The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-22

orders to do one thing and wink at an
other. 1t may be that you are in that
position, 1 don't know. but l do know
that some police officers are in that pc
sitiou. The law is there, and, as police
chief, it's your duty to enforce it."
" l do the best l can replied the
chief.
John Huff, a detective sergeant at
Perth Amboy, said that it is very hard
for him to get evidence against the
saloon-keepers, because he is so we'll
known.
you couldn't get anybody If you
tried?' asked Mr.. Backes.
Il have got some.'
""They must have been asleep" re-
marked Mr.. Backes.
Conditions In Elizabeth.
General Dennis F. Collins, president
of the Common Council of Elizabeth,
was called. He was questioned regard
ing the personnel of the Excise Board
of this city. Gener Collins is presi-
dent of the Peter Breidt Brewing Com
pany. He said that the brewery has
fifty saloons in Elizabeth on which 1t
holds chattel mortgages. He declared
that the brewery loans money to the
| saloon-keeper for his license. or rather,
uses and accepts a note for the money
and takes a chattel mortgage.
Don't you think that conditions In
Elizabeth are very bad?'
Il don't know that they are"
wouldn't you say that conditions
here are bad when l tell you that out
of eighty-four saloons tested last u
day sixty-seven were violating the
law?"
II hardly hin that is possible"
"Ill tell you that 1t is, and can prove
it," declared Mr.. Fisk adding, Now,
bottom that Is responsible for these
conditions here?"
II don know"
who is 1t above the top?'
II can't tell you,s for I don't know"
But you are interested in both sides
and ought to know"
IT think the general conditions In this
city will compare favorably with those
in any other city in the State"
Political Contribution Denied.
He also said that the Peter Breidt
brewery owns many of the properties
in which the saloons the brewery COIL
trolls are situate and III it holds
CIldLltl IlO BASES oh tdCD u IN lilly
saloons it controls. He didn't think
there were any back rooms in the city.
You're a Democrat, g%eneTal?' asked
Mr.. Backes.
81 am
"a Bryan Democrat at that?"
Hes the man hat was nominated"
"And the brewery contributes to the
campaign"
mo, sir, it does not; and l can an
swertthat authoritively I'm chairman
of the Democratic county committee"
Mr.. Backes asked if 1t isn't the Gus
'tom of the brewery to advance money
to the saloonkeeper on pay days so
they can cash checks of the mill opera
tives, and General Collins answered In
the affirmative.
The Ideal Saloon.
Asked what he considered the ideal
saloon, General Collins said that the
saloon that caters to the proprietor's
%neighbors is the best. "You won't find
any intoxicated persons there and no
gambling" he declared.
DR.. Charles B. Holmes, Mayor OF
Railway, said he thought excise con-
ditions very satisfactory in his town.
There were thirty-one licenses in his
city, too many. he declared. He said
that the town needs the $500 collected
from each license to run the town.
According to our report, Railway is
clean. Our men found no Sunday vio-
lations there"
Samuel Townsend, mayor of North
Plainfield, the next witness. wanted to
know what he should do to regulate the
closing of saloons at night, and was told
that the court could do this. He also
said that the frequenters of the saloons
of North Plainfield come from Plain
field, the home of the president of the
probing commission.
"They get full in your town and then
come to mine and we take care OF
them" said Mr.. Fisk.
That's right" said Mayor Townsend,
Mayor Townsend said he thought that
where two municipalities were Joined
like North Plainf1eld and Plainfield, the
saloon should be controlled by one ex-
else board.
Mr.. Fisk said the idea was that the
saloons throughout the State should be
under n control.
H. Raymond Groves, president of the
l Common Council n Acting Mayor OF
New Brunswick, was the next witness
, He said the council has nothing to dc
5 with licenses, but it has absolute con-
| troll of the police department. There
are 81 licensed places in New Bruins
5 wick, but the city could get along with
a few less. The character of the sa-
) loon-keeper in the city is very good.
l William s. Myers, chairman of the
t Excise Board, was shown to be a non
resident of the city for. eight months.
isn't 1t a fact that Dory Strong
: who is now out of politics. controls the
Excise Board in New Brunswick"
II have heard the statement on the
: street as common rumor, but dom
know it for a fact"
Charles Morris, another member Of
the board, is employed by the city In
2 the water department. The third mem.
= Der, John e. Elmendorf is a lawyer
: Mr.. Groves stated.
Frederick j. Richter. a member of the
Common Council of Elizabeth and a
member Of the police committee, said
4 that as a member of this committee hi
e had instructed the chief Of police Il
& keep the saloons closed On Sunday