New Britain herald., 1915-04-07
SALOON LICENSE FEES 10 BE INCREASED
Excise Committee to Report Bill ] Advancing Price to $500.

issue certificates designated aS cl"p certificates to reputable social ana fraternal clubs provided that the conl- Inissioners are of the opinion that the sale of liquor by the club or or Organization is merely incidental to its general objects. The bill provides for application for a certificate, notice for a hearing, a public hearing, ana Opportunity for remonstrance, as IS provided for in application for a saloon license. The bill, it is stated is not intended to license clubs as dispensers of liquors, but to regulate them. the law at the present tune permitting bona-fide clubs to distribute but not to sell liquors to thelr meI1- bers. House Chairman Martin or Orange dissents to the bill as drawn, because it does not forbid the granting of club certificates in no-llcense towns. He. however, endorses the principle or regulation of clubs
 The excise committee will report nrobablv. tomorrow a bill increasing saloon license fees from $45O to $6oo, q figure which is understood to De agreeable to the brewers. A minority cr the committee haded by House ghairman Martin will offer minority report in favor of making the figure s75O. At the $500 rate thas been estimated that the states revenues from existing saloons would be ln- creased S200,000 a year. The con- mittee will report unfavorably on the bill to limit saloons to one to each s.ne thousand inhabitants in view of the recommendation for increased license fees. MT. Martin will offer minority report calling for strict en- furcement of the present limitation law.
 Bills Favorably Reported.
 Favorable reports were made on the following measures: Amending an act concerning licensing of hum ters to provide for keeping or records of all such licenses; amending Wa terbury charter concerning publication Of notices; amending New Haven charter concerning abatement of taxes to provide that a committee have the right to settle, compromise, adjust correct or abate claims for taxes and assessments due the city, providing for relief when an abuttor has damages due to establishing fyilding lines. and repeating section 1 s of the act providing funds for the maintenance of public parks; repair ing rifle range at East Haven at a cost of S1O,0OO; appropriating $225 to W. IT Tavlor for compiling the manual and roll; amending the sewer district If Greenwich and authorizing the borough of Greenwich to construct a scwage disposal plant Unfavorable reports were made on kn amendment to the Danpury char Ger relative to an assessment Of prop erty owners; providing for a census fn Hartford, and requiring railroad and electic trolley companies to put in signalling devices at highway cross ings not protected by gates. Waterbury Bill Adopted. e FsFrom the calendar was adopted the I Dill: amending the Waterbury charter | taking out the bipartisan feature of the city court. Senator Magee a, week ago offered an amendment making l provision for judge and deputy judge instead of two judges and for l afr assistant prosecuting attorney. Under this amendment the judge" will reeeve $2,500 salary, the deputy $500, l the prosecuting attorney $1,S0O and his assistant $500, a saving of $3,S00 l for Waterbury over the bill as ori- ! ginally reported. Senator Magee said ] he had been told that this court sits about an hour a day and he saw no reason for the appointment of two 1 judges at salaries of $2,500 each to carry out this hours work. He also had list of names of business men who opposed the original bill on the grounds of expense. He read from this list.
 Senator Peasley said that for more 1 than eight years there had been a feeling in Waterbury that there should be more than one judge. The matter however, was not brought before the general assembly until two years ago, and aside from the bipartisan fea- ture, it worked excellently. One judge sits on the criminal side one week and the other judge on the civil side. There is a large amount of work done in that court. The amendment does not decrease the work but only de- creases the salary. The amount sug- gested for two judges in the bill re- ported, he said, was none too large.
 Senator Isbell said that ordinarily he would be inclined to agree with Senator Magee regarding the expendi- lures of state expenditure of a city's funds The committee felt strongly In regard to the discontinuance of the bipartisan feature of the court but in absence of further evidence the law regarding officials and salaries in other respects was left as the com mittee found it.
 Politics in Court.
 Senator Bree said that he had heard that there were no politics in the court, but he was fast learning Z differently. Said he
 First We are called upon to save the party in Meriden and now we must help the republican party in Waterbury by passing this amend ment. As a democrat, I cannot help