Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-14

OV.EDGE STRIKES
PATRIOTIC NOTE
Message to Jersey Legisla-
ture Urges Provision for
Returning Soldiers
MOST IMPORTANT WORK

MOST IMPORTANT WORk
Trenton, Jan. Twin galleries
crowded, with desks of members of boil
houses adorned with flowers sent by ad-
miring friends and constituents and with
each chamber tastefully decorated with
flags, streamers and potted plants, the
1t3d session of the New Jersey Legisa-
ture was convened shortly after noon to-
day for organization.
The war gloom which cast a shadow
over the Inauguration Of last winters
session was dlspelled today and the
scenes of life. gayety and good fellow
ship which characterized Legislatures Of
prior years were re-enacted, the only
jarring note being the House deadlock
over the Speakership, which was the
chief theme OF discussion and Specua-
tion on all sides during the morning
hours. The corridors of the State House,
where there were gathered statesmen.
politicians and friends of the members
from all parts of the State, interspersed
with scores of women, who are now TAX.
ing an active interest in State affairs.
hummed with activity
senate tillS year STANDS fourteen
Republicans to six Democrats, one short
Of the full representation, owing to the
fact that Senator Emerson l.. Richards.
Of Atlantic city, automatically lost his
seat in the upper house when ne entered
the army. The Republican majority
in the Senate is eight The Republican
majority on joint ballot is the same
number. The House is evenly divided |
thirty Republicans and thirty Demo- !
Gratis.
Governor Edges Message
Governor Edges second annual mes
sage said in part
THE State is prepared to meet the
problems OF reconstruction with a free .
balance in the treasury of over $1,000
900.
II bespeak your prompt and earnest
consideration OF some practical plan
for acquiring through cooperative
FEDERAL and state action some of the
vast acreage OF Cut-over land in New
Jersey and also cleared land that is
idle, for the purpose of providing farm
homes for returning soldiers and sail
ors. New Jersey has available land
plenty of it-and l am sure we are
ready to look after details of obtaining
and parce.ing the farms IL the Federal
NoNerIlItiL VIII atteHu 10 llle HNdnC-
ing.
"As one concrete suggestion. and
awaiting definite Federal financing,
call your attention TO the possibilities
for SO safeguarding and refining our
Homestead Association Act that these
organizations he encouraged for the
purpose Of cooperating with the plan |
of Federal lard banks and thus en-
abling service men to secure valuable
farms without a penny of capital.
Favors Ship Canal.
~ submit also, that the time is op-
perfume for New Jersey to urge the
Federal Government to take advantage
Of our legislation of 1917 and join 4
with New Jersey in the immediate o
building Of cross-State ship canal. l
Federal legislation is pending. If the G
Federal Government is ready and acts, I
: recommend that New Jersey proceed !.
with it's part of the bar +,
gain. As an augury of good faith let :
us, nj this session, actually appropri- Y
ate the money. contingent upon favor y
able action by Congress. q
Never was there less excuse for mar
row, demagoG,c ohjec ions to the spend
ing of nuhlic moneys wisely on needed ;
public improvements. Under any cir f
question the wisdom Of
political parties challenging each other
or bidding for popular support on the !,
alleged accomplishment of spending less !
New Jersey should spend moro ,
than il does on its roads, its institutions
educational and charitable. and i'm
provcments in the interest Of happy,
citizenship, Inability 10 eX- :
pend public moneys prudcntly and In :
diligently is a political liability quite !
as ntoerable as extravaganza and ,
waste.
"At this time our greatest public work G
in New Jersey Is the state highway svs- I
TEN. and believe this project should he !
pushed so vigorously that It viii provide
employment for thousands Of men re
turning from military service, If not /
actually in road building itsclf. then in '
the various industries from whence tho '
supplies and equipment for road con-
come.
The Highway Department. uotwith-
standing obstacles due to the war. is :
today going concern with outstanding {
amounting to s2,500, 900; and
it will be ready in the spring 10 let
additional contracts to the amount of
SO, coo, 600, The annual business of or {
funds administered by our highway de-
partment aggregates the grand total Of
S9,355. 900. II viii cost the State bu; ;
$3.50. .N00 10 administer this great sum. ,
or total expense Of administration
amounting 70 about thrc" per cent
Industrial stimulation
in addition 70 the highway system
New Jersey holds much opportunity for
assisting on it's own initiative in the
solution of the labor aud industrial
problems.
First, for instance, New Jersey is
the very center of shipbuilding activity.
1t may be that you will be called upon
TO provide legislation assisting In giving
permanenCy TO these great shipbu!lding
establishments,
Second, practical legislation may be
found necessary In order that our pub
lie school system may lend itself TO the
ready rehabilitation of soldiers and sail
ors wounded in the military service,
Third our river traffic and port
projects can he so encouraged that
new demand will be created there for
labor and Industrial supplies
"Finally let us not forget that the
surest and most lasting policy 70 adont
in order to insure employment for all
classes Is to encourage business activ-
ity; to offer every cooperation with the |
construction OF public works, All the
charts and surveys in the world and all
the high sounding. demagogi'. Gtopun |
theories for solving the problem over
night to the contrary Notwithstanding, /
the only solution to the unemployment !
ha a