Perth Amboy evening news., 1908-12-14
Majority Present
Their Findings
To Governor.
FOR MIDDLESEx
Special to the EVENING NEWS.

Special TO the EVENING NEWS.
Trenton, Dec. 14:-Showing nm
startling conditions in the LIQUOR
business in New Jersey with refer-
ence to violations of law, political
control of the liquor interests and
similar matters, and presenting a
striking array of strong recommen-
dations TO curb the traffic. many Of
which are most radical, the majority
report of the State Excise Com mis-
sion was submitted to Governor Fort
today. The minority report OF Com
missioners Howe and Whitbeck will
be presented to the governor later.
The commission reports on Mid
dlesex county as follows:
Population, 109s496. Number OF
licenses, 435.
In Middlesex the principal VIOLA
tions were found in New Brunswick
and Perth Amboy. In the latter
there were 1862 licensed places; pop
ulation $4,000, being one licensed
place for every $50 Inhabitants.
Many violations were found in re-
gard to Sunday selling, side and back
rooms, and screen regulations. In
New Brunswick the laws are fairly
well enforced, but there was also
found Sunday, and back and side
room violations. And in both of
these places, slot machines. mechan-
ical gambling devices, were comm on
in the saloons.
The report shows that there are
1858 retail licenses in New Jersey,
or one to every 308 inhabitants the
population being 2,23z,359. The
number of wholesale liquor licenses
in the state is COS The total amount
of income derived from licenses,
which in most cases is used for the
general expenses of the municipality,
is $2,709,4 9,410.14, thus reducing the
sum to be raised by taxation The
license fees vary from 500 to $1,000
and the number of licensed places
inhabitants to one to every 1924 in
habitants.
The most fragrant violations of the
excise law reported are: Sunday sell
ing, selling without license, main
tanning side and back rooms, refusing
to remove screens during closed
hours, selling to minors, permitting
minors TO tend bar, selling fr6na trax-
room into fake bed rooms and Iiur-
nishing them with IDOL furnitlf- -
in order to make a bluff at comply
ing with the Bishops law covering
hotels. The principal causes for
these violations are loose and care
less methods OF granting licenses,
non-enforcement of the Law by lax
officials, political influence, influence
of the breweries in creating a greater
number of saloons than are conducive
to the public good, the persistent de-
termination of the drinking public TO
procure drink during prohibited
hours and in places where no licenses
are granted.
Political Influence.
Hard raps are given by the report
to political influence as a factor in
the liquor problem. The document
declares that many Legislators, execu-
tive officials and political leaders are
afraid of the question, and their first
question in connection with it is not
rs it best for the community and the
good of the people?'' but How will
1t affect the party vote at the next
election?" The commission declares
that in many instances liquor manu-
facturers and retail dealers are forces
to contribute to the respective cam
paign funds. and also says there have
been cases where sheriffs have been
elected for the express purpose or
drawing grand juries that will look
after and protect violators of the
liquor laws. Also cases where may
ors have been elected who will apA
point license boards and police boards
that will be favorable to the liquor
interests.
Brewery Control.
Brewery control over the saloon is
emphasized. This is exercised, the
report says, through the brewers
owning the saloon property, by the
brewers sub-letting to the saloon
keepers through leases, through chat
tel mortgages on the saloon fixtures,
and stock, and through advancing
money to conduct the saloon busi-
ness. The commission estimates that
from 20 to so per cent. of the saloons
in the state are controlled in this
manner by the brewers. On this
point the commission recommends
that some provision should be made
whereby the brewers, or any one else,
directly or indirectly interested in
any saloon should be held jointly re-
sponsible with the proprietor if the
saloon be conducted contrary to law.
The recommendation regarding
clubs Is that the law should be so
worded that no club or association
shall be allowed to handle liquor in
any way until a license therefor has
been regularly obtained. The PEN
atty for violation should be the same
as for violations by other places.
Druggists Are Hit.
The report says the laws regu1at-
ing druggists should be made stricter,
limiting the sale of intoxicating IL
quors for medical purposes only.
Druggists violating the law should
be subject to arrest and Indictment.
and upon conviction should lose his
license as a pharmacist and be sub
ject to the same penalties as any 9TH
er person convicted of selling with
CONTINUED on page 41