Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-03-08
ENFORCEMENT
BILL PASSES
Van Ness Measure With One
Amendment Now Goes to
Governor for Signature.
GBy Evening News Correspondent ]

IBy Evening News Correspondent-J
TRENTON, Marcn S:-Resisting
all attempts to make vital changes
in the bill as it came over from the
House of Assembly. the dry" Re-
publican senators after midnight
pushed the VanNess prohibition en-
forcement bill through the upper
branch of the Legislature and 1t now
goes to Governor Edwards for ap-
proval or veto. The bill passed by
a vote of II to 4. All the senators $
present. except Brown, of Middle.
sex; Heath, of Mercer; Simpson. OF
Hudson. Democrats, and Smith, of
Passaic. Republican. voted for the
bill on the final roll call.
More than four hours of debate
on various amendments preceded
the final vote and in all but three
cases the amendments were beaten
down by the forces of the Anti
Saloon League, under the leadership
of Senator Parry, of Essex. who
handled the bill in the upper House.
He was aided in defending lis provI-
sions at various times by Republican
Floor Leader Mackay of Bergen.
Runyon of Union, and Case of SOM
erset. Senators Simpson. Heath.
Brown, Democrats, and Charles ID.
White, of Atlantic. Republican,
made the attack.
After Senator Brown. in an i'm
passioned speech for the inclusion
of Whites amendment for trial of
violaGors by jury, had declared that
the bill sanctioned licensed bril-
berry" because it permitted the pay
ment of $40. fees to the prosecutors
and Judges for every man convicted,
the senate Republicans, admitting
this to be a bad feature, accepted an
man to cut out this provision OF the
measure.
Senator Whitney. of Morris, also
had adopted an amendment permit
ting the State Department OF Health u
to take seized liquor for use of state
institutions and hospitals. Senator
Stevens, of Monmouth, succeeded in
putting the third change TO the Dill.
1t related to the safeguarding or au-
tomobiles which might be seized. the
cause of the belief that they held
LIQUOR. These were the only changes
wrought in the measure before IL
was finally passed.
The greatest debate was over the
White amendment to include jury
trials for all offenders. Senators
Brown and Simpson laid great stress
upon the departure under TINS Dill
for the old established legal princi-
pie of a trial by jury.
You are drunk with power" de-
clared Brown, concluding a long
speech, which went into the heart of
the subject.
"Middlesex county has one hun
dred per cent. convictions, to date
of LIQUOR violators." continued ms
member. ''and we don't need IBIS
| change"
"The whole question is one of the
Judge properly exercising his duties.
Senator Parry said that the COM
mon pleas Judge in the different
counties could be trusted TO see that
every man is given a fair and I'M
partial trial without a jury.
1.-The luoges are honest men, ne
declared, "and have never known
of a common pleas judge conTicIins
a man who was innocent.
Senator Runyon, of Union: pointed
out that these judges are picked oy
the governor of the state and they
must be confirmed by the senate ana
he failed TO see the great danger IN
deviating from the usual procedure
in this instance and eliminating the
Jury trial. He said he is not ready
TO Join with the great chorus which
is chanting Prohibition does not
Prohibit"
"Wait until the eighteenth amend
ment and the Volstead act have been
given a fair trial. and given New Jer-
sey a chance to enforce the law un-
der this act herself" said the Union
county man. The amendment to in-
clude the jury trial was beaten by a
vote of 13 to z. Those against il
were: Allen. Bright. Case. Hasa-
man. Mackay. Parry. Reeves. Run
Won. Stevens. Sturgess. Walworth. b.
n. White and Whitney. Those who
supported this proposed change fol-
low: Barber, Brown. Heath. Martens.
Simpson. Smith and c. D. White.
CONTINUED on page 81