Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-08-11
Cannon & Shelby
HIGHER LICENSE GAINING.
Look for sign &c. & S."

Higher license is gaining in all the
cities in the state, and it is only
question of time when Perth Amboy
must consider the subject. When the
increase is made here it should be
made substantial enough for the city
to derive some benefit. The saloon
keepers here are just as able to pay
$500 for a license as they are in 9th
err places. In fact, many of the sa-
looms are owned by the b~reweries,
and it is no hardship for them.
Since we commented on this sub
iect before Elizabeth has joined her
sister cities in jumping the license
fee from $3.50 to $500.
Commenting on this action of the
Elizabeth Excise Board, the Newark
Evening News says:
"The new Board of Excise in Eliz-
abeth recently appointed by Judge
'Atwater under the authority of the
bishops law" has followed the ex-
ample of the Newark board. It's first
official act, after organization, was to
raise Nhe license fee from $3.50 to
$500. There ~are-about 365 licensed
16laces in Elizabeth, so that the city
treasury will, if the new boards act
stands, receive $1S0,000 a year in
stead of about 100000, as heretofore.
Chief of Police Tenney has, like Chief
Bimson, of Paterson, compelled the
closing up of all saloons on Sunday
since the new law went into effect.
The saloon keepers are retaliating by
insisting that all other kinds of bust
ness shall also be closed on Sundays.
This makes the sixth of the lar
gest cities in this state that have rails
the others being Newark, Jersey City,
Passaic, Camden, and Plainfield. 1t
is evident from the action of the eX-
else boards in all those cities that
they are obeying a public sentiment.
and that whether the bishops law"
is sustained by the courts or not, the
license fees in large cities will not
long remain at $3.50, even if restored
to that sum.
THE sum of $500 is higher than
the old fee, but it is by no means high
license. In the city of Elizabeth,
Rev. DR.. Henry Elliot Mott, of the
Westminster Presbyterian church,
addressed an open letter to the new
excise board strongly urging that
the license fee be raised to $1,000.
One of the arguments was that sirce
the poor man must have what he es-
teens a legitimate comfort it is desir-
able that he shall have the purest
beverages in protected surroundings,
and the higher the license the more
will this be attained.
But though one of DIR. Motifs own
parishioners lisa member of the new
board, the latter was satisfied
to double the fee, instead of quadrup-
ling it; preferring to try the effect of
- ~ ailC ll1Clot DtlOlt lHdhlHS II
rs high as it is in plainfeld, and in
many cities outside of New Jersey.
t~hree-fourths of the Elizabeth sa-
like those in Newark, are own
ed OF controlled by or mortgaged
back to the brewers, the bulk of the
license money will not come out of
pockets of individual proprietors.
1.-The court will hear, on Tuesday
next, arguments against the appoint
ment of excise boards by the law
judges. Should the decision be
against the change the official acts
by which the license fees were doub-
led would become imperative. But
this would act only as a temporary
check to the progress toward high Ii
The next legislature would be
overwhelmingly importuned to make
minimum fee $500 in all cities
Of 10000 inhabitants and over, and
1t is doubtful If the senators and as
semblymen would venture TOT ignore
Il sentiment so manifest and pro-