New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-29
LIQUOR AMENDMENTS.
BISHOPS BILL REPORTED.
Brp7cers Like Al but Excise 4p-
DOiRtment Clause.

Trenton March - tspeciaD.-The battle be
tween The brewers and the bishops is now on in
earnest Chairman Avis Of the Senate Commit
tee on Miscellaneous Business started the fight
this morning when ne reported the Bishops Dill
with "A number Of amendments, and likewise al
the Same time introduced two bills prepared 10y
the committee. They were ali ordered printed
without reference. so as 10 get in shape for ne
calendar as soon as POSSIBLE.
The first OF the committee bills allows one sa-
loon to each two hundred Of population IL ;he
state This bill. # enacted, would lessen the
number Of saloons in Jersey City. Atlantic city
Long Branch and some Of the smaller munich
palities. The second bin provides that in all
municipalities where excise boards are appointed
by the Mayor as governing body, they shall
hereafter be appointed by the judge Of The Court
Of Common Pleas.
The amendments 70 the Bishops bill submitted
By the committee are briefly follows. in the
order OF their submission.
FIrst-strikes out the requirement for the joint
application for licenses Of the owner Of the prop
erty ana the salOOnkeeper
Second-Inoreases the minimum license fee
from $3.50, as at present TO 500 in cities OF
more than 10000 population. The Bishops bill
made the minimum Zee 500
ThiTd-Makes the maximum age limit eighteen
years, instead OF twenty-One years as the
Bishops bill had it,
Fourth-Includes in the causes for revocation
ing liquor for themselves or others TO children
under eighteen years. This Is aimed at the
"growler" custom carried on by children
Ftfth-Provides that when a license IS re
voked the property for which IL is revoked
cannot be used for four months. The time in
the original bill was year.
Sixth-tsTants a license TO a barroom instead
OF 10 a building and allows two rooms in the
rear OF the barroom which must be wide open 10
IL. and prevents the evasion Of the law by keep
ers Of restaurants.
Seventh-Authorlzes excise boards TO compel
the removal Of screens at any time, ana requires
that screens be removed curing prompted
hours. The Bishop bill required the entire re-
rnoval Of all screens and all had TO be exposed
70 street view.
The brewers. who are here in large numbers
have very little objection 70 most Of the amend
nents but they object most strenuously 10 the
bill putting the appointment OF excise boards
n the hands Of the Common Pleas judges.
They say such a course would drag the judiciary
into politics and make an unseemly scramble for
appointments. The candidates for Judge would
be selected not so much for their legal and
judicial ability as for their attitude on the eX-
else question. It is also contended that the
proper function Of a Judge is not executive, but
judicial The brewers regard the proposition as I
revolutionary.
It is stated on high authority that the feature
regarding appointment OF Judges did not cut any
figure until last night, and then Governor Stokes
told Chairman AVIS mat ne favored lIle pan
and would Ike TO see II carried into effect
The bill was accordingly drafted in accordance
with the Governors wishes. The brewers believe |
they can have the measure withdrawn when the
objections are made public, or can defeat it II
brought 70 a vote
The Bishops side Of the story is plain and
simple. The advocates Of the original bills say
the whole subject is up to the Legislature. The
AVIS amendments and bills are better than moth
ing, they say, and are good so far they go
but they are not satisfactory. There Is no threat
politics. The Bishops movement does /
moi involve The defeat Of the Republican party
as the local option movement did. the anti-lquor
men say. The promoters Of this movement de-
clare that II they do nor get what they want
and feel sure the people want at this session.
they viii be down here 1T the next session and
the subsequent, until they do obtain some
thing that iU their estimation rs substantial
The outlook tonight is that the Bishops BIN.
with the Avis amendment, VIII pass The bin
10 make one saloon 10 every 200 population VIII
pass The putting OF the appointment ~ excise
boards in the hands Of the Judges win probably
be beaten