Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-01-15
THE IMPORTANT MATTERS

Governor Edges annual message to the legislature, which con-
v.ned at Trenton yesterday, while quite long, contained many things
of vital importance to the people and recommendations were maze
which are 81 non partisan in their character that they can hardly hip
but be carried out even though the House is evenly divided between
the two political parties.
The governor rightly puts first the matter of the returning soldiers
sna the proper care for them. There is no doubt that the legislature
will do everything within its power to assist the boys who are mus
tered out of the service. Cooperation with the federal authorlues Is
strongly recommended and will no doubt be carried out in every way
possible. The Jersey boys who have offered their lives for their
country must not be allowed to suffer if there is any means within the
power of the state to prevent it.
The governor puts next in Importance the matter of state roads,
and in this he is in accord with the taxpayers of the state. The enor
nous burdens that the construction and care of highways and bridges
places upon the people has already been commented upon in these col
umns The county budget recently made public shows where h oulK
of the taxpayers money will be spent during the present year. ana
vet. considering the enormous traffic that goes on between the two
great cities Immediately across on the states borders at opposite ends
this money will not be sufficient to maintain the roads In a condition
that they should be. 1t is unfair to expect the counties alone to bear
this burden, and the sooner the state highway system is taken over
and maintained by the state the meter.
Another matter of utmost Importance, as the people OF the state
and particularly of this vicinity, have already learned, is that of pub
lie health. The governor would have the powers of the State Board
of Health enlarged so that the state authorities will have greater jur-
isdiction during epidemics such as was experienced last fall Many
municipalities, Perth AmbOy among them, have been aroused to the
necessity of paying more attention to health affairs and II the state
will do its part it remains only to secure some thorough organization
Of natl m wide scope to make such a scourge a S swept over the country
last year and which is still prevalent in many sections. an mpossi-
biity. .....
One of the most important matters discussed by the governor,
particularly for this section of the state, il IT o be found in his budget
message in which he recommends the appropriation of $lOO0OOO for
the purchase of the right of way for the ship canal across the state
from Morgan on the Raritan bay TO Bordentown on the Delaware
river. The construction of this waterway means much TO the state
and nation, and this vicinity will be enormously benefited due to its
proximity to the Rartan bay terminal.
The governors recommendations in regard to the state pension
system ought to encourage needed reforms in this particular; his ideas
advanced in regard to health insurance and increased compensation
for incapacitated workmen will also meet with the approval of the
majority of the people.
The message well uphods the governors reputation for conduct
ing a ~buinesslike administration. He has succeeded in pointing his
finger at the most important questions before the state. The legis-
lature, if it follows the wishes of the people, can hardly do otherwise
than to work along the lines so clearly mapped ont by the governor.