Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-03-02
800 BEER BILL.
|. IS SIGNED TODAY
Edwards Signs Measure Before
Groups Of Advocates
SENATE PASSES MEASURE
Vote of IL to 8 Recorded -
Runyon Attacks Fellow Re-
publicans for Their Stand
on the Measure
SENATE PASSES MEASURE
By The Associated Press.

By The Associated Press.
TRENTON, Aiarcn = 49, Governor
Edwards today signed Il bill that per
mits the manufacture and sale after
peace with Germany is proclaimed Of
liquor containing 3.5 per cent. of aico-
hol volume. The passage of the
bill was completed in the Legislature
yesterday.
A number of public Officials and
others witnessed the governor attach
his signature to the measure The
bill was handed to the governor nv
his secretary j. Harry foleS. Be-
side the governor when he signed was
Stale Senator Alexander simpson, of
Hudson county, and Assenblsmdn
Hugh Barrett. of Essex, House
minority leader leaders IN the fight
for the bill. The pen used viii be senr
10 the National Personal Liberty
League headquarters in New York
Attorney General Thomas i.
McCran will use the law as basis for
a test case against the federal pro
hibition amendment and the Vostead
with the L. S. supreme court.
With twelve otes in its
favor and nine against, the
senate last night followed the ac-
ton of the house Of assembly a week
ago and passed the $50 beer bill
under a suspension of the rules. the
measure was Immediately sent to
Governor Edwards.
The twelve votes for the measure,
one more than enough to pass il, came
from six Republican senators and SIX
Democrats, the latter representing all
of the minority Senator Martens,
Democrat, of Hunterdon, would likely
have been opposed as a candidate to
the Democratic national convention.
delegate from the fourth district for
which he has been selected, had he
opposed the beer bin and voted dry.
He supplied the twelfth afiirmative
vote.
Following is the roll call:
Ayes-Barber, Brown, Heath
Kays, Mackay, Martens Pilgrim.
Simpson, Smith, Stevens, b If, White
and G. ID. White-12.
Nays-Allen Bright. Case, Haea
man. Haines, Reeves Runynn, Sttlr7
CESS, Whitney--9,
Senator Haines, RepuAlicau, OF
| Camden, attempted TO have refer-
! endutn tackled on the bill. This was
| beaten by a vote of thirteen TO four,
Senator Pilgrim. Republican and
Brown, Democrat. OF Essex uuG Mid
dIesex, respectively. declaring II q
subterfuge, although giving the in
troducer credit for being sincere in
Sturgess, Republican, of Gloucestet,
to raise the penalty for violating tte
$50 per cent was beaten. 1t would
have jumped the fine from 500 10
$4,000 and the prison sentence from
| one to three years.
Senator Brown, Democratic leadet
said he would vote for the bin be-
cause it came within the spirit or tho
constitution, although it would in
Il ha d nj "A
added, however, it should not go
above six per cent.
Mr. Pilgrim urged Immediate ac-
| ton In order that the question Of
| states rights in tho matter might be
| adjusted Senator Haines said he
! would vote in the negative because
the bill denied the electorate a voice
| in the matter. Senator Whitney. Re
| publican, Of Morris, while opposing
| prohibition thought the solution was
| through the courts and not by legis-
lative action.
I'VE are at the cross roads" de-
clared Senator Runyon. Republican
of Union. He recalled the action oi
the New Jersey senate of 1868 in az
| cusing Lincoln of bad faith in tht
emancipation OF the slaves. Those
men put the senate on record Sapd
the senator's of 1920 are also going ON
record on this issue, he declared.
IF this bill passes the news ON the
morrow will go to all corners Of The
country that New Jersey has raised
her hands in protest in open rebellion
laEainst the constitution. said Senator
Runyon.
ut would be better for the Re
publican party to go down TO defeat
Than trucllle to the 'wets" for sup
port" added Mr.. Runyon. While the
! Democrats had won by the suffrage