The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1920-03-12
HEARING ON
LIQUOR BILLS
Senator Allen, Majority Leader,
Announced Call Was Contingent
Upon HerSChfieId's Attitude.
NEW PLAN OF GOVERNOR.
Sunday Amusement Bill introduced;
May Cause One of Sessions Biggest
Fishts-Physcian Would Abolish
Death Penalty.

Trenton, February Ex-senator Al
len of Salem, majority leader and
chairman of the Senate Judiciary
Committee, announced Il hearing on
all liquor legislation measures now
before the legislature. These include
Senator Haines' five per cent beer bill,
Assemblyman Barrett's four per cent
administration beer bill, Senator Pill
grims 275 per cent beer bill, the reso-
luton to ratify the Prohibition Con-
stitutional Amendment and the en-
forcement bill embodied after the Vol
stead Act
Senator Allen said his call would be
contingent upon the attitude of As
sembly Leader Herschfeld, whose
joint hearing on liquor legislation has
been postponed so often that the drys
have become impatient and say they
are not getting square deal. If Mr..
Herschfield says he will go ahead with
his joint committee hearings, the Allen
committee may not be called, but the
opinion here is that Mr.. Aliens COM
mittee will convene as planned and
that the drys will be fully represented.
Senator Pilgrim, who introduced the
2.75 per cent beer bill last week as a
measure to aid Attorney General Nc
Crau's argument before the United
States Supreme Court, felt Solicitous
he thought might not come out of
committee. Mr. Allen declared he
would call the hearing at the earliest
possible moment which, because Of the
required time to get ont notices, etc,
t,rows it over a week.
The Democrats are determined to
pass the Barrett four per cent bin if
there is any way to do it. They claim
they have enough voters with the aid
Of Republican members of the commit
zee, if they will stick.
Governor Edwards Has Plan.
The report that Governor Edwards
may have the Democrats force out of
the House Judiciary Committee the
Barrett four per cent beer bill and
cause a showdown without further de-
lay, has caused stir among the G. o.
p. Assemblymen. The Republican or
ganiZation men want to hold Oft on
the wet measure until Senator Pill
grim's 2.75 per cent bill has had a
chance to get through the senate. But,
it is believed, if the Barrett bill should
come before the house in the mean
time there are a number of wet Re-
publican assemblymen who would not
resist the temptation to vote for four
per cent beer. If the Barrett bill is
forced out of committee by the rule of
fifteen there will undoubtedly be
strife among the Republican assembly
men, They would probably show an
open break, many voting for four per
cent beer.
The four Gaede measures revising
public utility regulation, the Republic
cans are confronted by the fact that
the Rowland bill ousting the present
State Board of Public Utility Commits
sioners and substituting a body to be
elected by the legislature in joint SEES
sion is on the calendar for third read
ing.
The Rowland bill represents the only
idea so far advanced on the Republic
an side for change in the Public Util-
tiles Commission, and, while the ma
jority feels it is in position to curb
the administration moves in this direc-
ton if it so desires, it is not certain
just what will happen when the Cam
den man gets his measure up for roll
call.
Will the Democrats concentrate on
the Gaede bills or will they swing into
line for the Rowland measure on the
ground that half a loaf is better than
none? This is the question that is
bOthering the Republicans They find
a partial answer in the statement of
Governor Edwards that he will IRE
sent any effort to take from the office
of governor the powers which properly
belong there" but the Republicans still
DtlltNt llitlt - q NiItinNC that the 4
Democrats will join the three Camden
Republicans and such other members
as the latter may win and put the bill
through
Another piece of legislation on the
calendar for third reading is the adj
ministration bill abolishing the pres
ent State Highway Commission and
substituting for it paid body to be
appointed by the governor. Minority
Leader Barrett has declared that he
will fight any attempt to delay action
upon it, and it may furnish new row,
but on party lines.
Among the other measures ready for
final reading in the house are the Ed
ridge daylight saving bill, the Barrett
bill, which would give the Essex Coun-
ty Park Commission power to permit
Sunday sports in the parks; the Nc
Ateer bill, limiting voters at commits
SION government elections to those reg
istering on two special registration
days. and the resolution of Warner of
Union, providing for the appointment
of a legislative commission to investi-
gate housing conditions and the alleged
rent profiteering in the state.