The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-03
ALDERMEN IN A MIDDLE
How Excise Law Passed by tho Jersey
Lesisisture Comes to Nausht.

The Jersey City Aldermen have been VIC
timized by piece OF political legerdemain per-
petrated at the last session OF the Legislature.
II appears that the Democracy Of Camden were
hampered In tho flow OF licenses by the Repub-
lican County Court, which controlled the Issue
Of licenses to sell liquor. and a powerful lobby
was sont to Trenton TO secure the passage Of an
act creating Excise Commissioners on the same
plan az has been in force In Newark for many
years. bill was carefully prepared and duly
engineered through strongly Democratic
Legislature. and It's friends celebrated the
event with great rejoicing in the hotels.
Duke Tilden. a shrowd Republican from Jcr-
sey City district. conceived an idea that he
could manufacture capital for his party at homo
by getting nm Excise Commission established
there. He secured the services OF skllful
lawyer. and by his aid drew UP bill which
created general law In name and appear
ance. but which only applied to Jersey
City. Tho bill was introduced right on tho
heels Of the Camden bill. and reaped tho
benefit OF all the work done for it.
It went through, was signed by the Governor.
nrp Sane ana cacd s II 6r Tns IN
number Of office seekers basicged Mayor Hop
per for tho position created by tho act. and no
finally nominated the three Commissioners who
werQ to compose the board; Tho Aldermen ar
divided politically, there being three .Repu b
power to confirm the Mayors nominations. A
number of prominent Democrats warned the
majority that 1t would be a political mistake to
confirm the nOminntions, but the Aldermen re-
fused TO be advised. and proceeded TO con-
firm by ballot. Two Of tho nominees received
tho requisite number Of votes, but the third one
by the misspclling Of q couple OF ballots received
tie vote. The board addlourned without ad-
JuqsunR lhe ohiloI me liquor Dealers A9so.
the commission, and directed their counsel to
test It's consituttonaity. At the next meeting
DI hl Inn n1 fha tod
Commissioner. and q vote was taken. This
time the three Republican members voted for
him, In hopes that their votes would elect
him II any Of tho Democrats should
make the political mistake OF voting for
h c bnnks O"9d n9d fST Squsd the NOMINEES
The Board then resolved that no further action
should be taken in the matter until Corporation
Counsel Albeit could give them an opinion on
the constiutionality Of the act He advised
them officially that in his opinion 1t was uncon-
supreme Court on the question at the June term.
The Mayor has to sign all resolutions before
they are valid. and he refused to sign those de-
claring that no further action should be taken
IA the matter. and ordering tho clerk to issue
licenses as heretofore. on the ground that II
Aldermen to decide whether law was con-
stitutonal or not. II it did not involve moro
had no power TO grant licenses while the Excise
books He advised, them to complete
and RSTl Ren II it was tn6usRt dSsrnEe dREie
II could be restrained from action in more than
one case, which would afford Il tcst TO take be-
fore the supreme Court. Tho net is couched in
peculiar language and says that the Mayor
shall continue to nominate until the Aldermen
have confirmed his nominees By skilful
reading OF the net this can be interpreted 10
mean something very different. II says that he
shall nominate three citizens at the first meet
ing 81 the Aldermen in May. to constitute q
Board of Excise Commissioners and provides
that these shall draw lots 80 TINT one member
shall be appointed each year. The clause re-
atng to the constant nomination by the Mayor
pointed to till the lrst vacancy in 1879. Con-
sequently Mayor Hopper made the nomi-
nation for ,hat purpose last Tuesday.
Ssd and it is Laid OYER for week In In
i unconnrmed, and the provision requiring the
Mayor to continue TO nominate is ignored. Tho
Aldermen Will caucus on tho question next
Monday night. and decide how they Will evads
II the Court decides against them. they declare
their intention 10 reject the Mayors nominees
regularly at rnch meeting during the year. and
go 10 the next Legislature for repeal of th"
act. The two Commissioners elected have
given bonds ana qualified Tor the position.
but cannot organize until the third ia
confirmed. In the mean time there ara no
licenses issued. All the licenses expired
by Limitation on the lst of May. md the thou
sand saloons In Jersey City ara all unlicensed
arising from liquor licenses 10y this quarrel.
and there is no means OF Judging how the rem
edy will be applied.
The etemporanco people promise 10 still further
many saloons under the increased license fees
and stringent requirements Of the law. They
| are casting about for ways and means 10 COM
| pei the Aldermen TO act and II is probable that
| the coming Grand Jury will be called upon -
| indict the Aldermen for refusing 10 comply with