The Jersey City news., 1906-03-06
LOCAL OPTION
MEETS DEFEAT
By the Overwhelming Vote
of SO to IA the Miller Bill
Fails In the Assembly
RESULT WAS UNEXPECTED
IT'S ADVOCATES UP TO ROLL
GALL HOPED FOR IT'S PASSAGE
HUDSON DEAD AGAINST 1T
special to oThe Jersey city News.')

Especial to The Jersey CRY news.
TRENTON, March 6, 19Oo.-By a
vote Of IA to 80 the House Of Assembly
at 1915 o'clock this morning defeated
the Miller local option bill, which the ad-
vocates Of the measure confidently believ-
ed up to the time of the roll call would
receive the majority's support. They were
much depressed with the result and de-
clared that they had been deceived and
that strong political pressure had been
brought to bear upon the various Assem-
blymen to vote against the bill against
their own convictions.
On the other hand ex-senator John
Hinchclife, of Paterson, who represented
the New Jersey brewers, received the re-
suit with supreme satisfaction. He oc-
cupied a seat among the Passaic delega-
ton during the discussion on the bill and
listened with marked attention as each
member took rap at TIE measure.
The Hudson members voted solidly
against local option. Messrs. Dippel,
Berg and Bierck spoke against it, claim
ing that Hudson County people We're OPP
posed to it almost unanimously. Mr.. Dip
pei presented at least thirty petitions
signed by about 5000 people Of all the
towns in North Hudson protesting
against its adoption.
That the Miller bill should be taken up
in the House last night was entirely un-
expected. 1t was almost IL o'clock when
Assemblyman Buck, of Cumberland, ask
ed to have it placed on second reading
He said that he had beeen authorized to
do SO by Mr.. Miller, its introducer, who
was absent owing to the recent death of
his wife
No sooner was the bill taken up for
second reading than Assemblyman Nor
gan Of Short Hills, moved as substi-
tute the bill which he introduced several
weeks ago and which the committee re-
fused to report. It provides for the
question of high license to be decided at
the polls instead Of local option. In
other words, it provided that when 90
per cent. of the legal voters of munich
pality so petition there shall be submit
ted 10 popular vote the question of fixing
liquor license fees at an amount named
in the petition.
Assemblyman Martin, the Colby lead
er. favored the Morgan substitute as
against local option. saying that it came
nearer to regulating the liquor traffic
than local option. He declared that Es-
sex County. especially Newark, would
never favor local option, but that some
thing could be done if high license was
to be voted for by the people.
The Morgan substitute was defeated
by a vote of to 40. Then came the
fight on the Miller bill. when it was
taken up for third reading.
The vote was:-
Ayes-Messrs Buck, Cattell, Colgate
Drake. Everett, Haines Hildreth. Hoag
land, Hunt. Jones, Mills, scovel. Under
wood and Warren-14
Nays-Messrs. Arrowsmith, Barber,
Bierck. Berg, Burk, Chaplin. Dippel,
Eggers, Blvins. Calvin, Gibbs, Heck.
Henry, Hines, Holcombe, Iriek, Joerg,
Kayser. Mabie, Marelli, Murphy, Nor
ris, Perkins, Prince, Reed, Robbins,
Roeber, Scott, Scribe. Sommer, Thompson
(H. d.. Thompson On. F). Tllman,
Tucker. vanderyeer, Walsh. Wise and
Wright-39.
Absent -Coyle, Crowther, Firth. Mil
Ter. Patterson. Smethurst and Woolley