiner was being run as
nearly within the limits of the law as
il was possible to run. and that 1t was
Il necessity.
do YOU think if the agency We're
closed that there would be less inc
briefly than at present
Il think there would be more drunk
ennoSS.'
The city makes margin Of profit,
but the witness did not know now
much. The profit is turned into the con-
tingert fund for the general good of
the city. Mayor Atkins had never heard
any criticism in this regard.
Senator Staples: Mr.. Mayor. what
proportion of the patrons of your
agency use the liquor for medicinal
purposes"
Mayor Atkins: THAT is a question