The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-02-22
THE LOCAL OPTION AND HIGH L.
CENSE BILL PASSED.

Mr.. Dnsenberry said he represented a
district of 1000 votes, and the first gen.
tleman or Grst lady had yet to speak tc
him on this bill and ask him to vote 70,
it. He opposed the combination bill. He
was in favor of 5000 High License bill.
He read some statistics relative to the
working of high license in Chicago to
prove that it was a good law. Local op.
ton would produce more drunkenness in
the city of Newark than ever before, be.
cause private clubs would be established.
A high license law would bring in large
revenue to each county. He favored high
license but no local option. II local OPP
tion prevailed the hotels at seaside re-
sorts would not be able to entertain
guests.
Mr.. Hin opposed Mr.. McDermit' s
amendment. The friends of local option
want It by counties, not by small dis
tricts. The county line would bring
about fair test vote, The amendment
was lost by vote Of 20 to 50, Messrs.
Christie aud Let's voting with the Demo-
Gratis in the negative.
Mr.. McDermit moved to strike out all
of section two, which provides rigid rules
for the enforcement of the act and relates
to the revocation of licenses.
Mr.. Nixon had previously moved t.
strike out all of section two, but his
amendment was lost
Mr. McDermit made another vigorous
speech in support Of his amendment, de-
voted principally to criticism of the Re
publican party for adopting this measure
and forcing it through at the point of the
bayonet, as he called it. He said the Re-
publican party was advised by bad and
selfish men in this matter, and at the
next election it would be over whelmingly
defeated because of this policy.
He said the Republican party would be
ruined if this measure passed, and he APP
pealed to his fellow Republicans to save
the party. He pointed out how the Dem
ocratic party bad refused to make this a
party question, and said it was good
example for the Republicans to follow.
Mr.. Goble said Mr.. McDermit need not
have any fears of the Republican party
going down to the dust. He knew Mr..
McDermit did not believe what he, him
self, said. This second section simply
provided that no liquor shoald be sold on
Sunday, and none to minors, under PEN
atty of the revocation of the license. He
made feeling speech in favor of retain
ing the section.
Mr.. Dusenberry protested earnestly
against the passage of the bill. He said
it was bad idea, and not agreeable to
the sense of the people of New Jersey or
Newark. 1t is wrong transaction, aud
is not fair, and he hoped 1t would not
pass.
Mr.. McDermit made a vigorous speech
against the measure, taking the ground
principally that it was unconstitutional.
He had discovered errors in it which con
WINGED him that it was SO. He could not
understand why the discrimination was
made in the rates of license in the bill.
1t was perfect mockery as far as some
townships were concerned. 10 Plainfled
the license was higher now. The bill
was drafted to please everybody and play
hot and cold. 1t was designed mainly to
meet the demands Of South Jersey to the
exclusion OF the rest of the State. II was
preposterous to pass such bill. Fur
thermore, 1t does away with the right OF
trial by jury, aud that is unconstitutional.
Does the Republican party want To go on
record on that platform? The third sec
ton makes it an indic,abe ofTeuse for
grocery stores to retail ale aud beer. Do
the Republican members understand thai?
He thought Mr.. Hill was good lawyer
enough to know that the bin was uncon
stitutional, and therefore he should not
deceive his friend from the pine woods 81
New Jersey, Mr.. Goble.
Mr.. Hill replied to Mr.. McDcrmit. He
said if there was one section above an
other that deserved commentator il was
that which prohibits the granting of H.
cense for the sale of drinks by groceries.
These are the meanest, lowest and vii
est kinds Of groggeries. 1t was in such
places the mechanic was nveigled out OF
his week wages. The bill was passed
upon by eminent legal lights--Republi-
cans it is true-and declared by them to
be constitutional He said the Governor
dare not veto it ON that ground. He (IilD
was willing that the bin should go be-
fore Democratic judges on that question.
The minimum rates in the bill were
from 800 to $3.50 there was no maxi
mum rate in it, therefore Plainfleld can
continue its $500 license aud Camden its
$500 or $3.50. Newark now pays $75,
and ought to pay $3.50 or more. This
was good bill, carefully drafted, is in
the interest of morals, but not for the
benefit of saloon keepers.
Mr.. Rogers then moved the previous
question, which was ordered despite the
protests of Messrs. McDermit, Dusen.
berry aud Lozier. The bill was then
passsd by the following vote Of "a to 26
Yeas-Messfs. Brown, Conkling, Dick.
inson, Doron, Emley, Fuller. Gallagher.
Goble, Hansell, Harrington. Harris, Her
bert, Higgings G.. H., Hill, Hutchinson,
Jones. Law, Leaning. Ludlam, Lufbur.
row, Lyon. Marlatt, MCGOWAN, Meeker,
Nixon, OldeD, Peck, Riker, Rogers,
Smalley, Smith, ulricb, Voorhees,, West
"a.
Nays-Messrs. Bale, Bloomer, Christie,
Cutter, Dusenberry, Farrell, Feeney,
Heppenheimer, Higgins A. A., Hoover,
Keys, Leavitt, Let's, Lozier, Martin,
Matthews, McDermit, Mnlyey Mutcher,
Norton. Pitney, Potts, Riley, SchmeIz,
Short, Trimmer-26.
When the Speaker announced the re.
suit, there was loud applause from all
parts of the chamber.