Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-25


would permit them to sell liquor for
medicinal mechanical and manufac-
turing purposes and for the arts. They
did not really favor the bill presented
in the Legislature by Representative
Edgar F. Fossett of Portland, but
thought that some Law should be de-
vised whereby they could sell liquor
for medicinal purposes without being
classed as criminals The hearing was
one Of the most interesting Of the
session. Rev. Wilbur F. Berry OF Wa.
terville. one Of the secretaries Of the
Christian Civic League. Rev. Henry n.
Pringle and others opposed the rreas-
IRE on the ground that II would open,
or at least there vas a strong posi-
biiity that it might open, wide door
and that persons who wanted liduor
for tipping purposes would tell the
druggs, that they wanted it for med
ic!ne aAd would use II to a bad pur-
pose.
The Nuisancs Bill
At the opening OF the session in the
afternoon the first matter TO be con-
sidered was the act introduced by
Repreaen tAtive Comedian Of Portland
providing that the nuisance law be
amended 81 that liquor may be dis
pensed In clubs. for instance, but not
to be sold. Under the present law
club room or other place where Ecuor
is drunk is a nuisance.
The Druggist dill
Representative Fossett Of Portland.
YHpT
drusgis.. to sell liquor under certain
restrictions, gave way to LieceiiS n
Barton. ESQ. Of Portland. who draft
ed tho bill before the committee. MI
Parton stated that 20 years ago IN
1885. he was a member Of the Lesls-
lature and a member Of the committee
On temperance. st that time he intro
dueed a druggist bill ana it came
Within six vetes Of being passed by
the House. He believed that such
law was necessary now moro thah ~
vrara ago because there are no aRen-
cies in the State and there il no place
where . person may buy liquor 1of
for legitimate purposes
Hon. Scott Wilson OF Portland, rep
resen,irx The Maine Pharmaceutical
As.oc,ation. said that the association
Sa yored a measure OF this kind, out
this bill was not OF such 2 nature as 10
warrant it. support. The druseis,s
we're not opposed to the prohioi.ors
lin,1or Law but did favor the eeihhs
az liouor in some way for lesltlmAte
purposes. .,.,
same reorie in this state thing tna'
II 1. unfortunate that there Is now no
way by which liquor can De purchaser
for legitimate purposes. fo- instance. LOT
bathing purposes. IL this state. sal"
Mr. wilson. without asking someone 10
yiolatn the law. l appreciate the olih-
entity Of A bill Of thig nature. ana the
ar,,prists believe that the la0 as REGARDS
no sale of liouor should be made as
stringent as possible. This association
10 noada up or druggists mho have no
desire to violate the laws of the state
George o. futile OF PORTLAND as
Of the comrrittee OF the Maine
Pharmaceutical Association and as re-
tail druggist. said that the 40 registered
druggists IN Maine wanted law to sell
,iouor for legitimate purposes. Many OF
the druggists would be glad to divorce
tho ,isuor business from the drug busi-
ness. said MI futile. and the druggists
don't want a loosely drawn Din. they
want a law which is drastic
DR.. NJ l.. Porter of Danforth. D. T.
Doueherty Of Bath. Charles H. Davis OF
Bangor and W. H. Wood Of Sanford.
druggists. spoke in favor of some meas
ure of this nature.
The Opposition
Rev. Wilbur F. Berry of Waterville
was opposed to the bill. He cited the
fact that Kansas had a law which per-
r,itted druggists to sell liquor but 1t mas
been repealed Massachusetts, had such
a law applying to no-license towns OUT
there is now a bill in the Legislature OF
that state also asking for repeal. He
contended that druggist law OF this ma
ture had never been successful and that
II the bill passes men who want liquor
for tipping purposes will tell the drug
Rist that they want 1t for medicine, get
the LIQUOR and make bad use of 1t.
Easier Notification
Frederick w. Hinckley. Of Portland ar
Eued that the law uKder discussion per-
hitting druggists to sell liquors und@
certain regulations koufd prove as hhuch
Of a failure as the agency system OF
Maine bad and would simply make 1t
easier to sell liquor and harder to en-
force the prohibitory law. In reply to Mr..
Fossett Of the committee Mr.. Hinckley
said he could not tell whether the party
that passed the agency law had been
honest. mot knowing anything to the
contrary" said he, II don't think have
ne right to assume they were not hon.
st"
Mrs. Althea G. Quimby. president Of the
Maine W. c. T. e.. told the committee
hat Georgia has a law forbidding ply
sicians to prescribe liquor in sickness.
md in Kansas, while they are allowed to
prescribe, they can make no charges for
Iuch prescriptions. She argued that ply
,icians are coming to believe that there
. no need at all of alcohol in any form
md that its use Is rapidly declining in
Ill Of the leading hospitals Of the coun-
~.
Sheriff William NJ. Pennell could not