REPoRT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE LEG


IsLATURE ON THE LICENSE Law.

state Of Maine.
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In SENATE, March 13, 1910.


The Joint Select Committee on the Ii
cense Laws. to whom was referred bill
entitled an Act relating to the sale of in-
toxicating liquors also petition of Samuel
Martin and others, also thirty-six other
petitions, signed by two thousand, four
hundred and eighty one persons, praying
for repeal of the present License Law,
and the enactment of a prohibltory law,
also six other petitions, praying for altera-
tions in the laws relating to the traffic in
intox icating liquors, have had the subject
under consideration, and ask leave to re-
port.


Your Committee consider the subject to
be one of great Importance and great deli
cacy. 1t is we'll understood that verv
large portion of crimes, and consequently
the expenses Of criminal prosecutions, and
the the supper: of our State Prison, and
! County Goals have then origin in the use
of Intoxicating liquors.-lt has been est-
mated that at least seven eighths Of the
expenses for the support Of the poor, ac-
crue directly or indirectly from intemper-
ance. 1t is well understood, that many
diseases originate in, and that all diseases
are aggravated by the free use of ardent
spirits. Then taking into the account the
loss OF property, the debasement of the
moral senslbilities, the distress and blasted
hopes of domestic happiness in families,
and the misery which is entaled upon them
| from generation to generation, and we have
an immense, overwhelming amount Of evil
resulting from this indulgence. Deeply
impressed with these considerations, the
Committee have anxiously considered the
subject with view to determine what fur.
ther legislative action would be advisable
in reference to these evils.


A large proportion of the petitioners
propose repeal of the present license law,
and the enactment Of a law prohibiting the
sale of intoxicating drinks. 1t is under
stood that this proposition originates in the
idea that the present law sometimes sanc-
tions and encourages and legalizes the
traffic. The Committee are of opinion
that this impression is erroneous. Ifthere
were no law upon the subject, the traffic
| would be entirely legal, and SO far as the
law was concerned, entirely reputable.
| The present law prohibits the sale general
| ly, but permits certain individuals to sell,
provided they can obtain the sanction of
the officers of the respective towns, and
are "persons of sober life and conversation,
and Of good moral character, and suitably
qualified for the employment, and also
give bonds in the penal sum of three hun
dred dollars, that they will not violate the
law, and will conform TO such regulations