The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-28
Senator Avis Pres snts It So
Amended That It's Own
Parents Can't Recognize
It and Won't Accept It
CLEAN SWEEP OF SALOONS
ONE SURPRISING CLAUSE WIPES
TENN OUT BY THE HUNDRED
HIGH LICENSE PROVISION
ELIMINATED AND THAT RE
LArING TO sckEENs MODE
FLED
Special to ..The Jersey city News.'y

TRENTON, Mar. %, 19OS.-Aftes
numerous delays, Senator Avis. as chair
man Of the Miscellaneous Business Com
mittee, which had the Bishops high Il
cense bills in charge, reported the meas
ure this morning as substitute. with
about fourteen amendments. The amend
ments, if adopted, will practically destroy
the Bishops bills as presented by the
clergy and make an entirely new meas
ure.
The principal amendment provides chat
only one liquor license shall be granted
by every $50 population. This, if adopt
ed. will wipe out about 200 saloons in
Jersey City; 300 in Hoboken; 200 in
Newark; 200 in Paterson; $50 in Eliza
beth; 100 in Trenton and Camden and
500 in Atlantic City.
This amendment was one of the great
cts surprises that the committee furnish
ed in its substitute. 1t was generally
thought that the bill would not place any
restriction on the number of saloons to
be licensed in every municipality, but
would allow the local authorities to deal
with the question. When rurnors foated
through the corridors of the State House
last evening that the committee proposed
to limit the saloons. the brewers became
nervous and Immediately went to work
to induce the committee to reconsider the
proposition. but were unsuccessful.
Senator Avis insisted that this amend
nent was absolutely necessary as a solu-
tion of the problem, how to wipe out
dives and saloons where disreputa bic
women eongregated." 1t would give the
local authorities power to discriminate as
to the kind of saloons to be licensed.
The brewers claimed that the 25O
population proposition was entirely too
harsh. They figured that it would wipe
out 5000 saloons in the State and entail
large financial loss besides leaving over
5000 men without employment. They
asked that the limit be placed at 800
population in cities, but their suggestion
was rejected.
Senator's Hillery and Wakelee agreed
with Chairman Avis that one saloon to
every 250 population was sufficient for
the needs of the people.
The brewers scored big victory when
they succeeded in inducing the commit
tee to leave the license fee as at present
$3.50 the minimum in cities. The Bish-
ops bill sought to have the license fee
increased to $3.50. but the committee
agreed with the brewers that the in
crease would not stamp out the dives as
the clergy contended. but would merely
work a hardship upon the respectable sa-
loonEeepers.
The screen question, while not entirely
eliminated, was so modified as to be sat
isfactory to the saloon interests.
The amendment provides that only the
inner screens in the barrooms shall be
prohibited, also that back and all side
rooms shall be abolished The local au-
thorities are empowered to deal with the
question as to when the saloons shall re-
move their front window screens during
hours when the sale of liquor is Illegal
This provision was made to enable tie
local authorities to dell With the Sunday
closing proposition. Sunday selling could
thus be permitted in places where tie
local authorities are willing to stand fer
it. or prohibited. as they may elect,
The liability Of the owner for violation
of the law is limited to four months. in
stead of year When a Teenses re-
voked for vocation of the law a u "
license shall not be granted for the same
preSasses within four months.
When Counselor Peter Backes, reprs>
senting the clergy. learned Of the Com
mittee's substitute to-day, he declared
that it was one of the snsast unjust ana
unfair measures ever presented on the
liquor question. He said that the clergy
would never accept it as a compronss
for the Bishops bills but would cont nWe
the fight for their bill OF so down to IL.
feat with it.
Colds Cause Sore Throat