Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-11
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ACTION VS.. PROMISES

Judging from correspondence that has passed between ". Dr.
Thompson, state highway engineer, and Governor Edge a II EFFORT Is
being made to have Senator Brown withdraw his bull requiring ne
State Highway Commission to take over at once the bridges IN Mlaoie-
sex county between the Amboys and at New Brunswick, and in the
place of immediate action accept promises to do something III n III
tre without further legislation.
We trust that Senator Brown win not be induced to comply with
n sneh arrangement. Middlcscx has got beyond the promise
stage. 1t has been two years now since the state highway system was
established. Both the bridges in question are included III this system
Middlesex, in the meantime, has been burdening herself more and more
- ooonmod eve increasing statewide traffic, and the limit has
been reached.
That this is n 0 partisan matter is evident from the fact that while
The Perth Amboy Democratic Club is extremely active in urging the
taking over of these bridges by the state and although Senator Brown
father Of the bill now pending in the legislature, is a Democrat the Re
pubicans have also strongly advocated state control OF the bridges
and only recently the Perth Amboy Republican Club pointed with
pride to the fact that it was on of their members, F. William Hiikcr'
while a member of the Board of Freeholders, who took the initiative
IN the matter last year.
Asscmblvman Warner, of Union county, a Republican, has openly
declared himself in favor of Senator Brown S bill and promises to vote
for it should it reach the House. Furthermore, he promises to use hs
influence with his Republican colleagues to have the bull passed
as non. partisan measure, which it is.
Mayor Dorsey has secured the favorable comment of a number
Of mayors of the leading cities of the state on the bill and the matter
promises 10 come M at a meeting of the State League of Municipalities
in The near future.
The EVENING NEWS has published interviews with the heads OF
automobile and truck associations, all favoring immediate state con
troll
Prominent state newspapers, such as the Newark Sunday Call
the Trenton Times and the Hudson Dispatch have declared that 1T Is
tbe states duty TO take over the bridges because of their statewide
Importance, and the State Highway Department itself has admitted
that ninety per cent. of the traffic over the bridges is from outside
Middlesex county.
Furthermore, Governor Edge himself is on record as advocating
--aFsronfrol of the bridges nereebred. in a speech in this city, that
tbs state should, in all fairness, assume this burden which was entirely
TOO much for the taxpayers of a single county to carry.
- In fact. as the situation becomes better understood, there Is none
Tho .p= iustlv il IL is for Senator Brown, therefore, o DSlsJl
that his bin, with a few changes, perhaps, be brought to a vote. 1t IS
certain that the sentiment of Middlesex county Is unanimously behind
it regardless of partsanship.
Middlesex county cannot carry the burden OF these bridges IS
pecially the bridge between the Amboys through another summer
season. State control is the only solution, and the tune for state con-
troll IS right now.