New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-07
DOWN WITH THE SCREEN
Churchmen of Al Creeds Urge
PASSAGE of Bishops Bill.

Trenton. ~ j.. March 6-When the hearing
began early this afternoon on the Bishop oiiis
the Assembly chamber was crowded TO tne
doors Only the automobile hearing has at
tracted such a crowd. The hearing was before
the Senate Committee on Miscellaneous Busi-
ness and on Revision of Laws. Avis Is chair-
man of the first, with Hillery and Wakeiee as
associates Horner Is chairman of the second
with Mckee and Avis as associates. Avis pre-
sided.
Father Clifford. of Morristown said he repre-
sented three thousand citizens in his town ana
more in Morris County. He said the sentiment
WAS gaining that the LIQUOR traffic was menace
to the state Honest and decent saloonkeepers-
and there were many such-ought 10 agree to
publicity. Publicity would cure lots of evils In
the traffic. Liquor should be sold in the open
and not in q corner. The conscience Of the body
polite wanted these bills. and the committee
should satisfy that conscience.
Bishop Lines OF Newark, spoke next. He
read a letter from = prominent Bostonian say
ing that publicity had worked we'll in Massa-
chusetts reasonable screen law ought to
exist. The saloon was here to stay. 1t had legal
protection. The abuses should be restrained
Father Sullivan. o: Jersey City. said this was
q dry occasion. He wished the brewers had fur
nished some beer. He would like to pledge
health. He said he was not against the proper
use of liquor. He was fighting the abuse. The
saloon men would not stop the abuses They
never had
Father Kelly OF Hoboken, said he stood
not as a priest but American citizen
He did not come for the Church. although when
the Church was wiped out there would be
republic and no legislature. 1t was the open
defiance of the law that he was here for. He
pleaded for the taking down of the screen.
Dahl ct et,1
calls. He came from a tenement house district
and he stood to help the outraged home. the
children dragged to ruin. If the screen was
moved, much of the evil would be banished.
Ex-senator Robert S. Hudspeth was the first
TO speak in opposition to the bills He said he
spoke not only as attorney for liquor interests,
but as a citizen expressing his honest opinion.
He paid the cergynen who advocated the bills
the highest compliments. He. however. proposed
to speak from the head and not the heart He
was going to talk from practical and not from
moral or ethical standpoint He praised the
Werts act and said it a reflection the
judiciary and public officials of the state to in
innate that the law was not complied with. He
charged that these bills made the saloonkeeper
responsible for every evil and crime in the cate
CORY. The men who responsible for most
of the present evils were the politicians. These
bills would not take the liquor traffic out of
politics.
Colonel z. c. Stahl. representing the German
element of the state. said:
There are two hundred thousand signers 20
this petition which lies before you. These petit
tons were not signed in saloons: they
signed in the homes. at the lodges and In club
rooms. These men signed the petitions because
they believed that there are enough laws the
statute books regulating the liquor traffic, and
on behalf of the signers ask you not 20 pass
these bills.
Colonel Dennis F. Collins said the position Of
the brewers was for pure food bill and a clean
saloon. The brewers desired 10 stand for the
proper conducting of the saloon business.