Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-09
BLOW AT LIQUOR
AGENCY SYSTEM
Report Of Special Committee Which
Has Made Thorough Examination
Of Maine Agencies.

The report of the special committee
of the I'D Legislature to which was re-
ferr"d the Heselton bill for the regu-
l;tion of the liquor agency system with
power to act during the recess has
been filed with the secretary of State.
The report Is accompanied by the full
stcnOgra phic report of the testimony
taken out at the several hearings held
in different sections of the State and
in it's printed form the report will
make a bulky volume. The committee
presents no bill, leaving it to the Legs-
lature to frame whatever legislation in
remedy of the conditions reported 1t
may deem necessary.
The committee consists of Senators
Sewail of Sagadahoc, Staples of Knox
and Representatives Milliken of Island
Falls, Reynolds of Winslow, Newbcrt
of Augusta, Giddings of Gorham, Skid
more of Liberty and Stevens OF Port
age Lake. While they agree in the
main Representatives Milllken, Skid
more and Ncwbert present dissenting
reports. Representative Giddings Of
Gorham did not sign the main report
but filed brief statement advocating
TIE retention of the present law.
Representative Miliken's only point Of
difference with the majority Of the
committee is over the question of re-
During a physicians prescription. The
committee oppose such rcstrictlor
and Mr. Milliken favors it. The other
minority report signed by Representa-
tves Newbert and Skidnore declares
the entire agency system to be dis
credited and severely arraigns the con-
duet of the office of state liquor COM
missioner.
The main report presents the follow
ing summary of needed change"
"Direct purchase by the State.
"Competitive bids.
"The keeping of only two grades OF
whiskey, one of rum, gin, brandy and
alcohol.
entirely cutting out beers, malt
LIQUORS, except stout and porter and all
cordials. cocktails and alcohol for me-
chan:cal purposes.
Doing away with the profits to the
state and making profits to municipall-
tics of uniform rate
Fixing a manner in which the
record of sales shall be kept.
Making it obligatory upon some Of
fetal to regularly visit the agency. Civ
ing him power to revise the list of per
sons to whom sales may lawfully be
made.
$50 changing or charging section -
of chapter 20, that there will be no
doubt as to this section applying to
solicitations of the various town
agents OF course if the competitive
ia, tJ,a Ia
can be no such solicitation.
Changing the law 50 that all liquors
shall come into the state in half pint,
pint and quart bottles corkcd and
sealed by the contractor outside OF the
State and be i'll accordance with the
sample furnished under a bond, which
he sEnll be required to give. Then
having tho state Liquor commissioner
place over tn" mouth nf each hottl" .
paper i'll accordance with tnn Ilcscltnn
bill Md Of course make ii unlawful
to have nnv liquors "%Copt those ~
marked in any agency in III" state
"Aholi.hing the "''ic" Of state a@-
sayer, the present ortlipaht of which
has pcrfprncd most efficient service,
and imposing his duties on the analyst
ut the State laboratory At Augusta,
with the ul. lcct of saving t" the state
tho amount of the salary n"W pait to
the forr1tr.'
Discussing conditions the committee
saw that rot over - per cent of the
limo, sold in the agencies is for
medicinal purposes and that the aver
age agent always makes a sale unless
he hay certain Knowledge that the
liouor will hc put TO improper use.
"In1propcr use" according to the com
, mttcc. aprc4rs to have but one con
struction and that is q use which VIII
lcaa 20 public intoxication.
MANY agents have delivered liquors
upon written orders from adult persons,
to children of a dozen years of age
Practically none of the alcohol IS sold
for manufacturing or mechanical pur-
poses, says the report, but IS largely
used in making split.
The committee finds that one of the
greatest evils grows out of the vide
disgression which the agent has In de-
termining whom he will sell to. They
also find that large amount of the
1io,lor purchased is for tipping pur-
nose and that the agent either knows
or ought to know it. They say that
politics enters in and that only in few
4 eases have the municipal officers TAX
: en- any pains to see whether their
agency is properly conducted, The
= committee believe that municipal Of
, fcers should make agency inspections
, at least once week, giving particular
, attention to the persons to whom sales
are made and the quantity and degree
of frequency of such purchases, giving
them authority to forbid sales to any
. individual they may see 1T.
Touching the alcoholic preferences OF
the patrons of the Maine agencies the
: committee sey:
= eve found in practically every
agency from two to five grades OF
5 whiskey, several grades Of rum, cir
and brandy, Bass ale, Dublin stout