Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-07-23
Proprietor F1oersch of Packer Hous,
Volunteers to Testify Before State
Investigating Commission and
Suggests Higher License and
Fewer Saloons.

summoned before the State Commits
sion which is investigating the excise
conditions throughout New Jersey
: were called at the afternoon session
in Elizabeth yesterday but Peter
Floersch, proprietor OF the Packer
+, House, asked to be sworn.
Chairman Fisk, after some New
/ Brunswick official had been examined,
announced that all of the remaining
/ witnesses from Middlesex county
/ were excused. They started to leave
the court room, when Mr.. Floersoh,
in response to an announcement by
Mr.. Fisk that they would hear any
who might wish to give voluntary
testimony, asked to be put on the
stand, although he had not been
among those subpoenaed. He was
told to make his statement and he
spoke for about five minutes.
/ The substance of the local boni-
faces statement was suggestion for
the betterment of the conditions here.
Mr.. Floersch urged a higher license
| fee, say $1,000; the reduction of the
number of saloons to one for every
| 1000 inhabitants; and a restriction
as to Sunday selling by allowing the
serving of drinks to guests of regular
hotels who eat a bona fide meal, and
not a slice or two of stale bread, as
is done In many places.
How would you go about 1t to
reduce the number of places2" asked
! Commissioner John Howe. Mr..
Floersch replied that there were
many proprietors who would be un-
able to pay a much higher license fee
land would get out of the business if
the fee were raised.
That would be hard on the lit
tie man, wouldn't it7" commented
Mr.. Howe. Mr.. Fisk said that Mr..
Floersch was the first man who had
volunteered to testify before the COM
mission.
s'Dory" Strong Mentioned.
Acting Mayor H. r. Groves, of New
Brunswick, was a little confused
when asked If 'Dory" Strong did not
control New Brunswick's excise
board. Mr.. Groves, who is president
of the council, is acting mayor dur
ing the chief executives vacation. In
response to the Strong question, Mr..
Groves tried to hedge and said that
he believed the commissioners were
all good men. He admitted that he
had heard 1t said that Mr.. Strong
, controlled the board in reply to a
query by Mr.. Backes as to whether
it was true that 'Dory' Strong, who
| is no longer in politics, controls the
excise board" This sally caused a
general laugh among the large au-
dience. Mr.. Groves said that he had
not formed an opinion on that point.
He acknowledged, however, that one
of the New Brunswick commissioners
no longer resides there.
New Brunswick Not Bad.
Chief of Police Harding was not
there to respond to his name, and AL
derman l. NJ Blue, chairman Of the
police committee, took the stand. He
said that New Brunswick is better, as
regards excise conditions, than ever,
to his knowledge. Mr.. Fisk admit
ted that the Middlesex county seat
is In fairly good condition, although
the detectives did find some Sunday
violations and some back rooms.
There were there places especially,
81 Albany street; place kept by
Thomas Lyons and place at 1872
Somerset street kept by man named
Dunlap. Mr.. Blue knew nothing of
Sunday selling at the Mansion House.
Detective Sergeant Dunn said he
thought there were no back rooms in
Brunswick and he was not cognizant
of any Sunday selling. He denied
knowing of any liquor selling by
clubs or lodges In his city. He told
of the difficulty of getting evidence
by means Of local officers who are
known to tba liquor dealers This
point had mso been touched upon
by Detective Sergeant Huff, of Perth
Amboy, at the morning session.
VIII Meet at Trenton.
The commission will meet at Tren-I
ton between September 10 and Oc-
tober to hear any who are interest
ed in the liquor question. Mr.. Fisk
said that he would like to hear from
people in all walks Of life, on both
sides of the question. A row OF seal
ed bottles of whiskey of the Third
Rail" grade, bought in various sa-
looms. lined the front of the chair
mans desk.
County Clerk Conger, of Middle
sex, submitted lists of places and
transfers. He said that, of 80 In
dictments in liquor cases in this
county in the three past years, eleven