New-York tribune., 1906-07-09
DRY SUNDAY In JERSEY.
SALOONS OBEY NEW Law.
Many, Hosceuer, Keep Screens Up
by Ad1ice of Counsel.


New Jersey was a prohibition state yesterday
The Sunday law which has long been so highly
honored in the breach by the men engaged in the
liquor traffic. was FOR once respected Never IN IT'S
history has New Jersey experienced such dry
Sabbath. The effectiveness Of the much mallgned
F3ishops bill was convincingly proven. 1t inn
pressed on the travellers for the Pullman Car Com
pany obeyed the law, and intoxicating drinks
were served while the trains were passing through
the state.
Even the reckless men among those who dispense
intoxicants were restrained by the drastic penalty
provided for by the act The forfeiture of the IL
cense and the adjudgng of the offender guilty OF
the offence of keeping disorderly house may re-
sult from conviction.
The intention of the saloonkeepers TO comply with
the law they had long dehed, for the sale OF IN
toxicants on Sunday has been prohibited in New
Jersey since the adoption-of its constitution ana
has been studiously grated on every act relating
TO the liquor traffic, manifest as Saturday was
closing The bars were crowded with patrons, regu-
lars and transients. who were discussing the new
law which became operative last Wednesday Ine
discussion was carried on in humorous vein gen
orally and the prOpretors were the targets for
chaR. It was probably the busiest Saturday night
known in the New Jersey barrooms, but as
midnight neared the barroOm clock was frequently
consulted. Ten or more minutes before the hands
met at u the fast flow of coin the bar was
stopped. and the patrons were invited to depart
Those who were inclined linger were escorted
with the degree of force requisite to move them
with alacrity to the door. The lights except
one were extingushed, screens were removed and
interiors of the saloons deserted for twen-
ty-four hours. the initial Sunday under the new
law
How many more Sundays will be similarly OBJ
served is mere conjecture. for the liquor men-that
is a majority Of them-are disposed to combat the
law in the courts Every flaw, real or prospective
will be used the basis for assaiing the Consttu
tionality of the act But until the courts have
passed on the legal contentious Sunday will con
tinue be a. dry day in New jersey. for the pen
atty is too severe for the most sangune dealer TO
assume the risk in anticipation that the law will
be declared void and worthless. There are many
men familiar with the trend of the times who be-
leve that the Sunday saloon will be known no
more in New Jersey. that the state will follow
Massachusetts and Pennsylvania, and that other
states will adopt the same course These citizens
entertain the opinion that the New Jersey Legs
lature has recognized the moral sentiment OF the
state despite the tremendous pressure of the sa-
loon interests and that if there defects in
the law they will be cured. The impression Is gen
eral that the is only the first step toward
making New Jersey high license state with
limited number of saloons
The first test case under the amended liquor law
will probably be on that section directing the re-
moval of screens and other distractions. so as to
show clear view of the barroom on the Sabbath.
for the Jersey City police reported thirtyfour sa-
looms in which this section Of the law had been
disregarded yesterday. The saloonkeepers were
guided by the advice of their counsel, ex-senator
Hudspeth. who holds that the order for the re-
moval of the screens must come from the Excise
Board. President OCOnnor of the Liquor Dealers
Association was one of those who accepted the ad-
vice OF the counsel Owen Monohan. Dennis Gala
gher and other we'll known saloon owners in Jersey
City also kept the screens in Chief of Police Muir
but the front and side doors were kept locked
possible technicality it is said that the fight against
the removal Of the screens will be based on alleged
the saloon, and exempts inns and taverns hotels
TfstaTr'nts res M which occupy m5TS ihn ONE & moor lc
alleys and buildings occupied by regularly organ
Thirty thousand dollars is the estimated loss Of
the Jersey City saloonkeepers by the enforcement
o the Sunday law
The saloon men have been transgressors so long
that skeptcsm as to the working of the new law
was general. and churchgoing folk were astonished
Yesterday 10 hnd the screens removed and the
1t was soon known that the law was being in
forced and there heavy exodus Of thirsty
citizens The ferrybOats were crowded and there
was a. mad rush for convenient places along West
1erse, Citya saioons NIenM eaiooea0ers and ~ bsr
tenders enjoyed the day off and took outing
with wife ard children novel experience for
The police were vigant and every available man
was out in citizens clothing watching for viola
of the saloonkeepers who live over or near their
places OF business rad numerous m callers sngEesting
whose saloon is at No. 26s Henderson street. oppo
tective Sergeant Clark walked quietly upstairs to
noon and fomnG J three men seated obo,t tbIe
drinking beer. They arrested Friend for keeping
disOrderly house. The accused insisted that he
drew the beer for family consumption The law
precludes even the giving away of intOXicants by
the dealer on Sunday and also prohibits the sale
of liquors outside the barToom.
The police put. under surveillance several others
one well known dealer, who entertaining an
unusually large number of friends their homes.
Forty saloonkeepers will be in to-day for
violating the section which directs that Obstruc-
tions 10 clear view of the barroOm shall he
moved. The counsel of the Liquor Dealers ASso-
citation advised tho members to keep the screens up
asserting that the Excise Board should direct their
removal.
One noticeable feature of the enforcement was
the absence from the streets during the day of
men under the influence of drink. but night in
ebriated were abundant returning from Man
haitian and tho seaside.