The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-25
WO0DM0NT TALKED ABOUT
4 SPIRITED DEBATE IN THE HOUSE
 KESTERDAY.


 The Famous Milk Punches of Merwin's
 Point-An Interesting Discussion Regard
 Ing Proposed Charter Amendment
 Wine in Woodmont Cellars-New Havens a Charter-General News of Interest. E Hartford, April 24.-The five-minute rule was knocked into snnithereens in the house of representatives this after noon. The debate was over the amend ment to the charter of the Woodmont Improvement association, and it was protracted and quite spirited. The prin- cipal portion of the bill regarding li- censes is as follows:
 Whenever the town of Milford, within which town the territory of this assocl- ation is located, shall have voted in fa- vor of licenses for the sale of spirituous and intoxicating liquors, the president or chairman of said Woodmont Improve ment association, upon the petition of not less than twenty of the freemen of said association, shall notify the free men of said association that meeting of the freemen of said association will be held to determine by ballot whether any person shall be licensed to sell spir- ituous and intoxicating liquors within the territorial limits of said associa- 'ytion.
 An amendment was offered by MT, Gum of Milford striking out the pro- visions relating to local option in Wood- mont. MT, Gum, in supporting his amendment, said:
 There was a time when old MT. Mer- win kept the sole hotel at Woodmont and his milk punches were famous throughout the state. Since that time the cottage settlement has built up, but many of these cottagers have wine and whiskey in their cellars. The principle of this bill is all wrong. Milford tried no license one year and it worked bad ly"
 Judge Cowell of Waterbury-Such peo- pie as Senator Hawley and Rev. Dr. Anderson, who live at Woodmont in summer, desired a quiet spot from which the sale of liquor would be excluded These people are paying just as much money into the treasury of Milford as Is MT. Gum. This settlement requires no constables, no police, they have no paupers, and they ask for no high ways.
 MT. Gunn-Excuse me- but the town has just voted $3,000 for a new highway n Woodmont, and all want a highway to pass their very doors.
 Judge Cowell-These cottagers pay from $1,500 to $2,0O0 in taxes to Milford hnd they are not asking anything save ocal option for their settlement. They want safe and quiet place in summer, ' where they can leave their families when they go to their places of busi- hess and feel assured they will be un- nolested. People going down there and Suddenly being overcome by thirst can Jump on an electric car and ride three br four miles eastward and get all they want to drink. When the committee re- ported on this bill unanimously we Bhould heed their request and accept | heir report. It is true they may go be- | Fore the commissioners for hearing l and ultimately appeal to the superior | eourt, but it Is of too much trouble to | 1o this annually At least nineteen wentieths of the people of Woodmont | hre unanimous in favor of this bill. | They are against the saloon and all it's | concomitant evils.
 Mr. Judson of Stratford-It is certain | Nv on the basis of false premises to say | That unless this bill passes it means | license in Woodmont. Under the pres ent law an appeal can be taken from khe findings of the commissioners to khe superior court The judges have enunciated rule which is a complete Bhield for those communities which op- pose license. They decide that it is an unsuitable place if the majority of the residents of that locality are opposed to the granting of a license. This Is certainly as complete shield as can be devised. Pass this bill if you choose, but none of you gentlemen, would de- sire such law to apply to any part of Nyour own town. If this bill passes this house you will have at the next session B. flood of bills of this nature coming nto this house for this permissible pow Aer. The bill is wrong in principle and 1t really will do no good. The superior 'eourt will fully take care of the inter- .hsts of any of the communities of this ktate in this matter of granting licen- kes I shall favor the amendment Of |Mr. Gum.
 MT Warner of Putnam said a similar bill in the case of Short Beach was passed, so this was not the first case. kf the commissioners granted license they granted it. It took three or four months to settle an appeal and when I hat time expired the summer was pass kd and the people had moved away from | he shore. It seemed as if a little DOT ion of Gods green earth could be kept elear from the sale of liquor shall I hlways vote to limit the sale by saloons to localities in towns not residential. These persons had spent large sum bf money in this place and it was no I |nore than right to grant them the I light they claim.
 MT. Gum said there was such a e hing as intemperate temperance, and a he was a temperate temperance man. I Lets be fair and honest" he said | |rT will go as far as any man in this V bouse in the matter of temperate tenn berance. I shall vote for the bill to t. shange the granting of licenses from is he county commissioners. These peo- ble came down to Woodmont long a Tears after the old hotel was estab-