Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-11

The hall of the House of Representa-
tives was well filled Wednesday after
non upon the occasion of the hearing
before the committee on temperance
upon several acts of proposed liquor
Legislation. The measures under con-
sideration We're: The act to repeal the
so-called Sturgis enforcement law
the act to abolish the liquor agency
| system and the act introduced by Sen
ator Milliken of Aroostook to make all
| liquors for the sale of which a United
States liquor revenue tax is required,
Intoxicating liquors.
The first matters to be taken up were
the act introduced by Senator Staples
of Knox for the repeal of the Sturgis
law, and the amendment to the law
presented by Representative Havey
Of Sullivan providing that the counties
where the enforcement deputies are at
work should pay the bills.
Senator Staples spoke for the re-
peal of the Sturgis law, which he de-
scrlbed as unconstitutional un-Amer
lean and contrary to our form of gov
ernmcnt.
When this law was passed l opposed
it," he said, "and l have been opposed
10 it ever since for good and sutli-
Gent reasons. The Sturgis law is a bad
law and I contend that there IS no
necessity for it, The Republican eau
Gus favored the repeal OF the law pro
vuing that some substitute could be
devised to satisfy the fanatics. There is
no need Cf retaining the SturslS law
o, the statute books as there are al
ready all sorts of drastic measures
there for the enforcement of the pro-
hbitorv LIQUOR law. The Stursis law
has brought the prohibitory law INTO
liSr, pute and has injured public Senti-
mept
"As a matter of fact the SturglS
commission has not been sent INTO
counties where the prohibitory liquor
laws have been violated the most. |
ana willing that the sale Of liquors
should be stopped but | do not believe
that the SturgiS commission has or
ever will stop the sale Of liquors.
This Sturgis law has cost the state q
good deal of money and the law mas
not been enforced. The best element III
tho state. the respectable class of peo-
uln. are disguised with the Stureis law.
80 law can be enforced unless there
is 4 public sentiment behind 1t, me
Siurci; deputies have been sent into
some COMMITTEES for political purposes
while they are kept out of other coun-
ties: If YOU keep the present Sturg13
IDENTITIES for tho next two years you
viii have to appoint a commission 70
watch them. If you keep this infamous
law ON the Statute books it will be
blow to the cause of temperance.
II am opposed to the so-called Havoy
amendment that the counties shall pay
tie deputies when they work III those
counties. These Sturgis deputies are
State officers and they should be paid
bv tho State. Such an amendment
Noul,! cost the small county Of Knox
Nher. ! reside four or five thousand
dollars"
Rev. J. w. Steele. pastor of the Uni
| yersa.ist church of Hallowell, was the
| first speaker to oppose the repeal OF
the law. he said that nc believed that
| the Stureis law should remain on the
! Statute books until something better
| was devised.
Mrs. Lillian NJ. y. Stevens of Port
land. national president of the Wo-
mems Christian Temperance tnion
came out strongly for the retention OF
the Sturgis law She said that she be-
licyeG in the prohbitory liquor law
and its enforcement and the Sturgis
law was an enforcement measure.
| IAN enforcement measure was need
ed in this state" said Mrs. Stevens.
land It's need was felt by the Cover
nor. with the result that the Sturgis
Law was passed. During the past two
| wears the StCrgiS commission mas
worked in seven counties and it has
done a great deal of good. The next
| dav after the Governor signed the
| Sturgis bill there was great change
/ III the city Of Portland and the IL
ouors which were sold there under the
so-callsd Pennell plan were shipped
back to Boston The expense of the
Sturgi.s commission has been spoken
Of. 1t has cost three cents per head for
the inhabitants of this State for the
protection of the homes, the mothers
and the children I believe in the re-
tention of the Sturgis law or a better
4 enforcement measure if you can man
/ ufacture orc. / believe that the coun-
ties should pay the deputies where
thew work. I think that if this would
be done that it would tend to elect
II men to office VINO would ehloIce lhe
laws
Representative Allen of the commit
tee asked Mrs. Stevens this question:
I'm what part of Maine is the law best
enforced?"
H Mrs. Stovens-"Taking it as whole,
T think that the liquor law is best en-
forced in the county of Oxford, of
course outside of Rumford Falls"
1 IN conclusion Mrs. Stevens said that
| she believed that the. Sturgis act was
/ the best bracer for the enforcement Of
the prohibtory liquor law.
| Rev. Charles E. Owen of Waterville,