Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-09-01

DOOMED TO DEFEAT.

DOONAGD ~ OEE G<GAA
s It begins to look as IL the only
persons really interested in the pro-
posed vehicular tunnel under the
Hudson river are those in Hudson
county. and perhaps some in Bergen
county. who think real estate will in
crease In value with the construction
OF the tube. Camden, Of course, Is
greatly interested in the bridge idea
across the Delaware to Philadelphia,
but as Philadelphia thus far has
taken no action and does not seem
to be overly interested. It Is hard to
stir up much enthusiasm down that
way.
The Jersey Journal. Of Jersey City,
II perhaps the most consistent advo-
cate Of the Hudson tunnel project,
but the Journal is becoming alarmed
over the outlook. In Of its latest
Issues 1t saidi
The fact that new and quite de-
termined opposition TO the vehicular
tunnel and bridge proposition has
begun TO manifest itself in populous
Essex county ought to prompt the
interstate commission to renew its
efforts in the way of an educational
and boost campaign prior to the ref
erendum vote on November 2. The
tunnel-bridge advocates must re-
---AA- No. AkAxw wvs1 hoSra M WALL
over at the polls"
The people Of New Jersey are not
going to pile up a state debt OF $685.
100000. with the prospect Of 1t
reaching seventy-fve or eight millions
before the work is through, without
some real cause. New Jersey is n
Of the few states in the union that
is entirely free Of debt. This Is be-
the trainers OF the constitu-
ton made it impossible tor the legis-
lature to run the state into debt over
$780, 900 without first getting the
consent Of the people at a general
sIection. Whenever a debt in excess
OF rhat amount has been proposed
the people have turned It down.
There is good reason for them doing
The same thing this year.
But the state debt is not all. The
law that proposes the debt also car
carries a provision for a state tax to
meet the expenses of the construc-
ton until the tunnel and bridge are
self-supporting. It is doubtful II they
ever will be self-supporting. Once
this state tax is imposed it will be
next to impossible to get rid of 1t.
We have had a striking example Of
this in the state highway tax which
was to have terminated in five years.
Put not only is it now proposed to
continue the state highway tax in
definitely, but the plan Is to increase
it. Thus we would have an increas-
ed highway tax and a tunnel and
bridge tax besides, both imposed by
the state in addition to the city and
county tax. With taxes now about
as high as the people can stand, it
seems hardly likely that they will de-
uberately vote to increase them, at
least not for a vehicular tunnel under
the Hudson river that is not going
to do the average taxpayer any good.
The state highway system is some
thing that extends into every sec
ton OF the state and all are bene-
fitted.
At least let the vehicular tunnel
proposition wait until construction
prices are more normal and labor
is more plentiful. There is no doubt
that the congestion Of vehicles com
planned about IN crossing the Hud-
son q be largely overcome by rem
dering adequate ferry service. 1t is
well known that many ferries have
been discontinued during the past
few years and the ferries that are
running. are. with few exceptions,
operating on greatly reduced sched-
ales. Besides, the boats could be re-
modelled 30 that all the lower deck
could be devoted to vehicles thereby
carrying twice as many vehicles as
II present.
Freight is still transported around
New York harbor on great car floats,
why not similar floats to carry We
hlcles? There are lots Of ways to re-
Ieve the congestion without piling UP
! big state debt on the people Of New
Jersey and imposing a state tax in ad-
1iEion. The Jersey Journal is right.
rAe opposition to the proposed tun-
asl scheme is widespread. The pro-
position to bond the state for $751;
10000 is doomed to defeat.
CAMPAIGN EXPENSES.