Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-19

\ hearing was held before the COM
mittee on judiciary Thursday after
rOo1 upon the repeal Of the SturgiS
law. No one spoke for the absolute
repeal of the Sturgis law, although
some thought they might favor its re-
peal provided the Eaton amendment
to the Constitution giving the Governor
| the power TO remove delinquent sher-
| ifs could become effective, which they
very much doubted
| Ex-senator Sturgis, Rev. Charles f.
| Owen Of Waterville, the secretary of
| the AntiSaloon League. Mrs Lillian
NJ Stevens of Portland, National pres
ident of the Women's Christian Tenn
| oerancc Union, and the Rev. Wilbur
| f. Berry. president of the Maine Yves
| leyan Seminary at kents Hill, and
a former field secretary of the Chris
| tan civic League, opposed the repeal
| OF the law
| Rev. Mr. Owen did not seem to I'M
| derstand about when the constitutional
amendment would become operative,
providing that the people voted to ac-
| cept it. He was informed that the
Eaton bill would become law as soon
|
| irs to the Republican caucus program.
| IF the Eaton amendment should become
| a law the Sturgis act would pass out
| Of existence
"ThC main objection to the Sturgis
law" said Mr.. owen. lis that it has
tee III, that it does business Those who
arc il IL" liauor business are opposed
to it, while there are others who do
not like to see sheriffs drawing pay
when tll"y are not doing their duty
Delinquent sheriffs should be pun
ishcd.
''.troIt tho first Of the year" contin-
uCG MI. Owen. II sent out a number
Of letters throughout the State. 700 to
cIergvnen and 500 to others. The frs
~C0 replies We're tabulated and of this
number 92 replies were received de
ciaring that they favored the Eaton
amendment giving the Governor the
mower to remove sheriffs to the Stur-
gis law, As favored the Sturgis law
while is favored both the Eaton re-
solve and the Sturgs law"
Ex-senator Sturgis was then call
ed upon by Chairman Hastings of the
committee. Mr.. Sturgis did not seem
20 understand what the Eaton amend
ment meant and the matter was fully
explained to him.
Mr.. Sturgis. in reply to a question
by Chairman Hastings, stated that he
opposed the repeal of the Sturgis law
even if the voters adopted the Eaton
amendment giving the Governor the
oower to remove sheriffs who fail to
do their duty.
Mr.. Sturgis asked the committee if
the Eaton resolve had received the
sanction of the Republican caucus.
ut was passed as an emergency
measure" said Mr. Montgomery of
Camden.
'Thc Sturgis law was an emergency
measure" replied the former senator.
Mr.. Sturgis from Cumberland county,
with some warmth, "and it has lot
Of teeth. The OakcS law for the remoy-
al of county attorneys was passed by
the Legislature at the time that the
SturSis law was enacted but it was
never used and ] do not think that tho
Eaten resolve, if it becomes a law
will ever he used. 1T does not seem
necessary to tack onto the end Of the
resolve the rider repeating the Stur-
gis law if you believe it will work.
Tile Governor may remove the en-
fOrcement commissioners at any time
if the Eaton resolve works. The mat
ter OF the expense of the Sturgis law
is not much in comparison. 1t has cost
about $4,000 in the last four years.
which is about seven cents to each
innabitant of the State.
Eve had Republican sheriff in
Cumberland county who would nto en-
force the law with the result that in
the next election Samuel r. Pearson
was elected sheriff In the following
election Mr.. Pennell. who now has a
world wide reputation, was chosen
sheriff.
"Mr. Pencil. as far as known. did
not announce his policy on the liquor
question to only few, but he did
say after the election that he had de-
cided that the law could not be en-
forced and he said that he would reg
ulate the traffic. In the campaign he
said that he would allow so manv
places to run under regulation. He
was elected sheriff. Then came the
Sturgs law and for nine months Sher-
if PenneH made Portland drier than
it ever was before or since.
Senator Sturgis went on to say that
il was unreasonable to believe that
any Governor would remove a delin-
cuent sheriff and characterize the Ea-
ton amendment as a subterfuge for
the Sturgis law, to appease a certain
class of people.
Mr.. Davies of the committee-"Dp
you think that the work of the Stur
gis commission has been impartially
done:"
Mr. Sturgis--'T must confess that I
am not well enough acquainted with
the work of the commission to answer
that question, but I do say that be-