The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-08-22
ORANGE CITIZENS
CITE VIOLATIONS
OF BISHOPS LAW
Chairman Holmes, of Committee,
Says Saloon Screens Are
Not Kept Down.
LETTER OF COMPLAINT
TO THE EXCISE BOARD
Chief of Police Washer Insists
Upon Partitions Being
Taken Out. .

Following Chief of Police George p.
Washers crusade against saloon back
rooms in Orange. q letter was last
night sent to the Orange Excise Board
by Joseph j. Holmes, chairman of the
Citizens Committee of Fifty, calling
attention to violations of the anti
screen section of the Bishops law.
As THE EVENING STAR exclusive
ly stated. Chief Washer has gone the
rounds of the city and ordered In each
place tina the fioor upon which the
saloon is located and where liquor is
sold must be a single room and the
partitions between the barroms and the
rear sections, which formerly divided
the saloon into two rooms, one front
and the other back, are being taken
down by the proprletors on orders from
the police head.
The letter of Mr.. Holmes follows:
Gentlemen: l regret to lave to call
your attention to the violation OF sec
ton IL. chapter ia. of the law COM
monty known as the Bishops law, which
plainly states that the bar or business
room shall have a clear interior view
and 1t shall in no way be INSTRUCTED by
screens, transparent glass, ETC., or by
any article placed in any of said rooms
Cites Cases of violation.
This law is violated when screens
are closed during the forbidden hours
and obstructed by partly drawn cur
+ - "a nut ,.rz 4I14 ,aaa ~,
August 8 at the following places: S02,
264, 265, 26s, S25 and 342 Main street.
In direct contrast to these places were
those at lac, las and 256 Main street.
where a clear view was given as the
law requires. 1t is not fair to those
who obey the law that others are seem
ingly allowed to transgress.
Hoping that you will take the proper
action, l remain, yours truly,
JOSEPH d. HOLMES,
Secretary"
Emile Schultze, acting chairman of
the board, said that in the event OF
continued violating of the law the cases
would be taken up and a repeal of the
license ordered. He said further:
There has been a gradual working
back toward the evasion of the law as
before the time of the passing of the
Bishops bill. Only one-haf OF The
places in the city are arranged in such
a manner as to be perfectly visible to
the passing Observer; but when the
Bishops law was first passed they were
all obeying it to the letter. The author
tiles of Orange are not aware of any
places which have back rooms in such
open transgression of the law as there
are In New York. 1t. is not fair to ask
a man to make expensive repairs to his
place and then to take his license away
from him on short notice. We can do
nothing but give the facts due publicity
at this time. The places at AZ Park
street, 265, 26S and 325 Main street.
Hickory and Taylor streets, "a Parrow
street, "a Centre street and rs Cone
street were spoken of at the meeting of
the State excise committee held in
Newark lately, but that board has no
immediate power. so as | said before,
all we can do is to give it publicity
Petitions for Licenses.
Petitions Tor renewal We're granted in
all of the following cases: William
Cross. 80 Day street: Thomas Rogers,
sol Main street; John Sweeney, 40 Lin
coin avenue; Andrew Hendel, 80 Lang
don street; Joseph Nalente, 123 Valley
street; AlonZo Monica, 159 Essex ave
nue.; G.. f. Gerraty. 81 valley street;
NJ. Zarrillo, % South street; Jose Ear
rillo. transfer to Thomas Gerorazzo, IS
Hickory street: NJ. Winter, 81 Hill
street: p. Dunbar. 10 Hickory street; j.
Underwood. 325 Main street. n 10
seph di Benidetto. 15S Essex avenue
The last three were all taken to task by
the board for alleged violations in re-
gard TO the back rooms, and promised
hereafter to fully meet with all re-
duirements. hi Benidetto has been under
a three months suspension for viola
tons. and as there is a church being
built near his place it was thought his
renewal would be denied. A repre-
sentative of the Liquor Dealers Assoc
citation appeared i'm his behalf, and said
that after close Investigation they We're
assured that there would be no trouble
in the future. and if the board saw fit
to grant his renewal they would recon-
mend it.
hi Benidetto's counsel stated to the
board that as he had several thousand
dollars worth of imported wines to dis
pose of. and tina he had already been
punished quite severely, he thought the
board might consider giving him his re-
newal for a year. in which to close mp
the business. This was done, although
the chairman said there would be much
criticism because of the number OF sa-
looms already on Essex avenue.
The transfer of license from William
II. O'Mealy to John Hensle was post
poned for a hearing until the September
meeting.