Sunday Beer, Bars Adopted by Assembly

Camden Courier-Post - June 22, 1933

Amendments to Temporary Law Passed in Early Morning

Sent to Senate for Floor Battle

Hours of Debate Center On Local Option Phase Of Measure

Trenton, June 22 — Sunday sale after 1 p. m. and bars are permitted by a supplement to the temporary state beer law adopted by the Assembly early today. The Sunday sales are dependent on resolutions by the local governing bodies. The temporary law is extended from July 1 to September 1.

The Senate was considering the measure in the hope that adjournment of the Legislature until Fall would be possible early today.

No effort was made to pass a permanent measure, sponsored by Senate President Emerson L. Richards, chairman of the beer control commission. The Assembly vote on the bill, sponsored by Assemblyman Thomas M. Muir, of Union, was 31 to 18 with most of the Democrats opposing it because it did not permit local referenda.

Finally Get Passage

Passage came on reconsideration, after an attempt earlier in the session failed. During the first debate on the bill, Assemblyman Herbert J. Pascoe, of Union, had it amended to provide for Sunday sale on resolution of the local governing bodies.

Minority Leader John J. Rafferty, of Middlesex, led the opposition to this proposal, demanding a referendum clause. Then Assemblyman F. Stanley Bleakly, of Camden, a member of the beer commission, sought to amend it to continue its provisions to December 31.

Fight Sunday Sale

"We would have bad a permanent bill if there had not been so many deals in the Senate," he declared. His proposed amendment was voted down. Rafferty moved to strike out the Sunday and bar clauses. His motion lost. The measure was put to a vote and mustered only 26 of the necessary 31 votes in favor, and 24 against.

Pascoe then demanded that telegrams be sent to absentee assemblymen to obtain the necessary number of votes. No action was taken on this proposal.

"We can pass a beer bill if the majority will eliminate the bars and Sunday sales," Rafferty declared.

Majority Leader Joseph Altman, of Atlantic, criticized the minority and "a few disgruntled members of the beer commission who have caused the Legislature to say that beer is to run rampant in New Jersey." The Assembly then sidetracked the beer problem to continue its other work.

Joining in the protests against Richard's proposed permanent bill yesterday, was the New Jersey Licensed Beverage Association, composed of more than 15,000 dispensers of beer and wine.

Telegrams sent to every state senator by the legislative committee headed by Neil Deighan, of Camden, read:

On behalf of all licensed beverage dispensers, we urgently request that you oppose the proposed permanent alcoholic beverage act as detrimental to the interests of our community and of those engaged in beverage retailing.

If the bill is to receive consideration, a public hearing should be held before submitting it to a vote of the Legislature.