The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-17
Admits That Students Occasion
ally Have Some Pretty
Good Times.
BORDENTOWN POLICE
HAVE KEYS TO CAFES.
Mayors OF Other Cities Give
Generally Good Statement
to the Commission.
Especial to the Evening star.l

TRENTON, Aug. 17.-Governor Forts
excise probers met here today for the
purpose of getting evidence concerning
the conditions attending the sale of
liquor in Mercer, Hunterdon and Bur-
lington counties. At the opening of
the session Chairman Fisk threw a
bomb by saying
"Atlantic City has practically no ex-
else law owing to political conditions
there.o
Before the meeting Mr.. Fisk asked
to have it denied that he and Mr..
Backes had been in Atlantic City seek
ing evidence of a campaign deal be-
tween Governor Fort and Atlantic
county Republicans. whereby the ex-
ecutive promised not to interfere in At
lantic Citys affairs, particularly re-
garding Sunday selling
"The whole thing is perfect rot" said
Mr.. Fisk; "a story made out of whole
cloth. The Governor made no such
agreement and has been perfectly sim
cere in everything. It's nonsense for
anybody to say We've been there to run
that story down, and you can make it
as strong as you want"
Chairman Fisk stated the general
scope of the work of the commission,
insisting that the business now Is to
take evidence, and that no politics are
being played. He stated that a meet
ing will be held before October is, to
give all concerned a chance to argue
for themselves
Princetons Mayor First.
The first witness today was Mayor
Harvey L. Robinson, of Princeton, who
has been Mayor about five years.
He said Princeton has eight saloons
and two wholesale places, and that the
law is generally observed. He said
there are few complaints as to viola
tions. The population is 5000.
How about selling to minors
1--WE have very few complaints on
that score"
How about selling to students? Do
your saloon keepers seek to ascertain
the ages of students before selling?"
''They are supposed to consider the
ages. The lower class men are not
supposed to buy, 1 understood"
The mayor admitted that at times
the students have pretty gay times"
No violations have been reported since
the Bishops law has been on the
books.
Commissioner Peter Backes asked
about general excise matters in Prince
ton. The license fee is $3.50. He asked
IL all the liquor places were a benefit to
the place. but got no direct answer.
Says Inn Observes Law.
Hayor Robinson admitted that stu
dents numbering 200 or 300 congregate
at times in Princeton Inn. He claimed
that Sunday law is we'll observed.
The next witness was Chief of Police
William Kilfoil, of Princeton. He adj
mitted there were some "back rooms"
in Princeton where students congregate.
The chief said he would vouch for all
the Princeton saloons. declaring they
were well conducted with no Sunday
selling.
Everything is o. k" he asserted.
Don't they have some gay times at
Princeton Inn?" asked President Fisk.
"I guess they do"
The chief admitted that some Of the
students freduenting Princeton Inn
might be under the legal age, and that
some beer wagons deliver beer in
Princeton.
Beer ArINs TrOublemakers-
President Fisk here remarked that
beer arks'' are giving trouble all over
the State.
Chief Kilfoil said in 1908 Princeton
had $3.50 cases of prosecutions for illegal
liquor selling. with fines of $1,4OO. Since
then there have been seven prosecu.
tions. In 1906 Princeton had las arrests
for drunkenness, some of them stu
dents. Trenton gets most of the drunk
en- students, said the chief.
Mayor Isaac GabeL of Bordentown.
was next sworn. He said the law was
generally observed, but they have some
trouble with violators. Some years ago
the liquor dealers persisted in violating
the laws, including the Sunday law, He
was forced to sell out, and his license