The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1909-01-12
Excise.

The excise question is not so difficult as
it seems. If we have the courage of our
convictions the situation can easily be clar-
to justify prohibition legislation. There are
many Of our people who would be glad to
aid prohibition legislation and support it if
they believed, il enacted, it could be en-
forced and would actually prohibit.
We have difficulty in enforcing the re-
strictive features of the excise laws we
now have. 1t Is undoubtedly true that Il
public official should enforce all the laws,
no matter whether they nave public appro-
val or not. But. he cannot fully perform
this duty If public sentiment is against the
In a republic. modelled in our form, where
conditions as to law enforcement are local
lied by county lines, a law which a ma
mand and their representatives enact, may.
in certain places be so Objectionable as to
be very difficult to enforce.
While the excise question is a State. and
treated the granting or revoking of
licenses, and the right to the revenue that
comes therefrom as if IA matter of local
concern.
Enforcement OF the excise laws has. also.
practically always, been stringent or lax,
as local sentiment seemed to dictate.
Whatever legislation may be enacted this
year. one thing is evident, that the major
ity party in the Legislature cannot, except
in bad faith with the people, repeal the
Bishops law so-catled. 1t is pledged to
maintain that law and the present COVER
nor stands, irreYocably, committed to that
statute.
There Is need for greater uniformity in
granting licenses and the present method
of having licenses granted by an excise
board. appointed by the mayor or court, in
some places. and elected in others; and
council, or the court itself, grant the
licenses. is wrong. The method Of granting
and revolving licenses should be uniform
throughout the state. This would result
in a general rule for fixing license fees and
for granting or refusing licenses. A board
or body. composed of men Of character and
independence. who were free from removal.
Mt local political hehest, would work out n
solution of the whole problem IN lines con-
forming to public sentiment.
The following notifications of the excise
laws ere suggested:
"a The minimum license fee should he
fixed on the basis of the population of the
case should It be less In any municipality
than that Mt which licenses are now
granted in such municipality and each an
plication for n license should be adver-
tised once for at least ten days before
action &c taken thereon that objection may
be made thereto ard heard.
~ The number of licensed places al
lowed should he limited TO not exceeding
one for each FIVE hundred Deople: provided.
that no greater number Of licenses should
he granted IN anv Mace. whore the present.
percentage is p~reater than this. than the
present licensed places hear to the present
ponvlation.
~ A simDle and definite form OF pro-
cedure. tn revoke a license. for the viola
tion Of the law. with n provision that n IL
cense shall he ipso facto revoked on CON
victlon Of any crime or on a plea OF guilty
or non vult.
az No license should be granted TO any
person not . nntive or naturaliZcd citizen
Of the United States.
- No license should he Granted to q
person who had been convicted of any
"rimN which would disfranchise him under
our state constitution.
(o ~ right n transfer = license from
one place n another should he prohibited.
~ Al licensed rlaces should be closed
from Y o'clock mi9night until 6 a. m.