Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-14
LIQUOR MEASURES
Continued from Page One)

an intoxicating liquor.
Ex-senator Edward c. Reynolds Of
South Portland offered an amend
ment for the consideration Of the
committee that it should not apply to
extracts or syrups unless they are
kept or deposited with intent to sell
for tipping or beverage purposes.
Sheriff Wilbur c. Oliver of Saga
dahoc county told the committee in a
most emphatic manner that he was
opposed to any change in the law in
relation to the sale of extracts.
why" said Sheriff Oliver. ninety
per cent. of the intoXication in my
county is caused by extracts and de-
Eatured alcohol and the extract Of
vanilla is the popular beverage.
"Hundreds of women have COM
planned to me about their husbands
getting drunk on vanilla extract"
continued Sheriff Oliver.
THE sale Of extracts has at least
doubled since the passage of the Vol
stead act and the popular brand is
vanilla.
IF the prohibitory law is to be
thoroughly enforced. the sale of eX-
tracts must be eliminated. 1t is a
disgrace to prohibition to have men
get drunk on extracts. | never saw
a man on the road selling nothing
but extracts until the passage of the
national prohibition law.
why don't You prosecute the deal
crs in cXtracts?" asked Ex-State
Senator Edward c. Eeynalds of
South Portland.
st is hard work to convict" re-
piled Sheriff Oliver.
'N'hy, wont the courts hold the
violators." asked Senator Reynolds.
Yes, they are held in the lower
court" replied Sheriff Oliver, but
when they get up to the supreme
court they are DISCHARGED. The jury
wont hold them and one jury in my
county refused to convict Il man
from whom liquor containing SO per
cent. of alcohol W&S seized"
In answer TO a question by a mem
hcr of the committee as to the per-
ccntaSc Of alcohol put with vanilla
to preserve it. Clifton Foss of Port
land. vice president of the Schlotter-
beck & Foss company, manufacture
Crs Of flavOring extracts. said that it
would run anywhere from 3S to 40
per cent. and up to 80 per cent. de
pending on the Kind Of a bean used
III manufactUrin" the extract.
once p. Quimhy, principal OF Cony
High school of Augusta, regarding
the increase of sales of extracts dur
ing the past two years. The in
crease has been nowhere near twice,
as has been stated" replied Mr. t'oss.
'if it We're We would have to build
Il new building.
Has it been a marked increase"
asked Mr.. Quimby.
NO. it has been gradual" was Mr..
Foss' reply.
Mr.. Qumhy asked Mr.. Foss If he
found that tho cheaper quality Of
VANILLA made from Il cheaper quail
lty OF bean and not requiring such q
large percentage, sells as well as the
higher grade. There is hardly any
demand for it," Nh. Foss replied.
Mr.. Quimby stated that his mother.
Mrs. Althea G. Quimby of Turner,
who is president Of the Maine w. G.
7. T.. was unable to get through the
drifts to attend the hearing but had
asked him to state for her that she
was in favor of the measure then I'M
err discussion.
Roy. Mr.. Owen Of Watcrville
spoke in favor of the next measure
taken up. providing for an amend
IINlis ~ iJltI ~ vi IllP ! uDIlc
laws Of 1917. relating to the seizure
and forfeiture of vehicles CARRYING
intoxicating liquors intended for il
legal sale.
lie pointed out that the proposed
amendment provides for automobiles
carrying intoxicating liquors in the
state even if it was going through to
sell the liquor in another state, and in
addition that the person so carrying
the liquor must be in possession of Il
federal permit. He also called atten-
ton to that portion of the bill which
provides that any claimant of such
boat, vessel or vehicle must allegc
and prove that its use for Transport
tation of intoxicating liquors was
without his knowledge or consent
And he spoke briefly on the need of
such provisions.
Rev. Mr.. Owen also appeared in
favor of the bill amending the public
laws Of 1917 so that all fines result
ing from prosecutions by municipal
officers shall accrue to the town or
city wherein the convictions occur.
This bill is intended to encourage
local or municipal officers in the en-
forccmcnt of the prohibitory law"
he stated. "There are about four
times as many municipal officers in
the State as county and federal Off
GERS. For long time we have had
a situation in the State where NUM-
cipal officers do not recognize any
obligation to enforce the prohibitory
law, or any law that pertains to pub
lie morals"
He said that in the city of Portland
when the mayor took charge of the
affairs, he took the ground that the
IL, 4 a.
ment, but that the policemen didn't
take hold. He said that the same was
true in the city of Waterville and
that there is at present a general
need of the help of the municipal Of
ficers. 1t was his opinion that the
provisions of this amendment would
remedy this situation, and would en-
courage local officers to help by Civ
ing their cities the benefit of the
fines.
County Treasurer Bert B. Stuart of
kennebec county quoted from the
county report figures showing that
in other classes of cases half of the
fees go to the county and half to the
city. That was true in all cases eX-
cept liquor cases. He thought that
if provision was made for fines to
be paid to the cities, that the cost of
the prosecution ought to be paid by
the city receiving such fines.
The next measure taken up was
the bill providing that any person
selling for beverage or tipping pur-
poses any patent or proprietary
medicine, tcnsorial or medicinal -.
preparation, flavoring extract, etc,
containing one-half of one per cent
or more of alcohol by volume shall be
deemed a common seller and upon