Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-01-19

admit that In some parts OF u state
the New Jersey interests are subordl-
mated to or o~vershadowed by the in
terest of the nearby metropolitan cities
of adjacent states.
In south Jersey many of the activi-
ties which should be robust and healthy
are weak and struggling because of
the competition across the Delaware.
Many of our people enjoy living in
New Jersey. but they do business in
Pennsylvania. They maintain indus
tries in Pennsylvania. They help to
build up the great taxable wealth of
Pennsylvania. They know all about
political Pennsylvania, but little or
nothing about political New Jersey.
In north Jersey conditions are SIM
liza. In the great colony of New York
commuters of this section there are
many taxpaying Jerseymen-men of
brains. initiative, constructive ability
who do big things to add TO the wealth
of ratables in New York city. yet who
do little for New Jersey outside of
maintaining homes here and paying
their taxes. They do not know u pos
oAAAA a AhtJ w ~ ~ 0eA
politics or our local problems Of com
merce aid agriculture and manufac-
/ turing development. In the last cleo
ton In New Jersey $4,000 more Jersey
Lien voted for the two leading presi-
Dental candidates than voted for the
two leading candidates for United
States senator or governor, and to my
mind this means. to a considerable K
tent, that about 10000 Jerseymen did
not have sufficient interest in the In
ternal affairs of New Jersey to take
part In the state election.
Is 1t any wonder that New York and
Philadelphia have the means to finance
| great undertakings of Commercial de-
velopment, while New Jersey some
| times lags behind and hesitates at the
expense? What we need is more Jer-
sey citizenship-real citizenship, active
citizenship, jealous citizenship-rather
thar mere "re%sidentship." I appeal for
| genuine Jersey citizenship. l ask the
people to come to a full realization of
| the practically limitless possibilities of
New Jersey. commercially, a%gricultur-
ally and industrially. In the creation
~
of nonpolitical business boards l pro
pose to call in men of this type to con
tribute their part to solving our prob
lens. They will receive no salaries.
but will receive dividends in the form
of an active, progressive New Jersey.
thoroughly alive to its opportunities.
In this particular connection | am
pleased to refer to three subjects OF
paramount importance-roads, water
ways and the high cost of living. All
! three require the immediate considera-
ton of the legislature and the closest
attention from the public at large.
1.-THE governor dwelt on the impor-
lance of good roads. He declared that
the $1,000, 900 provided under the Egan
act would not under any conditions be
sufficient to build the highways speci-
fed and that the act is therefore i'm
practicable If not absolutely impossible
of execution. He favors the appoint
ment of a highway commission of eight
citizens to serve without salary and
to have absolute authority in all mat
tiers, selecting their commissioners OF
highways, engineers and other neces-
sary employees above the grades of
civil service.
The governor declared that road
maintenance is quite as important as
road building and that the ~conceiying
and working out of a systematic, prac-
ticable patrol system should be among
the very first considerations of the
HIGHWAY commission
The States Waterways.
The governor devoted considerable
| attention to waterways. He urged the
| cooperation of the legislature and the
information of the public in the com
prehensive plans of the department of
commerce and navigation. He said
that marine terminals. adequate dock
ing facilities and general water front
development are among the first essen
tails in the campaign for a greater
New Jersey.1
Another matter that should receive
careful consideration in connection
with the development of the water
ways and ports of our state is the own
ership of the accessible water front
along the Hudson and Delaware. /
have the opinion of men experienced in
international m that the bust
ness at the ports of New Jersey suffers
a severe handicap because of the pri-
vate ownership of the water front
It seems to me some public control.
similar to that which New York city
exercises. besides creating a source of
revenue. would put into the hands of
the people the power to curb water
front monopoly. 1t occures to me that
we want to thus encourage competi
ton along the water front of our ON
mercial cities at the same time that
we are pressing. as we propose to do
vigorously and relentlessly, our fight