Daily Kennebec journal., 1912-01-29
Our Retirina MuniciraI judge.

The administration of Hon. Benedict
+. Maher as judge Of the Augusta
municipal court terminated yesterday,
his term of office having expired on
Jan. 2S. The character of his service
may be summed up in two words--he
has made good. To realize just
;. tWbat is involved in that statement. one
Imust recall the circumstances under
which Judge Maher assumed his
Iduties.
For many years. until his death in
l1907 the office had been held by Hon.
IAlbert G. Andrews, that good citizen
land upright judge who promptly Sc
Icured and permanently retained the
Iesteem and affection of the public by
the sane fearless, and yet sympathetic
performance of official duty. Judge
IAndrews rarely erred in his estimate
of men and motives. He was severe
tiee in his hands was often wisely
tempered with the quality of mercy.
When Judge Maher, therefore, sue
ceded Judge Andrews in 1908, his sue
cess was to be measured by no ordi
nary standard. So measured, however,
his wise, business-Iike and impartial
administration fully justifies the pres-
ent unanimous verdict that he has
made good" And that, too, in the
face of much preliminary conjecture.
and some hostile political prophecy,
as to his attitude toward the enforce
ment of the prohibitody law. 1t was
known at that time that personally
Judge Maher believed in resubmissien.
There were those, therefore, who look
ed for a lax enforcement of the law at
his hands. That they were radically
mistaken is now a matter of State
wide knowledge. He early announced
that jail sentences would be imposed
for all second offences, and he has
consistently and impartially adhered
to that policy Even his political OPP
ponents have been forced to pay re-
speetful tribute to his administration.
In its editorial discussion of the Hast
ings bill making Jail sentences manda-
tory in cases of infraction of the
liquor law, and asserting that the
timing system is the basis of nullifi-
cation the Waterville Sentinel took
occasion to say, in its issue of Feb.
%; 1909
Ii all judges exercised fair dsere-
ton, the Hastings bill would be un-
necessary SO far as prohibition is con-
eerned. although from a legal stand
point it has certain other merits and
it is fact that some of our judges
are beyond criticism in this respect.
Not even the most critical could find
fault with Judge Shaw's treatment of
liquor cases in our local court nor of
Judge Maher's in Augusta.
We can specially commend the work
of Judge Maher in this line because
he Is an ardent resubmissionist and
certain critics saw in his appointment
d relaxation in enforcement From the
first of his service as municipal Judge
he has proved that a public official
who dlsagrees with the wisdom of a
law can do his duty under it faithfully
as long as it is a law OF all the
Judges in the State, we believe that
Judge Maher's straightforward pro-
nouncing of Jail sentences ON all Of
tenders of the liquor laws coming be-
lore him is an example of judicial
thoroughness which will stand for all
tine as a correct standard for other
Judges. older in years it may be. to
measure up to. We are pleased TO
place our approval of Judge Maher's
course in sentencing transgressors
coming before his court as testi-
monlal deserved for common sense
construction of the statutes.
This extract from our up-river con-
temporary serves the double purpose
OF merited tribute to faithful pub
lie Official, and a striking commentary
upon the Sentinel's present attitude
that it is impossible to enforce the nro-
hibitory law
All honor to Judge Maher.