Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-20
VOTE ON SALOON
MATTER SPLITS
VILLAGE BOARD
South Orange Trustees Extend
Closing Hours-President
Kip Indignant.

In the shape OF a complete surprise
on President Ira A. Kip, jr., and the
two other members Of the village gov
erning body, Trustees Charles H.
Burke, Walter I. Mccoy, Frank J. Hill
and w. Arthur Babson, forming q ma
jority of the South Orange Village
Board of Trustees, at a meeting last
night brought into prominence again
the old question which ha agitated
the village for the past year-the Or
dinance regulating the time of closing
~saloons-and when the meeting was
about to adjourn, passed on first read
ing the amendment which had been
previously introduced and killed, CIV
ing the right to saioon-hecpcrs to keep
their bars open until midnight. The
present hour for closing Is IL O'CLOCK.
AS a result Of the action taken by
the four trustees, who 1t is believed
had previously gotten together n
decided to finally put the measure
through a split between the four
"standpatters' and President Kip has
come at last. 1t Is the first time since
Mr.. Kip was elected president two
years ago that the trustees failed TO
tremendously agree with hin. Inc
preside nt admitted after the meeting
that he was not "let in" on the pro-
posed introduction Of the measure.
Trustees Oscar Schoenherr and John
F. McDonough were also kept In the
dark, and when Trustee Burke moved
that the ordinance have its first read
ing they opposed 1t.
Following the meeting President KIP
held a stormy conference with Trus-
tees Hill, Babson and Schoenherr, when
| he told the two former that he would
shake them altogether If they had
decided to lengthen the saloon hours.
Although he has not been compelled
to do so, John Hart, proprietor OF the
hotel, has closed his bar at IL o'clock
to keep in unison with the closing time
of the other saloons for the past three
months.
The closing hours for saloons during
the past year in South Orange have
had much history attached to them.
On December 20, 1909, the ordinance,
which had been in existence since the
village received its charter and which
set midnight as the o for closing,
was amended so as to change the clos
ing time to II o'clock. On May 16 last
an attempt was made to restore the
midnight hour. Opposition arose from
clergymen of four churches. n the
|inter-church committee, which has since
changed its name to the Inter-Church
Civic League, with the result that the
measure was killed on October 10, afterf
being laid over from time to time. Mr..
Burke was the only one at that meet
ing which opposed 1t. Messrs Mccoy
and Babson were unable to attend the
session. The meeting last night was
the hottest the board has had since the
Citizens regained control from the Peo-
pies party. Other excise matters were
brought up, and a large assemblage of
citizens was present. The meeting
chamber was well cleared out, however,
when Mr.. Burke and Mr.. Mccoy sprung
the surprises neal midnight.
VIII Not Be "Run, ByfCivic League.
The Inter-Church Civic League was
given a jolt by President Kip, who de-
clared that the board of trustees, would
not be run" by that body. The sub
ject was brought about when President
Badger, of the league, asked that action
on an application for q transfer of the
saloon license held by Charles O'Brien
in the William B. Newman building, at
1853 South Orange avenue, to the site of
a proposed $4,000 hotel for Gottfreid
Kruger, at 8 First street. be deferred
until a later date.
President Kip had previously stated
that the village would benefit by the
transfer. 81 agree that the question Is
a paramount issue for the interest Of
the village" said Mr.. Badger, but I
think it is a question in which the citi-
zens at large would be Interested"
81 don't intend to be told what I
should do as long as 1 am president of
South Orange. I can see no argument
against the transfer. South Orange for
me every time, when 1t is going to bene-
fit the village!" the president shouted.
as he drew his gavel forcefully upon the
desk.
Trustee Babson interceded by declar-
ing himself for a hearing and deferring
action till a later date.
At this juncture Trustee Mccoy arose
and said: IF we have to wait before
taking action on every little thing that
comes up until a petition is gotten UP,
I am going to resign from this board"
You will not have to do anything Of
the kind, Mr.. Mccoy" interceded Pres
dent Kip. This board is not going to
De run by the COmmltIee
or anybody else! No more arguments
will be considered" he added. as he
banged the gavel once more.
Just then Mayor Arthur B. Seymour,
of Orange, representing the interests Of
Mr.. Newman. stepped up and asked to
be heard.
Positively no This board is going
to run the village" was President Kip's
reply.
II demand to be heard" Mr.. Seymour
r~etaliated. IT maintain that the most
modern law in this State gives me the
right to be heard"
Mr.. Kip hen consented to give Mr..
Seymour the floor, and the lawyer sub
mitted that under the provisions of the
village charter the trustees have not
legal authority to grant a transfer Of a
saloon license. He presented the sigma
lures of five signers for the O'Brien
transfer, who claimed they had favored
the move under Misrepresentation, and
as a result action was laid over until
an adjourned meetinR. IN ha held paxf