The Jersey City news., 1906-04-05
Bishops Bill in the Amend
ed PORN Went Through
Yesterday Without Much
Opposition
BILL A STEP TOWARDS REFORM
CHIEF FEATURES OF THE MEAS
URE AS IT rs LIKELY TO PASS
LIQUOR MEN UP IN ARMS AT
THE APPOINTMENT OF EXCISE
BOARDS BY THE COURT
Special to "The Jersey city News

ate took up the Bishops bill this morn-
ing and adopted it with the amendments
proposed by Senator Avis when the
| measure was UP on second reading on
Tuesday
While there has been considerable
| modification of the radical measures pro-
posed by the clergymen in the Bishops
bill, it is nevertheless believed that the
amendments adopted by the Senate will
bring about many reforms in the liquor
| traffic.
The amended bill can hardly be ex-
pected to suit the clergymen who, since
the introduction of the Bishops bill, have
| insisted upon its adoption as a whole or
its defeat. Their demands have been re-
garded by the Senators as extreme legis-
lation. For that reason their bill was
amended as a concession to the liquor
interests.
One of the most radical features of the
Bishops bill as adopted by the Senate,
is that prohibiting the back room, which
has been the source of much complaint
Another feature prohibits the sale Of in
toxicants to any minor under eighteen
years of age either TO be drunk on or on
| the premises This will effectively bar
| the sending of children to saloons for
'.growlers.'' These two propositions have
been regarded by the conservative ele-
ment as really necessary reforms for the
lliqnor trade
| The fixing of maximum fee in NUM-
cipalities having over 10000 at $500 will
also, it is claimed, have some good effect
| in some of the northern cities and towns
of the State where fhe fee is now $3.50,
While it will compel the salsonkeepers
to pay $50 annually more than they are
now paying, it will have tendency to
Peduce the number of saloons. The new
Il
Avis bill provides that there shall not
be more than one saloon licensed to every
| 200 population and If the Bishops
amended bill becomes law, the. COM
panion measure is sure to be adopted
The municipalities will not feel the loss
of saloons wiped out by this law owing
to the $50 increased license fee for those
still remaining In business. Hence the
license fee was raised.
Another feature of the Bishops bill
as amended, prohibits the licensing of a
saloon for one year after a license has
| been revoked Senator Avis proposed
4 that the limit, should be placed at four
months, but this proposition was rejected,
Screens in the windows and doors of
saloons will not have to be removed,
under the amended bill, but only 0ne
room is to be licensed and that must be
entirely clear of screens or dividing par
titions.
/ The proposition to make the owner Of
a saloon property join with the applicant
/ for license and thus become joint
licensee, was eliminated by the Senate.
The brewers and saloon interests are
still objecting to the amended bill, on the
ground that it allows the Judge Of the
Common Pleas to appoint Excise Boards
to license saloons in all municipalities.
They claim that this will deprive the
people of home rule and win place all
saloon keepers under the domination OF
Republican control.
In Hudson County, it is pointed out
that Judge Blair, being a Republican Of
fce-holder, could not be expected to ap'
point other than Republicans to serve on
the Excise Boards in all. Municipalities
The saoon-keepers with Democratic aml
iations would be made to suffer hlidei
such partisan board. They would
either be compelled to renouncee theil
Democratic principles or remain undei
cover while the Republican Excise Board
was in control, for fear of revocation
of their %rense.
! The Hudson, County Liquor Dealers
Association meeting in Jersey City YES
terday afternoon took this v.ew Of ths
matter and decided to ask Senator Min
turn to oppose the appointment Of Excis'
Boards by the Judge Of the Common
Pleas.
Senator Minturn said last night thai
although he opposed the appointment q
Excise Boards BY the Judge Of the Com
mon Pleas, on the ground that he heliev
! q it was Unconstitutional legislation. II