The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-29
Committees Substitute for
the Bishops Measure Has
Not the Ghost Of a Chance
Of Passing
CLERGY WORT TOUCH IT
AND THE BREWERS DECLARE
ITS SALOON LIMITING PRovI-
SION MEANS RUINoUs Loss
ONLY PERSON SATISFIED IS
SENATOR AVIS
Special to ..The Jersey city News.,')

Special to 'The Jersey City News.}
TRENTON, March 90, 1906.-What-
ever chance the Bishops bill stood of
being passed by the present Legislature,
the committee substitute for that meas
ure as presented by Senator Avis, chair
man Of the Miscellaneous Business Com
mittee yesterday. will stand absolutely
EoHe, unless it is again radically amend
ed.
Such was the universal expression Of
opinion among legislators who read the
committees substitute last night. They
argue that while the Bishops bill may
have been too radical and drastic in its
provisions, the substitute is no improve
ment, and therefore will not be accept
by either the clergy or the brewers rep
resenting the saloon interests.
Il have done my best to satisfy all in
terests,' said Senator Avis, and if
have presented an unsatisfactory substi-
tute it was the fault of my brain and
not my heart
Senator'S Hillery and Wakelee the
other two members Of the committee, ad-
mitted that while the substitute measure
was not entirely satisfactory to them,
they consented to it for the purpose of
avoiding further delay in bringing the
matter before the Senate They also con-
ceded that it could have been greatly i'm
proved but that each member of the COM
mittee had an opinion of his own as to
what amendments should be proposed
and as ne two members could agree it
was decided to allow Senator Avis to
submit substitute containing his own
individual views. This would enable SEN
ators HilIery and Wakelee to offer their
amendments when the bill was taken up
in the Senate.
The new bill which Senator Avis in
troduced as companion measure to the
substitute, also meats the disproval Of
the clergy and brewers. This bill allows
one saloon to each 200 Of popula-
ton which, as told in the News yesser
day, would result in the lessening ci
the number cf saloons in Jersey City,
Hoboken, Paterson and ether cities, par
ticularly IN Atlantic City and Long
Branch.
Senator Avis sought 70 have the limit
fixed at one saloon to every $50 popula
ton. Senator Hilery wanted to place
the figure at one saloon to every 250 pop
ulation, and Senator Wakelee asked for
one saloon to every $50. When the com
mittee discussed this question in confer
ence Tuesday night it was agreed to com
promise by placing the limit at one sa-
loon to every 9250 population. and Senator
Avis WIS authorized to draft such b'al.
Early yesterday morn ng the repreeen-
tatives Of the brewers who have been
here almost daily since the Bishops bill
was introduced lopking after lha saoen
interests. yehcmently protested against
the bill, on the ground that if It became
a law it would wipe out more than 1900
saloons throughout the State, and besides
entail a loss to them of many thousands
of dollars. They asked that the limit be
placed at one saloon to every $50 popula-
tion.
The clergy insisted upon higher fig
ure. They asked that saloons be limited
to each $50 population, and declared that
There were now more saloons than were
good for the prosperity Of the State.
The Senate Committee. realizing that
their bill was unsatisfactory to both sides
held a conference and decided to compro-
mise. 1t was then agreed to allow one
saloon to each 2e0 population. This
would lesseas tile saloons in jersey City
by about 100; Hoboken by rs; Paterson
by 100; Newark BY $50. and ether cites
| proportionatedy.
The reason assigned By Senator Avis
for presenting a separate bill limiting the
number of saloons instead Of embodying