The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-05-25
Local Option Hearings

What viii be done by the liquor men
within the next few days in regard 10 the
operation Of the local option law? Monday
week has been fixed by Judge Garrison for
A hearing on The application Of Gloucester
voters for an election under the law. The
same day has been designated By Judge
Reed for a hearing in Cape May county.
The earliest day fixed, however, was that
named by Judge Reed in Cumberland,
where the hearing was set down for next
Saturday. The next date is in Salem,
where Judge Reed named Thursday Of
next week, the 3ist inst, for the hearing.
The hearing after hat is fixed by Judge
Garrison for Camden county IN Saturday
Of next week, the I'd Of June.
Gloucester and Cape May have thus had
the date Of their hearings fixed the farthest
off. Cumberland is the earliest to be
heard under the law, and if what has been
said Of the purposes Of the liqnor men be
true, that county is likely to furnish pro-
ceedings under which All appeal TO the
higher courts will be made and a test case
framed which shall contest the law on the
the ground Of its unconstitntionality.
1t is currently reported that the Liquor
Dealers Association have retained Attor-
Hcy General Stockton to argue against the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 81 TIC IGgtdl oBAiDn INV
in June, with Ex-Governor Abbott, Henry
&. Pitncy, ex-Chancellor ItunyOn and Bar
kcr Gummcre as colleagues. IT il under
stood that Attorney General takes the po-
sition that as he had advised the Governor
not to approve the bill after the Lcgisla-
ture had passed IT. he cannot be expected
now to defend the Law as legal legislation.
Whether or not this is tenablc ground for
the States law officer to take it is not
worth while To discuss. He Will probably
not defend the law. and it is the ruin0r
that s.. II. Grey, Esq, ono of Camden's
eloquent and able lawyers, viii be among
the array of counsel who Will argue for its
constitutionality, and hat with him cx-
Judge Hoffman, Of Jersey City, will be as
ISOLATED.
The proceedings which the liquor dealers
will institute will Of course take the matter
ont Of Judge Reeds or Judge GArrison's
hands and hang up the cases in the SUI
preme Court, postponing elections until
the legality of the law has been adJudica-
ted upon. How long this viii take is not
easily told, as the liquor men intend TO
staye OH Il vote As long as they can, or un-
TIL they have an opportunity Ia vote for a
Legislature which they will ask to repeal
the law. Should the law be affirmed as le-
gal by the courts and remain on the books
AZ an nnrepealed statute, the battle will
then 90 on, open to such delays as the in
genuity Of opposing counsel may accom-
plisll.
But 80 far rs the law itself il concerned,
the proceedings already taken show that but
for the liquor dealers appeal 10 the courts
the question of the retail traffic in liquor
would be submitted TO the people as the
friends Of the bill asked and promised
Three steps have been taken LIST. The law
was prepared. 81. The people have petit
toned the courts. 81. The Judges have
set days for hearings. IL is but natural to
expect that they will order an election
when the people can vote on the retail Ii
quor traffic continuance unless there have
been mistakes made in the form of applica-
ton or they are restrained by appeals 10
law for reasons Of highest import. The
proceedings of the next few days will there
fore be awaited with interest. -C 0RStitu-
ton.