The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-15
EXCISE BOARD
MAKES REPORT
Uniform Law For the Entire
State is Recommended
BY Commission


To His Excellency John Franklin Fort
Governor of the State of New Jersey
The commission appointed by the
governor of the state under joint
resolution of the senate and the house
of assembly of the state of New Jer
sey to investigate the whole subject Of
the excise question in the state report
In part as follows:
Summary Of General Conditions.
In the larger cities, having cos
mopolitan population, most excursion
places, summer resorts and places 10
Gated on the Atlantic ocean there are
many violations and evasions of the
excise law, particularly in regard to
the selling of liquor on Sunday Many
of the officials of these places charged
with the enforcement of the excise law
connive at evasions and permit viola
tions
Political Influence.
Political influence is one of If not
the most troublesome factor in the
solution of the liquor problem. If this
liquor problem is to be solved it must
be divorced from politics as far as
possible.
Brewery Control.
The control of the brewery over the
saloon is an important matter to take
into consideration. 1t Is estimated that
from 70 per cent to 80 per cent of the
saloons are controlled by the various
brewers
The commissioners are Of the opin-
Ion that some provision should be
made whereby the brewers or any one
else directly or indirectly interested in
amy saloon should be held jointly re
sponsible with the proprietor of that
saloon If the said saloon is run con-
trary to the laws of the state.
Clubs.
Selling or disposing of liquor In
clubs and voluntary associations with
out licenses. The penalty for violation
should be the same as for other cases
of selling or dealing in liquors without
q license.
Drug Stores.
The inquiry of the commission has
developed the fact that there are more
drug stores than are necessary to meet
the legitimate requirements of the
people; also that there are drug stores
in many places that are selling liquor
and wines to be drunk ON the premises
as a beverage contrary to law; also
selling certain patent medicines and
mixtures and even alcohol to be used
as beverage. The laws and regula-
lions should be very strict, limiting the
sale of intoxicating liquors to medic
inal purposes only.
Purity of Liquor.
A provision should be incorporated
in the law regulating the liquor traffic
that all distilled or brewed liquors
should conform to the standard Of
purity for liquors fixed by the United
States pharmaeopoeia and the pure
food laws of the United States and
the state of New Jersey. Selling of in
ferior liquor should be a misdemeanor
Inspection of beer bottling establish
ments is also recommended.
Local Option.
The commission feel convinced that
as long as liquors are manufactured
and allowed to come into the state
liquor will be sold and drunk license
or no license. The commission rec
should be elected in every community
with ample power to grant and refuse
licenses and to control and regulate
the sale of intoxicating liquor.
Sunday Selling, Etc.
The preponderance of evidence was
strongly In favor of the provisions OF
the present laws prohibiting the sale
of liquor at any time on the Lords
day.
Too Many Saloons.
The number of licensed places
throughout the state is greatly in ex-
cess Of the public necessities. A num-
Der of them are low dives, disreputa.
Bile and disorderly places.
The money derived from liquor H.
censes is used for the general pur-
poses of the municipality and for the
reduction of taxes, making in many
instances an incentive to the authori-
ties to grant more licenses than are
conducive to the public good. This
tempts the holders of these licenses
to run the risk of doing an illegiti-
mate business during prohibited
times in order to secure a living.
The commission recommends as fol
lows:
Local Boards Recommended.
The people residing in any city, Dor.
ough, town or township should be al
lowed to decide this subject for them
selves: (a) To whom licenses should be
granted, CD the number of licenses, (c)
the hours during which licensed places
should be allowed to be open, ID
whether liquor shall be sold or not be
sold in their own locality-all subject
however, to certain general and uni
form regulations applicable to the whole
state and should decide also to whom
they would delegate the power to aci
for them and to carry out their wishes
We therefore recommend that II
every community within this state
there be created local excise board
of three citizens of the municipality
no one Of whom shall be interested ii
the business of manufacturing or traf
ticking in liquors nor in any business
connected directly or indirectly thel
with nor in the business Of furnishin
supplies therefor. The members {
this board should be elected at a sps
cial election for this purpose, to hol