Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-10-03
Excise Board Cannot Agree
on the Peterson Applica-
tion for Smith Street.
LIKELY TO GRANT MARKET
STREET APPLICATION
Question as to Granting
Liceass to Place Not in
Possession of Applicant

Inability to reach an agreement
caused the Board of Excise Commits
sioners to defer action on applica-
tions to transfer the saloon license
of J. N. Peterson from S98 New
Brunswick avenue to ITO Smith
street and to transfer the saloon IL
cense of James Osterhout from 311
State street to 424 Market street, at
the regular monthly meeting last
night A lengthy debate during a
committee meeting, which preceded
the regular session, proved that the
commissioners were unprepared at
this time to agree on definite line
of action. The applications were
accordingly laid over for considera-
ton at an adjourned meeting to be
held next Thursday night. The board
unanimously granted a transfer of
the saloon license at 146 Washing
ton street from William Wheeler to
David Wolfson, four transfers from
person to person and eleven renew
ais.
A large audience was present at
the meeting and more than ordinary
interest was manifested In the Peter
son and Osterhout applications. John
N. Peterson is eagerly seeking to To-
cate saloon license, transferred at
the previous meeting from Walchak
brothers to himself. to the Haney
building at 110 Smith street, now
occupied by the First National bank.
Sigmund Splitter, who owns the Ho-
tel Central at Smith and State
streets Is using every power within
his means to ward Off such competi-
ton. Under pressure thus brought
the First National bank may decline
to give up the Haney premises until
the remaining two years of its lease
have expired. AS the premises have
been leased to Mr.. Peterson by the
Haney heirs, he will fight for pos
session. 1t is declared he would
use the license as a weapon to force
the owners to give up the premises
or large amount of damages. Ex-
else commissioners have been appris-
ed of this President Nels Hansen
is reported to have asked as to the
right Of the board to grant license
to him, inasmuch as he was not In
possession of the property. An ex-
pert In the excise matters informed
him that the board had that right,
stating that the matter of possession
was entirely up to Peterson.
Three copies OF remonstrances
against the Peterson transfer were
received by the board and referred
to Its investigating committee. Two
contained about fifty signatures from
people in various parts Of the city,
including F. w. Pugsley and other
prominent Progressives, and the
other bore the names of four people
doing business near the new place.
Accompanying these were thirteen
slips announcing the withdrawal of
as many names from the remon-
strances, which included that of Mr..
Pugsley. These, too, were turned
over to the committee for investiga
ton.
It developed during the receipt Of
all remonstrances last night that
none were legal 1nasmuch as they
were received too late. The commits
sioners announced to the public
that in order to make remonstrance
legal 1t must be placed In the hands
of the city clerk at least five days
previous to the time Of the meeting
at which the application is first re-
ceived. This means that they must
be filed on a Monday preceding the
meeting date at which the applica-
tion is first presented, and must be
sworn to as to their correctness and
truthfulness.
1t Is claimed that remonstrances
were otherwise worthless, by reason
,f Poo hat clio tt,r
of people living in Upper State street |
and other parts of the northern sec
tion, and other points distant from
the location Of the place covered by
the application This feature will be !
given special attention by the in |
vestigating committee.
Indications are that the board will |
grant transfer of the Osterhout IL |
cense to 424 Market street, follow
ing its order to enlarge the rooms in |
the proposed hotel. Mr. Osterhout |
said the rooms were purposely made |
small to accommodate men sleeping |
in single beds. They are now being |
doubled in size by taking down some |
Of the partitions. This application |
Is also scheduled to be acted upon |
at the adjourned meeting next Thurs
day night.
Mr.. Osterhout claims he is being
busted from the property at 311
State street, which is part of the
Nelson estate. In a letter to the ex-
else board last night, he stated that
he could not secure a renewal of his
lease and therefore desired to be
heard under section No. 25 Of the
excise ordinance.
CONTINUED on page 10.)
COURSE IN DRAWING.
A al In, aob /