Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-02-25
Senate Passes Bill for Control Of
County Bridges by l6 to Vote

Prior to taking the matter up Mr..
Brown held a series of conference
with Republican Leader Case. OF
Somerset county, members or the
highway commission. Engineer w. @.
THOMPSON of the commission and
Others. They discussed riders and
amendments all of which the Mid
dlesex representative refused TO en-
terrain, feeling that they were design
ed to take the sting u or the meas
ure.
On his own initiative Mr.. Brown
amended the bill in two or three re-
spects. drawing the lines closer, so
that so many bridges would not be
affected by the act and changing
the time for the measure to AXE er-
feet from Immediately" to "Novem-
Der 5, 1919" This latter amendment
was made that provision may be
made in the annual state budget for
an appropriation covering the cost or
the two bridges to the state.
The entire bill is an amendment to
section . of the existing laws of 1917
entitled: AN act to a state
highway system, etc." which makes
that section a
mo state highway shall extend into
any municipality other than township.
of a population exceeding twelve
thousand in numbe as determined by
the most recent census. With Such
municipality. the streets or roads of
which will form proper connections of
state highways. the state highway
commissio on shall enter into contract
for work which place such streets or
roads in a condition which will be In
keepign with the na,ure OF the state
highways approaching and leaving
such municipality; provided. however,
that all dra bridges n approaches
thereto containing a draw and not less
4l,.. enA fa.t In 1Anprfh fhrTninU mari of
-
ToTf orc of1the acf v~~nNtTn acl
is an amendment. and over
any navigable waterway. or any part
thereof. which forms the dividing
line or part thereof between two mu-
inequalities in this state, which bridge,
bridges and approaches shall nave
been In existence for at least ten
years previous to passage OF THIS
act, shall upon the state highway
commission heretofore or hereafter
taking over according to section three.
tho whole or any part of the route or
routes of which said bridge. bridges
and approaches form n connecting OF
continuing part to said state ishw
systems; said bridge. bridges n ap-
proaches or any part Thereon shali De
and become a port of said state high
way system and the state highway
department shall thereupon immedi-
ately take over the improvement, bet
fermcnt, reconstruction. resurfacing,
-masntenance. repair and regulation OF
the uses thereof.
~. This act shall take effect No
yembcr 8, 1919"
The amended bill was then sent to
Governor Edge. A few minutes later
Francis Crossdale, private secretary
TO the executive entered II senate
chamber and spoke to Senator Case.
Shortly after that the bill was brought
up for action. the amendment was
adopted without a dissenting vote tar
unusual procedure for n bill up for
third reading) and in moving for It's
massage, the motion being seconded by
senator Henry T.. Ackerson, OF Mon
mouth county. Senator Brown spoke
for fifteen minutes on the ADVANTAGES
of the bridges in his county to the
entire state and the burden that had
been saddled on his county Tor sew
eraf years, of which 1T should be re
lever. lie quoted facts and figures
as well as Governor Edges stand
taken in public. favoring state main
tenance of the bridges.
The representation from Middlese'
county embraced about an even mum
Mr. ~ and Republicans
They crowded the gallery OF the sen
ate chamber. while many of h deie
pates stood lust outside the noor
THOSE who attended Ii session wer'
Mayor Frank Dorsey, Alderihan-al
Large Ira X. Grouse. Aldermen Aloer
Waters. Thomas Patten, Chris Ander
son. City Attorney Leo Goldberger
city Engineer and President OF TN
Republican Club Morgan L. Larsol
or Perth Amboy: Director William ;
DeN of the Board of Freeholders am
Freeholders Belon, Haight and Geh
hardt. city Clerk John Hanson. Jr
street Commissioner A. j. Munos
COUNTY Engineer Alvin II. Fox, Cit
Treasurer Ferd Garretson. who wa
chairman OF the Republican Club del
e=ation Harry X. Wilson. John Pfeif