The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-07-01
Liquor Agencies.
New Law in Effect July l, Works Radical
Change in the System.

view Law III EHect july L, Works Radical
Change in the System.
Today, July LIST, the new law govern
ing the conduct of the Maine liquor
agencies goes into effect and unless some
flaws and loop-holes are discovered, the
liquor traffic in the State will be reduced
to system of Quaker-ike simplicity.
The wit and humor of the last session of
| the legislature received notable con-
tribution in some of the evidence brought
before the committee before whom the
new liquor agency law was considered.
While some of the town agencies were
conducted by agents who read the law
literally. in other cases it appears that
agents took the utmost latitude and lrldi-
crous statistics as to the amount of ell
ness IN some cities and towns indicated
an amazing epidemic. The old law was
rather loose in its provisions.
The Old law allowed the sale of LIQUOR
to known residents for medicinal or
mechanical purposes. The local agents
obtained their supply from the State
liquor commissioner, but there was
nothing to prevent them from laying in a
little stock on their own hook The State
agent bought from whomsoever he saw
fit, and did his own buying If a State
agent were dishonest, or even if he were
not, there was chance for a rake-off
from the wholesalers He was obliged to
sell high grade of goods to his agents,
a grade so good that it would stand
watering or mixing, if local agent was
dishonest enough to do that.
In short, as brought out by the investi-
cation Of the old system, there was a
chance for the biggest kind of graft"
throughout the entire system. No one
was accused of anything of the kind but
the Legislature deemed it wise to remove
temptation as much as possible and the
new law which will go into effect on july
1st is the result
One provision in the new law reduces
the variety of the stock to considerable
extent. Under the old law, agencies re-
sembled a well stocked liquor store.
There was ''the IS cent kind 'sthe
SO cent kind and the ''75 cent kind" of
whiskey by the pint; there was ''good
rum" and the ''best rum" and cherry
rum. Gin came in two or three grades,
and Holland or ''Old Tom" could be had
There was lager, ale stout, porter, cham
payne, wines of all kinds, and even mixed
cocktails for ''sick" people.
Fayorte brands of whiskey came in
case lots of ''full quarts" But now all
this will be changed. The stock will be
confined to one grade of whiskey, gin,
rum, brandy and one kind of wine. be,
sides alcohol. The fancy wines and mix
ed cocktails will no longer ornament the
shelves of the liquor agencies.
The State liquor commissioner will no
longer be open to the temptations rival
liquor statesmen may hold out; there will
be no rebates, " discounts, - "extras"
or presents of few sample barrels which
the ENJOYS of the big concerns might
possibly make to the commissioner who
is in the market for thousands of dollars
worth OF stock. Instead, the buying will
be done by sealed proposals upon a duly
advertised schedule published in the pub
lie prints and open to the world. Con-
Germs that have been supplying Maine
for years must bid low to hold the trade.
The bids will be opened, not by the
State agent, but by an unfeeling commit
tee of the governors council The con-
Germ to whom the contract for the State
supply is offered must furnish a heavy
bond. All bills for State liquor must be
approved by the Governor and Council.
go under the eagle eye of the State au-
ditor and be paid by the State Treasurer.
The State liquor commissioner has moth
ing to do with it.
The State will not be in the business
for revenue, and the law specifies that
but five per cent advance over the cost
will be charged the State agencies, about
enough to pay the expenses of the depart
ment. The law also nails down the State
commissioner to his bare salary of $500
per annum, nothing more
An elaborate system of checking the
State liquor has been devised which prac-
tically accounts for every drop. When,
for instance, if a five gallon cask of
whiskey is sent to the town agent at
Poorduck, the cask bears an official State
number, say 1888. Every sale made must
be recorded with the serial number of
the package from which it was taken
and the name and address of the pur-
chaser. 1t will thus be impossible to sell
more than five gallons from cask 1888
without attracting attention to the re-
markable capacity Of the cask. Another
provision of the law provides that the
town or city must not make more than
10 per cent profit from the sales at its
agencies. Some who know say that un-
der the old law the town and city agencies
have paid far better than that and if they
can't make more money that they will
probably go out of business.
The agents are forbidden to mix, adul-
terate or violate any provisions of the
law, under penalty Of Imprisonment.
Provisions are also made for the taking
effect of the new law SO that there will
1~lI 49,