Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1908-12-05
HEAVY BLOW
TO SALOONS
Excise Bureau to Recommend
Tax on Brewery Output and
Elective Board.
NO SALES ON SUNDAY
Power for Governor to Gust
All Elective 0fficehoIders
for use--Boston Plan.
NO SALES ON SUNDAY


Plainfeld, Dec. 5-Between forty
and nifty reeomm endations will be
embodied in the main report of the
State Excise Commissioners. which
was finally approved and made ready
for the printers at the commissions
ers' conference here. Dissenting
opinions, however, will be fled
against it by Commissioners Caleb
'. H. Whitbeck, of Hackensaek. and
John Howe, OF Newark.
Without any equivocation, Messrs,
Whitbeck and Howe informed their
majority associates bluntly at the
conference that they considered the
majority document entirely too radi-
cal and drastic.
AS the com mission stands now.
those lined up against Mr.. Whitbeck
and Mr.. Howe are Mr.. Fisk. Mr..
Dackes ana Commissioners j.
kearny Rice, of New Brunswick, and
George C. Smith, of Lakewood.
The main report will be about
25, 900 words, and has been cut ai-
most in half, as far as 1t was origins
ally prepared.
Officials None Too Active.
1t Is explained that the commis-
sion, in its tour of the state during
the summer, brought out that many
city officials and county sheriffs
were none too energetic in enforcing
the excise laws, and particular at
tention will be called to the recent
situation in Atlantic City. 1t will
be suggested that these officials
should be overawed by the power Of
removal by the governor, and
sheriffs, especially, who. have drawn
grand juries, as the report will say
by reference to Atlantic county's
sheriff, known to be favorable to
brewery or saloon interests, should
be removed from Office instantly,
once this has been satisfactorily
proved.
The report will give but scant at
tention to the question of selling on
Sunday, and viii set forth there has
been no general demand for any
such excise liberty. The report will
explain that the M embers disapprove
fully of any attempt to modify the
present excise laws so as to permit
"a Sunday sale of liquor under any
circumstances.
One of the recommendation ap-
proved by the majority concerns the
taxation of the output of breweries
within the state. 1t provides that
all breweries having their establish
ments within the state shall be
obliged to pay tax to the state OF
fifty cents a barrel on their output.
Brewery Statistics.
In the brewery statistics the COM
missioners show that there is an an-
nual output by the state breweries
amounting to something over $17,-
900, 900, and that more than 3,000,-
900 barrels of beer are sold by these
In New Jersey every ear Ar
of fifty cents a barrel, this would
mean profit to the state of $1,500s-
600.
On the question of licensing pow
er, the com missioners in their en-
tirety have recommended elective
excise boards in every municipality
Of the state. These boards, if the
commission's unanimously approved
recommendation is endorsed by the
| Legislature. will not possess the pow
er of revocation of license. however,
but will simply have the authority
to pass Judgment on all licenses and
grant the same in accordance with
the other recommendation made by7
the com mission.
The recommendation carries with
1t also the suggestion that one OF
the members of the board shall re-
tire each year.
AS for the power OF license revo-
cation, the commission win recom-
mend that this be placed in every
county in the hands OF the judges Of.
the court Of common pleas for thaq
county, and that a single violation %
the law be considered as a reason
why the license should be revoked.
The report also carries the stipula-
tion that no license be granted for
the property occupied by the o1fend-
ing licenses for a period of one year.
Differ as to License Fees.
Two reports will be written on
the question of license fees The
majority is, that in all cities of over
900 population the minimum liz
eense fee shall be $1,000; in cities
between 5000 and $4,000, mini
mum fee of $3.50 shall be made. and
in other sections one fee of $500
shall be set.
Then there will be another recom-
1utnGalAOA ptOhiQlltS LOA dA dfROt~
tionment in accordance with the pop-
ulation of all new licenses. 1t prcy-
vides that the present number OF
new licenses in vogue In the state be
not affected, but that hereafter no
new licenses shall be granted in any
municipality until that municipality
shall have shown an increase in pop
ulation of 500 for every license to
be allowed.
A license applicant must secure
the consent of all the property own
ers on both sides of the site In which
he expects to locate, and all of the
owners within radius of 200 feet.
Numerous recommendation by
the commission devote much space
to the construction of the applf-
cant's property, and it is particulars
ly stipulated that If it is to be a saS
loon property, there must be but one
room to it, and only one door in the
front.
CONTINUED on page A.