Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-02-28
RATIONAL LAWS
URGED IN HEARING
ON LOCAL OPTION
Editor Tells Committee Present
Conditions Are Conducive to
Excise Hypocrisy.
Especial to the Newark star.1

Especial 10 the Newark Start
TRENTON, Feb. 2S.-An interested
: audience listened to the hearing on the
Dill before the House committee or
municipal corporations to give nunici.
palltles local option in the question oil
the sale OF liquor. which was the first
number on the legislative program to-
lay. b. B. Bobbitt. editor of the Lonr
Branch Record, submitted the follow
ing argument:
AS the author of the first ohicial
pronouncement in favor of legalizinc
the sale of liquor with meals on SUNDAY
IN New Jersey, a recommendation
which was based upon an unprecedented
investigation by a State board charged
with this among other duties. [ wish
to bring to the attention of your com
mittee a few facts bearing upon the
subject You are considering.
ON page q of the first report of the
state Commission to Investigate the
Causes of Dependency and Criminalty.
created by virtue of chapter 40, laws
or lSoS, OF which body | have the honor
10 De a member, which report was laid
before the Legislature last year. is
found the following statement on harm.
full dead letter laws:
SiAN dlld llONOIlOI&
~Violation-most of 1t unpublished and
apparently unpunishable-of the pres.
emit stringent laws against the sale or
VINE, beer or any other liquor on Sun
day. Thai nothing breeds crime equal
TO the violation of laws with impunity
is well known.
w believe that a relaxation of
the present rigid excise statutes, where
they Go not conform with conditions.
Will lead to a more general observance
OF and respect for all laws. Fol that
ieason we recommend that the sale of
wine and malt liquors be legalized m
restaurants and ~dining-rooms of hotels.
with meals, on Sunday
Senate bill No. 81. by Mr.. Wilson.
carries out this recommendation. 1t Is
not an open Sunday bill, but a con-
sentative, rational measure designed
purely to eradicate Sunday excise hum
bug and hypocrisy and promote law
o~bservances and order.
1T cannot be said, Of course, that it
VIII solve the Sunday excise problem.
but it is an honest practical step in
that direction. By requiring a special
license for Sunday business, and by
Vestlng discretionary authority in the
licensing authority, it protects COM
hlunlties which may not desire legalized :
sunday liquor sales, while at the samel
time 1t permits those localities wherl c
there is a demand for such sales to hay L
them in accordance with law and undr $
the best possible conditions. 1t isa e
form of home rule. because undeyi 1t I
the amount of latitude enjoyed car be Y
largely regulated by local sentirent. a
1t is bound to give more SATISFACTION /
all around than the New York excise
law relating to Sunday sales. +
"Tha such legislation is -Hgently a
needed conditions which the Depend !
ency and Crime Commission found to {
exist fully prove. t
Our investigation demonstrated that s
some 80 Yer cent of the hotds sa- i
looms OF the larger cities % the State ,
sell liquor on Sunday, and Alat there is I
not a municipality In tina state wet CT /,
dry where liquor ia not thus sold. 1t
is a conservative estimate that rs PEI
cent. OF the licensed places In New Jer- !
sey habitually violate the Sunday laws.
Most of then, do not do SO. I believe, OF
their own volition, but because the pub
lie demands it. They are not punished
and amt be punished, because public n
sentiment is against it. Grand juries Il
will not indict and petit juries will notjp
because they consider the laul II
Is broken unreasonable and op I
Il
Per Sc. the sale of liquor is Lawful. "
of good citizens cannot ul- P
derstand that the moral quality of ne a
ga me act is different on one day fpin lc
it is on another. any more pan Il
theft, arson or murder should be. As a a
of public policy, it may h ar
gued that the sale OF liquor shoId be o.
restricted on Sunday, pst on II
account of 1t being a holiday AID the II
bulk of men receiving their wases the a
night. harmful excuses and
disorder might result. senate bill No. n
81 80 restricts it.. Hotels ano restau- u
rants. which it affects. are not mere
drinking places, but serve as temporary
homes, n their guests ar as much
TO the privilege of having
drinks served with meals there as at p
heir permanent homes. u
"Hotels are a public convenience and Il