Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-17
edge, NOW SENATOR,
PROMISES ACTIVITY
His Business Ideas to End Gov
ernment Waste and He Will
Propose Reforms
PROGRESSIVE REPUBLICAN

ernor. Now he has some business ideas
for the government at Washington,
where he takes his oath as Jerseys
junior senator on Monday.
He described himself as Private
Citizen Edge yesterday as he talked of
the past accomplishments and future
plans of Public Official" Edge. He
had just turned the governorship of New
Jersey to William \. Runyon, president
of the Senate, now acting governor. He
had three days ahead of playing plain
citizen, and he said he liked the breath
ing spell.
ri feel that I have completed my
program in New jersey, he said. 81
could do little more than detail work in
that program if l were to complete
my. term. am quite satisfied with
what I was able to do through the
splendid co operation of everybody.
1--WE have put business methods into
government here he went on. at is
interesting to note that six years ago,
when President Wilson was governor.
the state had deficiency Of S162 900.
Now there is n surplus of $4,000 200,
and We have spent an extra $4,000. 900
this year. We have shown that gov
ernment can be efficient,
For Business In Government
''No one can say just what he plans
to do when he is going to take his place
for the first time in such a venerable
and able body as the United States
Senate. can speak only of my hopes.
''In large way, I should say. my
hope is to carry forward my ideas of
business like government, which | feel
/ have shown successful here at Tren-
ton.
"A government is big business. 1t
should not be partisan. 1t should as
soon as possible turn partisanship into
business efficiency. Government should
not only be business like in itself. but
it should be the partner and helper of
private business. not a paternal, con-
trolling organization. There must be
regulation. of course, but let govern
ment attend to its business of govern
ment and allow private business to do
the things it'can do so we'll.
81 am convinced that there is only
one way to reduce taxes. and that is to
reduce the expense of government There
is no way except that. And to reduce
expense the first step is to cut out the
waste. That is why we must put in a
budget on our national government. =
Everybody knows how millions have
been wasted. That is why the Rcpub-
ican party was returned to power in
Congress. For that reason. I am not
sure that we need do much more inves-
tgating OF, war activities than is neces-
sary to drive home the lesson of waste
in government. I for one do not want
TO see Congress foddling away all its
time finding out what we all know too
well already
On Progressive Side
He laughed when he was asked
whether he could be classcd among the
progressive men Of the Senate.
81 don't think I can be classed
among any shade of political opinion
except that ! am a Republican. | did
not go out when the split came in 1912,
although my tendencies have always
been toward the more progressive side.
As to the question of the appointment
of Senator Pehrose to the Craftsmanship
of the finance committee. | will say that
no man is better fitted from experience
and acquaintance with the subject than
he is after twenty years on. the com
mittec. The fight seems to be letting
up on him. ] understand
He became silent when he was
asked what his stand would be when
the peace treaty came before the
Senate.
81 don't want to see America evade
any responsibilities for aiding the ma =
tions of the world keep the peace he
said finally. "And yet do not intend
| to allow anything to take from us those
rights of development which have made
us great. We have gone into world
affairs pretty deeply and have. there
fore. obligations which cannot be
evaded. but the world will lose these
very things which make it possible fol
us TO sit at the head of the worlds
council table if our sovereignty is tC
be hampered.
'It is a dream to say that war car
be made impossible. Look at the Bal
kans. I hear there are eighteen little
wars on there now. But the whole
world is united and ! know this coun-
try is determined that something must
be done in the world to prevent nations
going hastily to war. There must be
deterrent.
"But fear that President Wilson.
with his idealism is too eager to shove
the United States into the melting pot
of the nations to make his dreams come
true. I will not stand for anything
which will make this country merely a
minority stockholder in an interna :
tionai corporation. The language OF
the treaty and the league covenant must
be clear, very clear in its assurance
that we are not giving up too much in
fulfilling our just obligation to the
world.
When he was asked about the suff
rage amendment, he had another smile
"Of course / am for it as have always