The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1906-01-29
Miller Bill With the Anti
Saloon League Behind It
Is Already Introduced and
Referred to Committee
CATHOLIC BILL COMING
BISHOPS M'FAUL AND o'CoNNoR
sUPERINTENDING THE DRAFT
OF ONE WHICH MAY BE BACK
ED BY ALI ORGANISATIONS
AND WHICH ALARMS BREW
ERS
special to THE Jersey city Nsws.,l


Special to THE Jersey City Naws.)
TRENTON, Jan. 20, 1906-Except-
ing the Equal Taxation and the Morris
Canal Abandonment bills, no other
measure presented to the Legislature has
excited so much general interest through
out the State as the local option bill pre-
sented by Assemblyman Miller. of Cum
herland County.
The Committee on Municipal Corpora
tions, of which Assemblyinan Harvey
Scovel, of Camden. is chairman, realizing
the Importance of this measure and the
vast interest it has aroused, has decided
to grant public hearing in the Assem-
bly, Chamber tomorrow afternoon for the
purpose of giving the advocates of the
local option an opportunity to present
their views.
Lt1is expected that representatives of
the Anti-Saloon League from all parts
of the State will attend the hearing and
make a demonstration such as has not
been equaled since the days of anti-race
track gambling in 1892
The Miller bin provides for the sub
mitting to the people of all towns, town
ships. boroughs. villages. cities and all
other municipalities in the State when
thirty per cent. of the voters thereof
shall petition the governing body, to do
so. the question of the prohibition of the
sale of alcoholic spirituous. vinous, malt,
brewed and intoxicating liquors in such
towns, etc. The elections may be held
but once in two years in any such town,
etc.
This same bill was introduced in the
Senate last year by former Senator
Childs, of Somerset, but it never left
the hands of the judiciary Committee.
This year an agitation in favor of the
measure has been aroused in all sections
of the State and as a result nearly all
the legislators are undecided how they
will vote. They are anxiously awaiting
an opportunity to be believed from voting
at all. They are hopoing against hope
that the Municipal Corporations Com
mittee will not report the bill.
The Catholic clergy of the Newark
and Trenton dioceses have decided to
present another local option bill. which,
it is expected. will take the place of the
Miller bill. Bishops O'Connor and Me-
Faul will hold meeting at the Trenton
Cathedral this afternoon to consider the
draft of the local option measure pre-
pared by Counsellor John H. BacKus, or
Trenton. Until the bill is approved by
the Catholic clergy it will not be pre-
sented to the Legislature
The Miller bill is not entirely satis-
factory to the Catholicsclergy. They in
sist that the liquor law shall be more
stringent regarding its Sunday closing
provisions and that the license fee shall
be raised from $3.50 to $1,000 a year
They expect that all denominations in
the State will join in the movement and
urge the Legislature to adopt the new
bill.
The brewers realizing that their inter
ests are in peril if the Catholic clergy's
bin should become law, are combining
their interests and are ready to strike
deadly blow an the measure when it is
presented. Lobbyists employed by the
brewers are on the look out, and as soon
as the bill is introduced and referred to
committee they will begin to pull
wires to accomplish its defeat.
The Miller local option bill does not
annoy the brewers half as much as the
catholic clergy Dill, as tney reaiize that
sufficient pressure cannot be brought to
bear upon the members Of the Municipal
Corporations Committee, to report it, not
withstanding that the Anti-Saloon
League of New Jersey is behind it.
With the Catholic clergy and other de-
nominations solidly supporting a local
option bill it is another proposition. They
hold the balance of power in politics, it
is conceded, and. cannot be passed over
so lightly. 1t will require tower of
strength. the brewers realize. TO kin any
bill which they may advocate and there
fore they are sharpening their powerful
weapons in anticipation of the battle.
~uAx, a Nsu.xrr rrsrN rxrTx7x rnD