Norwich bulletin., 1911-05-24
Senate Passes
 License Bill
IT PERMITS SUNDAY SALES OF
 LIQUOR AT HOTELS.
A PETITION FROM NORWICH
Against Passage of the Measure Privilege Limited to Hotels Having Not Less Than 35 Rooms.
Especial to The BuIletin.l

Hartford, May 23.-By a vote of 24 to 6. the senate on Tuesday passed the so-calied Sunday hotel license bill, a measure that is an innovation in Connecticut legislation, inasmuch as it's provisions would make legal in this state, the sale of liquors on Sunday to bona-ffde guests of reputable hotels having at least B rooms for guests.
 The Bill Amended.
 The bill came up as the order of the day at F o'clock, being taken from the table and subjected to amendment and debate before it was put upon it's passage As passed. the bill is amended in several respects, the prin- cipal changes from the draft submit ted by :he excise committee being in the raising of the required number of guest rooms in hotels that may re- ceive such 9 license from 9 to 35;- limiting the hours for the sale of liquor on Sundays to the time between l D. m and Il D. m. whereas the bill as reported provided for such sale from a. m to l q. m. of the follow ing day, and confining such sales and service to the dihing r.soms of such hotels and cnly to bona fide guests, the claus providing for serving of drinks in rooms of guests being elim- mated.
 Long and Spicy Debate.
 The debate on the measure was not greatly extended, but sr,rcy, Senators Peck, Lounsbury and Brinsmade op- posing 1t, while Senator Hooker was heard in it's favor.
 Senator Peck in Opposition.
 Senator Peck. who spoke at great est length in opposition to the bill, said that the people of this state have gone on record in favor of restricting the sale of liquor. The law reducing the number of saloons 10 enc to every 300 people has met with general ap- provai by the majority of the people of Connecticut. and this being true, why enact legislation that would open Sunday 10 the liquor traffic. Even some drinking men consider sthe bill a vicious one. Senator Peck said that he believed the bill would be bad for his home city of Danbury and also for every city in the state.
 Saloon Men Not in Favor of Bill.
 I believe that many of the saloon men are not in favor of this bill, and I am satisfied that the majority of men feel the same way, he said; sell eration ofsihe Sabbath. Speaking of the effect of the passage of the bill on thousands of women and children of the state and the increase of mis- cry that it would cause to them, Sen atcr Peck said that it seemed to him
  men to vote against it and that the measure was of the same kind as the Raines law of New York. The sena- tor critically reviewed the relation of the bill and the automobolists, in whose interest it's passage was espe- ciaHy urged laying particular stress upon the danger that liquor drinking by touring parties may cause to themselves and to others.
 Bill Defended by Senator Hooker.
 In defence of the bill, Senator Hook CT said that it was progressive and regu1ative legislation, and if he did not believe it to be such he would not be supporting it. It is in line with statutes passed by the neighboring setts. he said. Senator Hooker made every one in the senate chamber prick LID their ears when he declared that Iegisla tors come to the capitol and in all sanctity enact excise laws and then go right down to the hotels and insist that these very laws be violated-the first and the worst of their insistence that the law be violated. The sena tor believed that the bill under dis cussion would correct some abuses that now exist.
 Petitions Against the Bill.
 Petitions against the passage of the bill were presented from Norwich people and others in his district by Senator Avery and by Senator Pad dock of Bridgeport, Ihe latter declar- ing that his petitioners were all good people, but not only opposed to sell ing 1iqucr on Sunday, but on any day of the week.
 Yea and Nay Vote Taken.
 On a yea and nay vote the senators were recorded as follows: Those in favor-Pierce, Hooker. Spellacy, Fem, Alsop, Bailey, Dickerman, Mitchell, Marsden, Parker. Woodruff, Lawlor, Avery, Park, Bartlett, McNeil, Jr., Paddock, -Judson. Donovan, Ham. mond. Meara, Barnum. Frisbie. Leon ard; those opposed Marlo1ve. Louns- bury. Peck. Elliott, Brinsmade, Wright; not voting or absent, Mahan, Halloran, Platt, Shanley, Foster
 Reconsideration Voted Down.
 Under suspension of the rules, the bill was immediately transmitted to the house and then, upon motion of Senator Spellacy for reconsideration, in the hope that the motion would not prevail, the senate voted not to re- consider.
 Will Be Opposed in House.
 There is no doubt but what the bill win have a stormy passage through inc house. The temperance lobby and the state wide interests that it repre- sents will. organize strenuous opposi- tten and exert every legitimate in fluence to defeat the bill, it is said.