Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-23
LEGISLATURE DOin9s

TRENTON, Jan. 23.-The sugges-
ton in the inaugural address last
week Of Governor Silzer that steps
be taken to have congress call a,
constitutional convention for the
purpose of legalizing sale of beer
and light wines" was made the con-
tents of a joint resolution introduced
in the House last night by Demo-
cratic Leader George, of Hudson
county. The measure was showed to
the judiciary committee Of the
| House.
The plan is this. The resolution
| calls for a request that congress call
a constitutional convention. In or
der for this to be done, two-thirds
Of the nations forty-eight states
must pass a resolution similar to
that one introduced last night by Mr..
George. Then, if this convention rec
ommends another amendment to
legalize the sale of beer and light
Wines" t~hree-fourths of the forty
eight states must ratify the amend
ment before it becomes incorporated
in the federal constitution.
The George resolution would make
legal saleepf beer containing 2.75 per
cent alcohol and wine with a maxi
! mum alcoholic content of 6 per cent.
l. A bitter accommodation of the Unit
ed States Veterans Bureau for the
Second District, comprising the
states of New Jersey, New York and
Connecticut was contained in a reso-
luton presented by Assembly,nan
Edward j. Lyons, of Bergen, calling
upon Congress to investigate that
body. The Bergen man, speaking
for the resolution said that the bu-
reau at Washington has thus far
failed in it's efforts to do that for
which it was created, namely aiding
| the incapacitated World War veter-
ans.
He called attention to the fact that
a sum exceeding $3.50, 600, 900 is ex-
pended annually within this district
by the veterans bureau, about a
third of which has been used up IN
this state without apparent benefi-
cial results. He also declared that
| in this district 97,359 men are being
| cared for, 11,76S of which are in
this state. The resolution was in
troduced in conformity with Mr..
Lyons campaign in Bergen county
during which he promised to work
| for the interest of wounded veterans
with a view of lettering present con-
ditions.
Commencing with next weeks
session of the legislature, the floor
of the House of Assembly will be
cleared of lobbyists" The lower
branch of the law-making body last
night unanimously passed the reso-
luton introduced a week ago by
Assemblyman Henry Hershfield of
Passaic county, providing for the
exclusion from the floor of the
House all but former and present
state officials, former and present
national officials, former and pres
ent members of the legislature, Of
ficers and attaches of the House,
accredited neWspapermen with Gre
dentials approved by the speaker,
and members Of the immediate
family of the assemblymen'
This measure, which will be incor-
porated in the House rules, met with
the approval of tho entire body,
Democrats and Republicans alike.
No party lines were drawn and no
body voted may"
Mr.. Hershfeld, speaking on be-
half of the measure, said that at
| times the presence of those inter-
ested in certain pieces of legislation
en- the floor of the House, has made
it impossible for the members to
really know what business was being
transacted. The House of Assembly
in this state is looked upo as a
public playground" stated the Pas
sale laWmaker. He added that such
q condition is not and would not
be tolerated in any other state.
I'VE must have lobbyists" AS
semblyman HershGeld continued.
But there is no aso why they
should be allowed TO break into the
transaction of business. The mem
bers of this House can be reached
by the United States mails and are
also accessible in the corridors and
lobby. We must protect ourselves.
1 know at times there have been
occasions when L have actually been
threatened"
Democratic Leader Billy George
of Hudson county, also spoke for the
members of the minority. When the
vote was taken every member voted
Eyes" without hesitancy.
While the measure vas being dis
cussed in the House. G.. Rowland
Monroe, counsel for the New Jersey
Anti-Saloon League, was a promi-
pent onlooker in the gallery. Mr..
Monroe is one of the more promi-
nent lobbyists" found at Trenton
during the annual sessions,
Senate Business
Following the suggestion contain
ed in the report of the Public Utility
| Commission for 1922, Senator Ar
thur Whitney of Morris. introduced
q bill in the senate requiring util-
ity companies to apply to three JUS
tees of the supreme court to stay a
rate or to supercede an order of the
| utility board. 1t has been the prac-
tice OF utility concerns to apply to
a single supreme court justice Tor
writs to start review proceedings in
rates fixed by the board Or orders
| entered by the commission. A conf
ranion bill to this measure and also
introduced by Senator Whitney
would require three justices of the
supreme court to stay a rate or or
| der by the utility board