Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-03
Some License Problems.

Some License Problems.
| An Augusta citizen sends to the
Kennebec Journal clipping from a
| Boston paper. giving in detail the
| problems of the Boston Licensing
| Board. Our Augusta friend laconic-
ally refers to the simplicity and eff
fciency of regulation"
| According to the article referred TO
| the licensing board on Saturday sent
| its annual report to the governor
| with an outline of its policy for the
ensuing year. In substance, there will
| be nof licenses issued to sell liquor III
Hyde Park during the license year of
| 1912 and 1913. Even after that date
the board may not grant any license
there. Until that time the board will
| make study of conditions in that
section. Further: SA1a
The step which caused the liquor deal
erS to sit up and take notice was the an
nouncement that owing to the fact that
the license paper had increased in valua-
ton until a license is now valued at ST.
ing its duty and safeguarding the inter-
ests of the citizens unless they increased
the fee.
First-eIass licenses, innholders. there
fore, are advanced from 5000 to $3.50,
with an additional $500 for the special
privilege to sell liquor until midnight.
The fee for the common victualer's Ii
cense for the first-class had been raised
from $l100 TO S129.
The wholesale druggists are placed up
on the same basis as the wholesale liquor
dealers and their license is increased
from $500 to $l9eo, an increase of 500.
The bother under the new scale who
against s110o, the present fee. The brew
ers will pay for the ensuing year 5000. an
increase of 500 over the present price of
$500. The druggists and club license fee
will remain the same.
The question which has given the board
considerable bother during the last year
is How TO restrict drinking by women
in cafes and restaurants without stimu-
lating 1t in the homes?' The members of
the board are unanimous against the use
of private dining rooms and in the near
future they will be eliminated.
The board is of the opinion that the
bar and bottle bill has worked evil as
Well as good. It has increased the reve-
nue. of the bottlers and .it has increased
the sale of bottled liquors in the homes"
In closing its report the board said:
1.-THE board is convinced that the
present drug license is gross in
justice both to the community and
to the holders of liquor licenses,
who pay much larger fee. It has
recommended several times to the
Legislature that the law should be
changed. It has this year made
another investigation of the sales
in drug stores, which shows there
has been no diminution of the evils
of this class of trade. The present
statute. leads only to contempt
for the law and to HYPOCRISY
and DECEIT"
Well how does that strike the
Maine reader as manner of set
Ting the eternal liquor question:. as
Governor Plaisted said?
1t seems to us that just so long as
there is any opposition to, or restraint
of, the liquor traffic it is bound to
breed hypocrisy" and deceit
Under a high license there is more
Hypocrisy" and deceit" than under
a low license, because the honorable,
law-abiding. good citizens who ped
die booze for livelihood, are more
desperate in their methods of secur-
ing the wherewith to pay the licenses.
But of course there is the argu-
ment left which presents the better
liquors doctrine. One must certain.
ly expect TO receive better grade of
month license.
1t would be interesting to Maine
people to hear how they enforce the
law where they refuse licenses. Are
we to understand that Hyde Park is
to have not drop of booze this year?
Again, did not Hyde Park vote FOR
rum.
According to the doctrine of our
Governor and some of his close assoc
ciates, if majority of city's voters
want rum. that city MUST HAVE
rum.
But if a majority of the voters
of State Do NOT want rum
why-e-e, that is another story
From all the statistics gathered in
| license states, from all the arguments
| of the booze boomers in prohibition
states, and from all the smooth liter
allure of the makers and sellers OF
| booze everywhere, there is only one
way to end the hypocrisy" and de
ceit" and externally settle the liquor
! question'-that is, to grant the maxi
ers and sellers of booze free rein and
unopposed, unobstructed field. Then