The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-03-12
JERSEY HOUSE
FOR $50 BEER
Edwards Measure ITO Guaran-
tee Liberty of People"
Wins, 81 to Fl.
STATE READY FOR THE TEST.
Attorney General to Use Bill, as Arqu-
ment in Fight Against VoIstead Law.
Members of Upper House Agree
to Rush Law Through.

Trenton.-New Jersey is to have a
law making it legal to manufacture
content of 31a per cent.
The bill has been passed by the as
semby, and it will be passed, accord
ing to an agreement, by the senate and
rushed to Governor Edwards. He will
sign it, and Attorney General McCran
will make use of it in his argument be-
fore the United States Supreme Court
in attacking the validity of the nation
al prohibition amendment and the Vol
stead enforcement act.
Decision to enact this legislation was
reached at joint conference of the
Republican senators and assemblymen.
1t is in the nature of a compromise
between the Republican 2.75 bill and
the Democratic per cent bill and was
drawn by the attorney general, who is
a Republican. The bill was introduced
by Republican Floor Leader Hirsh-
field in the house and passed by vote
of 81 to 81, after Wallworth of Cam
den, Republican, had tried to amend
1t so that it would be submitted to the
voters next November for referendum.
The measure fixes the alcoholic con-
tent at 31a per cent by volume, this,
according to Hirshfield, being only
one-tenth stronger than the wartime
2.75 product
At the request of the "drys" the
Senate judiciary Committee will give
a hearing on the measure, but its pas
sage is assured.
The house, after passing the bill,
adopted a resolution to hurry it to the
senate for quick action there but as
the senate had then adjourned for the
week nothing more can be done with
1t until next Monday, when the senate
hearing has been arranged for.
The passage of the bill was prompt
ed by the desire of Attorney General
McCran to have the measure on the
New Jersey statute books in order to
fortify him in his proposed action be-
fore the United States Supreme Court
to upset the prohibition amendment
and the Volstead act, which proceed
ings he has been directed to institute
by Governor Edwards, who was elect
ed on distinctly wet issue.
Assemblyman Agans the only Demo
crat who opposed the bill, said prom
Use had been made by certain assem-
blymen to the Anti-Saloon League that
no bill would be passed until that body
had had an opportunity to be heard on
the subject He said the assembly
by passing the bill was "ruthlessly
breaking that promise.
Assemblyman Hirshfield said that
the desire for immediate action eX-
pressed by the attorney general prompt
ed him to disregard any promise he
had made for another hearing on the
subject before action was taken. In
the final lineup 25 Democrats and u
Republicans voted for the bill and one
Democrat and 20 Republicans against
1t. One Democratic and one Repub-
lican assemblyman were absent.
Assemblyman Rowland, Republican,
of Camden, attempted to have the bill
this was beaten by vote of 43 to Is.
In the senate, before adjournment
was taken, the Pilgrim bill calling for
2.75 per cent beer and the Baines
per cent beer bill, carrying a referen-
dunn, were reported out of committee.
Great, boys, great ~ was the only
comment Governor Edwards would
make to newspaper men when he was
Informed of the passage of the beer
bill in the assembly.
1t was learned that Governor Ed
ward l. Edwards, who was elected in
November on wet platform, will
formally announce his candidacy for
the Democratic presidential nomina-
ton within few days, standing for
plank in the national platform urging
the repeal of the Eighteenth amend
ment.