The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-15
EXCISE BOARD
HEARS BREWERS
ON LIQUOR LAWS
Delegation from State Associa-
ti0n Presents Its Side of
the Case.
HAVE NO REAL CONTROL
OVER THE SALOON=KEEPERS
With Every Intention of Comply.
ing with Laws, Power Is Not
Theirs, They Say.

The control of saloons and methods
FOR bettering excise conditions by the
brewers of New Jersey was the topic
of discussion today at a conference be-
tween the State Excise Commission and
a committee of the State Brewers Asso-
citation in the Board of Trade rooms.
THE brewers are not responsible for
the violation of the Sunday selling law"
said Charles Bradley, of Ballantine 8
Co, chairman of the committee. I'VE
have no more control over the physical
acts of one of our saloonkeepers than
you have over a client that comes into
your office.
IF l am sitting on my porch, or in
my pew at church Sunday, and a saloon
keeper opens his doors to sell my beer
ard is detected. l don't see how I can
possibly control his act. If you can
suggest a means of preventing II
would greatly appreciate it,
II would like to add said Charles
Schultz, Of F. j. Kaastner Company
that the brewers of Newark have
never aided a saloonkeeper in disobey-
ing the law. In fact, soon after the
Bishops bill was passed, the brewers
of Newark sent out messengers-specia
messengers at that-to notify and warn
saloonkeepers that they must close on
Sunday. We did this week after
week"
The brewers were unanimously of the
opinion that closing hour, in certain
sections, could be enforced. shutting up
saloons at midnight or / O'Clock In the
morning.
As to Closing Hours.
For instance" said John Howe, of
the commission, "in residential sections
like Clinton avenue, Mt. Prospect ave-
nue. or lower Broad street, the saloons
could be closed, say at midnight. In
other sections where there are factories
running at night or bakeries, where
employees consume great amount of
beer the saloons should be kept open
all night to accommodate them"
Charles J. Fisk, Mayor of Plainfield,
asked why the bottling business. a
! minor industry a few years ago, had
assumed such great proportions.
''Your Bishops bill did It," replied
NJ Schultz. Formerly workmen
could go to a saloon on Sunday and
get their beer; now they have to buy
bottled beer and take it home and
keep It for Sunday use"
ME- 6IdQlty eApldlH6u dl lchSlh HAiS
manner in which brewers supplied IL
censes to saloonkeepers. declaring that
the money was loaned the saloon keeper
by the brewer. His promissory note
and power of attorney were taken by
the brewer. Mr.. Bradley said, but the
transaction was purely business one,
Just as any other loan was.
Mr.. Fisk, at the beginning of the
conference. announced that the meeting
was held at the invitation of the brew
ers for the purpose of having good
free talk" and not to probe conditions
in Essex County.
The following statement was made
by the brewers to the commission at
the opening of the conference:
The excise law now in operation
known as the Bishops law" passed
In 1906 is a supplement to the Werts
law, which was adopted and approved
hy the citizens of this State as the
best solution of the liquor problem.
While it is quite complex and varied
m it's operation and effects in different
localities, STILL with all it's defects, 1t
has seemed to meet with pretty gem
eral approval throughout the State, and
Can be enforced. The main theory of
the law, as far as it's enforcement Is
concerned, is to place the responsibility
for its enforcement upon the local
excise and police officials. This con-
forms to the best judgment of the
American people. While there are cer-
tain features of the bill which we would
like to see eliminated. we have no sug-
eestjons to make rs TO it's amendment,
because we believe 1t wiser and bet
ter for all concerned to have perma-
nency in the laws affecting excise ques-
tions unless there is some fragrant in
iustice TO some class or section Of the
people.
Want Law Obeyed.
The brewers have endeavored to the
hest of their power and ability to in
duce their customers to fully obey the
law. We have no desire or inclination
to do otherwise: but it is mistaken
notion that the brewer can compel his
customer to do as he wishes in this or
any other matter subject to law. Under
the law he is as independent in his ac-
tions as any other citizen, and 1T is
only by moral persuasion, not by any
physical means, that he can be con-
trolled by the brewer.
AS a rule the relations between the
brewer and his customers are the same
as those between any other manufac-
turer and his customers. There is no
mysterious chain linking them to-
gether or secrecy about their relations.
The brewer of any standing has