The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-03-22
Substitute for the Bishops
Measure will Be Ready
On Monday Chairman
Avis Says
CLERGY MUCH DIs0RUNTLED
MANY OF THEM DECLARE THE
DELAY IN REPORTING IS A
SCHEME TO AVOID DECISIVE
ACTION BEFORE FINAL AD-
JoURNaDENT.
Special to "rhe Jersey city News

I
| Especial to The Jersey city News."D
TRENTON, March %, 1906. Senator
Avis. chairman of the Miscellaneous
Business Committee, which has the Bish-
ops high license bill in charge, announced
late yesterday afternoon that he had sue
ceeded in drafting committee substi-
tute for those bills which would be ac-
ceptable to his colleagues.
Il shall certainly have the report
ready next Monday, evening said Mr..
Avis, "and then / win make it public
Until then l will have nothing to say
about what its provisions will be-
When told that the clergy were COM
planning bitterly about the delay in re
i porting the bills and charging that it was
scheme to prevent their adoption be-
fore final adjournment Mr.. Avis said
that he could not help what the clergy
said or thought about the matter, but
that he was performing his duty con-
scientiously without any fear of the after
results.
sIf I reported the Bishops bill as
presented, said Mr.. Avis, 4it would go
no further than the calendar because it
is clearly unconstitutional and it could
not be adopted in its present shape. Be
sides that many Of it's provisions are too
drastic and they are opposed by large in
terests in the State which are entitled to
as much consideration as the clergy. For
that reason the committee decided not to
report any bill until it had prepared a
substitute that would have chance of
satisfying all interests involved. Under
such circumstances the delay in report
ing the bill is exeusable."
Ex-senator John Hinchcliffe, repre-
esnting the brewers, was greatly pleased
when he learned that the matter went
over for the week. He said he did not
care if the committee ever presented a
report
Eve will never urge report" he said,
land the longer the committee delays one
the better our chances become Of defeat
ing the bill. We have been honest in
this matter and treated the clergy with
the utmost fairness and consideration,
but the way they have treated us in re-
turn was outra geous. For that reason
am opposed to granting them any fur
ther favors. We viii now fight our owg
battle with our own weapons and ac-
cording TO our own ideas in our efforts
TO defeat their bills We will ask for
no favors and will not accept any from
the clergy"
The consensus Of opinion among men
who daily frequent the State House is
that the Bishops, bill will not receive
favorable consideration in both Houses
at this SESSION 1t may possibly be pass
ed in the Senate after hard fight and
after it has been SO amended that even
The clergy themselves will not recognize
it. but when it reaches the House it is
likely to be. held up until final adjourn
men. is taken.
A delegation Of clergy accompanied by
their counsel, Peter Backes, visited the
State House yesterday afternoon and
! held AZ brief conference with Senator
Avis. during which the members pleaded
! with him to report the Bishops bill as
presented The Senator positively refus
ed to grant their request and stated his
reasons Then the clergy begged him tc
present the committee substitute without
| furher delay. Senator Avs said that he
was unable to do this before next Mon
| day evening, as he had not completed the
draft He promised that at that time
/ he would present it without fail.
| The clergy then left satisfied with ths
| result of their visit.