The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-07
He Declares At the Hearing
On the Bishops Liquor
Bill That Right and Prin-
ciple Were the Weapons
Used BY the Clergy
SENATOR HUDsPETH SPEAKS
FOR OVER TWO HOURS HE DE
| FENDs THE LIQUOR INTER
EsTs AMID APPLAUSE AND
HIssEs-A SUBSTITUTE BILL
PRoBABLE-No MORE HEAR
INGS

Special to 'The Jersey City News.')
TRENTON, March z, 19o6.-"I have
90 much respect for Mr.. Hudspeth's in
eNigence to believe that he believed any
hing he said today in his argument
against the so-called Bishops bill.''
Thus spoke Monsignor Sheppard, Of
Jersey City, last night at the close of the
bearing given by the Miscellaneous Busi-
ness Committee of the Senate on the
Hutchinson high license bills, better
xnV, IN as the Bishops .bills.
/ For FIVE hours the committee had lis
&ened to the arguments pro and con on
Ehe bills. At the conclusion both sides
bad seemed satisfied when Chairman
Ssvis announced that no further hearings
ould be given and that the committee
Would take the bills under adyisement.
Erhis statement was taken to indicate
that the committee would make report
hext Monday evening, probably favoring
substitute measure with many features
hf the present bill eliminated.
It was the concensus of opinion last
hight that the liquor menshad put their
Foot In it." so to speak, and conceded
that xhere were many existing evils and
ABUSES IN she hquor traffic which should
be eemedied. This was concession
lwharh not even the clergy expected and
hpon which they will build largely il. the
present Legislature does not pass bill
b ebste such evils.
Ex-senator Hudspeth spoke for nearly
wo hours in his argument for the liquor
men to prove that the Hutchinson bl1ls
Were too drastic and could not be con-
kistently executed even il they were en-
acted into laws. His remarks were fire.
quenfaT interrupted by the applause OF
khe saloon men who filled the galleries
and lobbr of the Assembly Chamber and
1t other times by the derisive Kisses OF
ahe clergy and laynen who espoused the
Bishops bills
Rev. Father G. J. Kelly, of Hoboken,
eaptivated the entire gathering when he
spoke at the conclusion of the hearing
20 take exception to Judge Hudspeth's
remarks that this was political issue. :
With voice almost choking with emo
ton, Rev. Father Kelly told how hard
the priests had tried to eliminate politics
from the question and had even gone so
far as to decide that if any member OF
the Legislature was accused of voting
for or against the bills through political
or church influence, the Catholic clergy
would en- masse defend such member, re.
gardless Of how he voted. This Rev
Father Kelly stated would serve to show
that the Catholic clergy was not seeking
the passage of the bills through church
influence or political threats, but purely
npon the principle of right and justice.
The saloon men Joined with the clergy
10 applauding such statement, and it be
came evident that regardless Of what the
Legislature might do regarding the pas.
sage of new liquor law, the Catholic
.lergy would condemn no member for the
stand he has taken or viii take
IN the matter and that he need
fear no after results. This was a
relief to the lawmakers who had
taken neutral position and who
were undecided as to how they would
vote on the proposition before them.
They did not express any opinion here
fofore owing to the fear of arousing the
snmity Of the clergy. or if on the other
,ide. Of the liquor men, The statement
made by the Rev. Father Kelly gave
hem the right to decide for themselves
without any fear of the after results
Never in the history of New Jersey
vas there such a distinguished gathering
Of clergymen on the floor Of the House
as was gathered there yesterday after.
noon when the Bishops bill was taken
The newspaper mems desks were the
Right Reverend JAMES A. McFaul, Cath
bic bishop Of Trenton; Right Reverend
John Scarborough. Episcopal bishop Of
New Jersey; Right Reverend Edward B
Lines. Episcopal bishop of Newark
Right Reverend John ]. o'Connor. and
Humore fee44 on hrgnorss- saa,, "a