The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-02-20
Municipal Corporations Com
mittee Today Reported
Favorably On Local OPP
ton
UNANIMOUS DECISION
AssEMBLYMAN sCoTTs INFLU-
ENcE STRONG IN SECURING
THE RESULT ~ FRIENDS OF
THE BILL ELATED. ITS FOES
DEPRESSED. AND THOSE on
THE FENCE PERPLExED
Especial to .aThe Jersey city News.'')

Special to .aThe Jersey City News.'O
TRENTON, Feb. 20, 1s06.-The mu-
nieipal Corporations Committee sprang a
surprise in the House this morning when
Assemblyman Harry scoyel. its chair
man, presented report favoring the
passage of the Miller local option meas
ure. 1t was signed by the entire com
mittee: Scovel, of Camden; Scott, of
Hudson; Wright, Of Passaics Walsh, of
Essex, and Burk, of Trenton.
If bombshell had exploded in the
Assembly chamber it could not have ere
ated more CONSERVATION among the mem
bers than that when the committee re-
ported this bill. For weeks members who
have stood on the fence regarding the To-
cal option question were in hope that the
committee would report the Miller bill
adversely. or at least hold it up until a
few days before sine die adjournment,
when no action could possibly be taken
ON it. This would have relieved them of
an embarrassing situation. They would
not have been compelled to show their
hands either for or against the measure.
The members of the Municipal Cor
porations Committee held a conference
at the close of last nights session, at
which it was decided to report the bill
without amendment. Assemblyman Scott
stated that although he had been ap-
preached by four or Ave Hudson Assem-
blynen who had urged him to favor hold
ing the bill up in committee he was OPP
posed to such action.
He declared that it WIS only fair to
the committee that every member of the
House should have an opportunity of
placing himself on record either for or
against local option. Under the present
conditions, he said, there We're members
who were carrying water on both shoul-
ders. When approached by the local OPP
ton advocates they declared they favor
Cd the Miller bill, but when interviewed
by the brewers and saloon interests they
declared they were opposed to it. These
members allowed the committee TO bear
the odium of holding up the Miller bill,
while they sailed under false colors.
Mr. Scott made 4 strong impression
upon the committee and it was through
his influence that the Miller bill was
unanimously reported. The members de-
cided that they would either sink or
swim together in reporting the BILL and
then when it came up for adoption in
the House they could vote as their CON
sciences dictated. BY such action they
would place every member of the House
on record
The Miller bill provides for the sub
mitting to the people of towns. town
townships. boroughs. villages. cities and
other municipalities yhen 80 per cent. of
the voters of such town, etc. shall pc
tition so to do. the question Of the pro-
hibition of the sale OF alcoholic, spirituous
yinous, malt, brewed and Intoxicating
liquors in such towns, etc Elections
may be held but once in two years.
Assemblyman Miller was in high glee
today when he learned that the commit
tee had favorably reported his bill. He
said that such strong pressure had been
brought to bear upon the members of the
committee by the brewers and other in
terests that he began to fear his bill
would never be reported. He now felt
that it would be passed by the House,
even if it was defeated in the Senate,
where, he said it still had a fighting
chance
Rev. DR.. Nash, Of Newark, secretary
of the Anti-Saloon League, and a score
of advocates of local option were also
present and were highly elated They de-
clared that the fight has been start
ed and would be eontinuee .itil victory
perched on their banner. even if the Mil
Ter bill was not PASSED at the present
session.
They entertained strong hopes how
ever thar il would be passed.
The consensus of opinion among well-
informed men at the State capital is that
even if the Miller bill should ass the
House twill meet its fate in the Senate.
where strong sentiment pprevails
against the measure a'A Miller bill
will be taken up in probably
next wecelS.
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY