Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-01-14
10000 Jersey Patriots Must
Be Taken Care of, He
Says
THEY MUST BE EMPLOYED
Farms for Soldiers Mentioned
For State Ship
Canal
By Associated Press.

II
that no task confronting the New Jer-
sey legislature is nearly so important
as providing for the smooth, conven-
lent and satisfactory return to peace
full pursuits of the 160,0 900 Jersey pat
riots who within the last two years
gave up their ordinary occupations
for military and kindred service, Gov
ernor Walter e. Edge in his second
annual message transmitted to that
body at the opening of the one hun
dred and forty-third session at noon
today, added in regard to the same
subject that these men dedicated their
lives to the common cause and 1.-The
least we can do is to dedicate our re-
| sources to their comfort and welfare.
mo doubt, private business with its
| trained efficiency and unfailing re-
sourcefulness will labsorb more of this
released labor than we suspect" the
governor stated, nevertheless. 1t
would be nothing short of tragedy If
without preparation, the millions of
men in the military service were TO
be suddenly and at one time thrown
back into a labor market glutted per-
! haps by the slackening of activities
naturally to be expected in munition
factories and other strictly war en-
terprises.'r The governor added that
| the federal government appreciates
the situation and will doubtless take
such steps TO meet 1t as will require
| the hearty cooperation of state gov
ernments, while New Jersey should be
| ready to give this cooperation without
stint and as usual anticipate the re-
sponsibility.
Employment for Soldiers.
The governor said that for many
weeks, the state department of labor
through its employment bureau facil-
tiles and its postwar survey OF in
dustry has been securing the means OF
livlihood for discharged soldiers and
sailors in fact, actually getting them
Jobs, and that other state departments
have been quietly studying conditions
and are ready to equip the legislature
with all OF the details and possibilities
OF the situation, while he also de-
| clared that by proclamation. the ef-
forts OF all state and municipal de-
partments and of all organizations
have been modified and concentrated
in one central channel toward the de-
sired end, but that more must be done
and on q larger scale.
Farms for Soldiers.
Referring to n proposed plan for
the acquiring of farm homes for re-
turning soldiers and sailors, the gov
ernor said in his message:
81 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 / am sure we are
! ready 10 look after details of obtain
ing and parceling the farms. IL the
federal government will attend to the
financing. In the latter function. the
federal government has much freer
hand than the state. AS one concrete
suggestion and awaiting definite fed
! eral financing. l call your attention to
| the possibilities for safeguarding and
refining our homestead association
act Up. L. 1888. page 2S1) that these
| organizations be encouraged for the
purpose OF cooperating with the plan
| of federal land banks and thus enabl-
ing service men TO secure valuable
farms without a large amount OF
| capital"
For Ship Canal.
The proposed building of a ship
canal across New Jersey is mentioned
! in the message in the following man.
ner:
Cross State Ship Canal
II submit, also, shat the time is
oportune for New Jersey TO urge the
federal government to take advantage
of our legislation of 1917 and join
with New Jersey in the immediate
building OF a cross-state ship canal.
Federal legislation is pending. Here
is a public work not only highly wall
uable in the interest of the nations
trade but also offering llmitless OPP
portunity for the absorption of labor.
or course, immediate action is essen
tial il the project is 10 serve the pur-
pose OF reconstruction. But nothing
is impossible where there is a will.
II the federal government Is ready
and acts. I recommend that New Jer-
sey proceed Immediately with its part
of the bargain. AS an augury OF good
faith. let us at this session actually
appropriate the money contingent up
on favorable action by congress"
The governor urged upon the legls-
lature TO make proper financial pro-
vision for continuing the State Coun-
ell OF Defense, which, he said. would
be helpful i'm the problems in all COM
munities attending rehabilitation. as
well as continuing the federal-state-
municipal employment system. which,
he stated, was now exceptionally well
organized in New Jersey and already
"a potent factor in the solution OF all
employment problems. Referring 10
the holding up OF public works be-
cause OF the embargoes during the
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