Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-01-25
BILL INTRODUCED TO
GIVE ATLANTIC CITY
C0NTINEN ALSUNDAY
On
Why He Favors
Measure.

Trenton. Jan. 25:-That Atlantic
City means to force, if possible, the
right to open the hotels and other
places where meals are served and
liquors drank certain hours on Sun
days is certain from the Introduction
into the house of assembly last even
ing of the charter amendment put in
by Colonel Walter E. Edge. Colonel
Edges bill gives the people the right
to vote on the proposition to open
the restaurants, hotels, cafes and sa-
looms on Sundays between the hours
of J in the afternoon and midnight.
and is in effect one for the Continent
tai Sunday SO popular in Europe. The
bill provides that drinks must be
served only legally with meals, ac-
cording to the past history of such
legislation, a meal will consist OF
a sandwich similar to the famous
Raines sandwich served in saloons
in New York city during the reign
of that law
In putting in this bil Colonel
Edge gave out a statemert, saying
the legislation proposed would not
affect any other municipality in the
state AS this is important, and as
the bill will be one of the most wide-
ly discussed, the statement of
Colonel Edge is printed in full as
follows:
Col. Edges Statements -Z
Il am introducing this bill With
the sole object of relieving some
what the very unsatisfactory eondi-
tions now existing in Atlantic City
in relation to excise matters, and am
doing so entirely as a representative
in the legislature of Atlantic City
and county, and in no wise should
this action be CORRECTED with the re-
sponsibihties of my position as the
majority leader.
Atlantic City has 10 desire to
thrust her troubles upon the republic
can party or in fact upon any politi-
cal organization, but does appeal to
the law-making power, the legisIa-
ture, whether republican or demo-
cratic, for remedial legislation in or
der that the vexing questions, which
if they remain unrelieved, will oper-
ate strongly against the continued
development and prosperity of this
popular city, may for once and all
be disposed of.
In introducing this amendment to
our charter, il does not affect any
other municipality in the state, In
asmuch as no other city is operating
under 1t nor would many provisions
of the act of April 3, 1902, known as
the Atlantic City charter, be suit
able for any other city in the state
We are. therefore. asking for legis-
lation which large majority of our
people feelnabsolutely necessary for
the proper and continuous develop
ment of our city.
Requires Majority Vote.
The bill is operative only by a
majority vote of the people. which
assures its fairness, and the fact
that food must likewise be served
absolutely prevents what is known
as wide-open Sunday, which Allan
tic City is in no wise seeking.
we do not feel that this is, there
fore, in any way political measure,
nor can 1t fairly be warped into
political issue. It is simply the cry
ing and glaring necessity of a large,
popular and successful seaside re-
sort, today entertaining the most dis
cerning, the most moral and the
most cosmopolitan contingent of peo-
pie entertained by any resort not
only in America but in the world.
The excise laws have not been
strictly adhered to in this state for
many years, Atlantic Citys attitude
in this respect differs from several
other places in the state only in the
fact that it has had the disadvantage
of exaggerated advertising and has
been, and to a large extent unfairly,
the focal centre of attention. We
have no desire to violate the excise
laws. Fair-minded people, however,
universally recognize that II is more
difficult to enforce excise laws in a
community with transient popula-
ton, who come today and are gone
tomorrow, than it is in community
where the population is fixed and
where the offender, if offender he be.
is subject to the daily scrutiny OF
his neighbors. For the reason that
excise laws in Atlantic City are
much more difficult of rigid enforce
ment than in other communities, we
ask, not for other communities, but
for ourselves, excise regulations
which we can enforce.
Like the London Law.
London has excise provisions sim
liar to those in the bill have intro
duced, and London is one of the
most quiet, law-abiding, Sabbath OBJ
serving cities in the world What
the experience of centuries has in
that metropolis proven to be wise
is certainly worthy of trial in our
community, and ought at least to
have favorable trial. with the con-
sent of our moral citizens who want
to improve conditions
New York has likewise a law
providing for the serving OF liquors
with food.
(COntinued on mage AZ