Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-02-16
Jersey WET BILLS
ARE Up THIS WEEK
Administrators Measure for q
Per Cent Beer Considered
Likely to Pass
APPOINTMENTS EXPECTED

Special Dtspotch 10 EveniHg Public Ledger
Trenton, Feb. 16.-The sixth week
Of the New Jersey legislative session,
which usually lasts from ten TO twelve
weeks. will be ushered in tonight.
Apart from the suffrage resolution
not one measure has been passed by
both houses and very little has been
done in either house, although the termJ
Is nearly half over.
With the question of woman suffrage
out of the way. however, it is believed
that matters will be speedcd up a bit.
Among the important legislation pend
ing there are the wet and dry bills.
one for 4 per cent beer by Minority
Leader Barrett. which is an admins
tratiou measure. another for D per cent
beer on a referendum by Senator
Haines, of Camden, and which many
think will die in committee because OF
the referendum; the Runyou resolution
for the ratification of the federal pro.
hibitiou amendment which is expected
to slumber in committee or be decisive
ly defeated. and the Ruuyon state on
forccmcnt bill patterned after the Vol
stead act. which it is pretty safe to
predict will get nowhere in the pres
ept Legislature.
There has been some talk OF another
hearing on the liquor bills because the
vets occupied most of the time at the
last hearing and Senator Runyon and
other drys did not got a chance to
talk, but at this time no date has been
set for a future hearing and the chances
are rather against it. Many look for
the easy passage of the Barrett bill.
There may be an attempt to cut down
the 4 per cent alcohol provision to )
per cent but it is scarcely likely that
such move will succeed
Anxious to Do Something
The Democrats. realizing that Gov
eruor Edwards was elected on strictly
wet issue. declare they want some
thing worth while done by way of leg
islation for the vets or they want
nothing. and if nothing, they will
throw the whole blame on the Repub
licau majority in the Legislature and
20 before the people next fall on the
wet issue and ask them to turn out the
Renublicans.
The Republican leaders fully real.
ize this situation andsdo not want TO
be left "boldius the bag At the
same time they do not wish to too freely
help Edwards to keep his campaign
promises. They would like to see the
governors wet program fail. but don {
want to shoulder the responsibility of
blocking him for fear of the effect in
the next election. Under the condi-
tons. therefore, the outlook is for
liberal enforcement bill with per
cent kick. -
1t is known that many of the sena-
tors are opposed TO referendum wet
bill because they believe the people
are weary of referendums. The voters
who elected Edwards they say want
action. not delay, For that reason the
talk of per cent referendum beer
bill is being discounted here.
Senate Majority Wet
In the Senate a counting of noses
last week showed that five Republicans.
Messrs. Blanchard White, of Burling-
ton; Charles d. White. of Atlantic :
Stevens, of Monmouth: Bright, of Cape
May. and Pilgrim, of Essex. favored
the Barrett bill or something similar 10
it. These. with the six Democratic
senator's. could put over measure OF
that kind in the upper house. In the
Assembly. while Leader Hershfeld ap
nears TO oppose the Barrett bill, yet
the vets of both parties arc in the ma
iority in that body. and it is only a
question with them of what kind of q
wet bill TO pass.
The Barrett bill is expected to be
reported out of committee in the House
tonight. although it may be- held ur
aud then an effort will be made under
the rules to force it out If it comes
out the Republicans will likely attempt
TO alter it so that it cannot be called
strictly a Democratic measure.
While the citizens comniittee haI
failed to agree on a Sunday movie bill
it is understood that the motion pic
ture interests have such a measure ready
for introduction tonight. Of course
coming from that source, the bill will
no doubt have more opposition on th'
plea against ''commercializing th
Sabbath than # it came from disin