The Penn's Grove record., 1920-03-05
Senate Passes
$50 Beer Bill
North Jersey Republicans and
Democrats Very Thirsty
For Booze

Barrett $50 per cent beer bill. Nine
votes were opposed. AS the measure
passed the assembly, it went to Gov
ernor Edwards, who made it n OF
the chief recommendations of his in
augural address after his successful
campaign upon the issue. He lnihe-
diately approved the bill, and this was
the first act of a state to legislate on
the liquor question since national pro-
hibitiOn went into effect.
The vote upon final passage of the
bill was as follows:
Ayes-C. D. White, Atlantic; Il. ii.
White, Burlington; Pilgrim, Essex
Smith, Passaic; Case, Somerset, Re-
publicans; Simpson, Hudson Martens,
Hunterdon; Heath, Mercer; Brown,
Middlesex; Rays, Sussex; Barber,
Warren, Democrats-12.
Noes - Haines, Camden; Bright,
Cape May; S~turgess, Gloucester; Ste
vens, Monmouth; Whitney, Morris !;
Hagaman, Ocean; Runyon, Union, all
Republicans.
Governor Edwards, in obtaining the
passage of the beer bill, fulfills the
most important promise he made the
peOple of the state in his campaign FOR
governor. He pledged himself to the
enactment of a law that would allow
49, -oon1fo at1ra anH sale of hppr IN
New Jersey. He was assailed by the
Anti-Saloon League and ether dry er-
carnations as a "null~ificationist' and
.'secessionist." Edwards o by 10,
600 in a state that is normally 5O,001
Republican. The governors first act
was to send a message to the legisla'
ture demanding the legalizing Of beer.
His next was the presentation of the
bill to carry out this idea.
Some Acrimony in Debate.
The passage of the bill followed a
debate marked by some acrimony. The
statement was made by Senator Run
Won of Union that the senate was
about to take one of the most impor-
tant votes eve taken in the history OF
the state and the crowded galleries
told of the great interest of the public
in the matter.
The bill came up under suspension
of the rules upon motion of Senator
Pilgrim of Essex, who asked that the
committee substitute for the Barrett
bill be substituted for senate bill No
la, introduced by himself. 1t looked
for a minute as if President Case ar
bitrarily was going to .efer the bill tt
committee and make its consideration
impossible. When the message of the
house was read he made a quick refer
ence, and for a minute the proponents
of the bill were at a loss as to how tt
proceed. Finally some n suggested
an immediate report, and the commit
tee reported the bill favorably. Ther
a parliamentary move brought the bill
to third reading, and the debate
was on.
Several unsuccessful attempts were
made to amend the bill. Senator
Haines of Camden wanted a referen-
DUN tackled on, and Senator SturgeSs
wanted the penalties of the Volstead
act inserted. These attempts to amend
occaSioned some slight debate before
Senator Pilgrim took up the main ques
ton. The Essex senator pictured the
bill as an honest attempt to interpret
the rights of the state as included III
the word concurrent" He said tina
he had no sympathy for the stupid
and mercenary liquor interests, but he
was concerned about tie rights of the
people of New Jersey.
The right of New Jersey to pass sucl
a bill was taken up in detail by Sena-
tor Brown, Democrat, who insisted
against the spirit of the Constitution
he would be the last to urge its pas
sage.
Would Like More Kick.
He said his only regret was that i
would permit the brewers to sell beel
that contained 90 per cent water an(
he would like to have a more substan
tial beverage legalized.
Senator Haines said he was agains
it because it would not allow the PEG
pie to be heard on whether they want
ed it or not.
Senator Whitney, Republican, OF
Morris, although against prohibition
pleaded with the members of the sen
ate to protect federal rights as againsr
state rights.
The most powerful argument agains
the bill was made by Senator Runyon
Republican. of Union, in a fervenr
plea, declaring it to be the most i'm
portant piece of legislation eve acte(
on in New Jersey. ut is not a ques
ton of wet or dry, but a question o
whether New Jersey should raise it,
head in rebellion against the Constitu
ton of the nation" he said.
The acrimony of the discussion wa!
contributed by Senator Simpson o
Hudson, who vigorously ripped asun
der the argument of Senator Runyol
and ridiculed the fervid address, de
claring that the people are not Bene
~ C-Ia-- E.Ik-.- DIu--k E.-.L.I