Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-01
fire, and that he desires merely to
replace structures already there.

some OF the ftocKland sportSmen
have suggested holding a firemen's
muster at Community Park letting
the Athletic Association charge
small admission to be used toward
defraying the expenses of the athle-
tic field. 1t is argued that such
muster would draw in the vicinity
of 5000 persons, and that 1t Is a mat
ter to be at least considered by local
clubs and Chamber of Commerce.
The Rockland Veterans Firemen's
Association sends two delegates to
the State League meeting May s,
but they cannot bid for the muster
without being assured that the
citizens want the same. says The
Rockland Currier- Gazette.
In his inaugural address last Mon
day. Mayor John H. Hickey of Old
Town described the four principal
types of city government existing In
the United States-the de.central-
lied type, the commission plan, the
centralized mayor-council plan, and
the city manager plan. He announc-
ed his intention Of appointing a COM
mittee of citizens, both men and wo-
men and without distinction of party.
to carefully study these forms of city
government. to hold public meetings
and hear the citizens thereon, and If
it so decides. to draw up a new
charter for the city of Old Town and
present 1t to the citizens.
The completion OF the Bear Noun
tain bridge over the Hudson River
will give an additional route from
Maine to the South Atlantic and
Southern States, according to an
article in the April number of the
Maine Motorist," which was issued
Monday. This route will eliminate
New York City, says the article de-
scribing the new gateway to Maine.
and will make very interesting
trip. Other feature articles treat of
getting the car ready for Spring
driving and a latest developments
in driving cars by radio. A list is
given of the stations giving gaso-
line and oil discounts to members
of the Maine Automobile Association.
Camp Laurier degree team Of the
Modern Woodmen Of America is to
stage several unique contests at
Lewiston City hall on April II. They
| will celebrate the wedding anniver-
sary of the oldest welded couple in
| the State of Maine. Names may be
sent to Captain William S. Proven
cher, who is chairman of the affair
and, in this list the couple that has
been married the most years will
| be selected. A banquet will be
rendered them st the Dewitt hotel at
| five o'clock. Business men of both
cities are to attend and Governor
| Brewster Is to be invited. Many gifts
will be presented from business peo-
pie all over the State. There are
also Charleston, and marcel wave
contests. Any graduate marco
| waver may enter one contestant
whose name will have to be pre-
scented at least one week before the
contest. The judges will be three
experts in marcel waving, chosen
from out of town. and the winner
will receive loving cup. A loving
cup will also go to the champion
in the Charleston, who must be over
16 to enter.
| County Attorney Benjamin L. Ber-
man Of Androscoggin county at the
weekly luncheon of the Norway and
Paris Kiwanis Club spoke on GRIM
tinal law, and from impressions he
had gained in between three and four
| years service as prosecuting attorney
| in Androscoggin. We hear a great
deal, he said, about the. crime wave
and there is an impression with some
| that we are worse than we were in
former days, and there is an alleged
great increase in crime. To this
| doctrine he does not subscribe
| Legislatures are all the time pass
ing new laws and creating new penal
offences, which did not formerly
exist as such. Violations of these
| laws figure in the statistics and in
the general summary, and give a diff
ferent impression than the right one
| My experience. said the speaker
is that in Maine we are remarkably
| free from crime, and would Boost
the abiding character Of the
community-this particularly in
Lewiston and Auburn, where much
crime might be expected consider
+ ing the mixed character Of the popu-
! lation.
| Over-zealous reformers, said Mr..
Berman, frequently do mischief, not
only in securing the passage of laws
which are extreme, but in aiding and
! forwarding the enforcement of law
to an extent that makes the enforce
ment defeat it's own purpose. Dis
erection is taken from the judges by
the legislature, and they are COM
PEELED by the statutes to impose jail
sentences in liquor cases when In
some cases a fine would better serve
the ends Of Justice. Enforcement is
a wo-edged sword, operating
against the offender on the one hand
but on the other hand by its very
character tending to create disre-
| spect for law on the part Of the pub
lie, and a determination on the part
of the offender to "get even." rather
| than to mend his ways and become
a law-abiding citizen. He illustrated
! his point by citing recent Instances
in his own experience where he was
unable to secure a conviction in
dead open and shut" cases, and
where 1t was necessary for Judge
Oaks to discharge the whole panel of
| jurors and have the whole criminal
docket continued. Other instances
| have also occurred in other counties.
This, said Mr.. Berman, is the effect
of the over -zealousness of those re-
| formers who make the law so ex-
| IRENE that 1t defeats It's own purpose.
|