Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-30
CALLS SENATE TO ACT
OH his Appointments
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further responsibility for its main
.tenance.
The governor then says that the
very severe water, together with
the great volume Of motor truck
traffic, has left the main highway
routes in a. ~depiorable condition.
Inc announcement of the highway
commissioners that these roads
would pass entirely on May Is from
county to state control caused the
counties, when laying out their
spring road repair work, to disre-
gard the main highway routes and
to spend their money on strictly
county roads.
The result Is apparent to anyone
who uses a motor car" continued
Mr.. Edwards statement. MANY
sections of the main highway routes
In the state are in bad repair, some
of them are not passable with safe
ty. In spite of this fact, there is
apparently but slight evidence of
any effort on the part of the high
way department to systematically
correct this condition. On a num-
Der OF the main highway routes
there are stretches which are dan
gerous to life and property. At
least such stretches could be placed
In passable condition were the state
highway department capable Of I'M
dertaking this tremendous Job of
maintenance"
Then he was right and the high
way commissioners wrong, Is the
conclusion the governor draws from
his recital of the facts. 1T seems
inconceivable to me that men of
sound business judgment should not
have foreseen the complete collapse
Of their road r~aintenance program
under these circumstances," he de-
.clared.
He says there Is evidence the
roads are not being built rapidly,
and believes the highway board
should meet weekly. The meetings
of the commission have frequently
been given owe to political animus
and there have been "unseemly
squabbles' between patent paving
companies In conjunction with GER
tain political influences of counties
to the detriment of road building.
Many of these matters could be
amplified," said Mr.. Edwards, "but
I think 1 have pointed out sufficient
to convince the people that / IN
not be responsible for the action of
a board which appears to be entire
ly out of harmony with my admin
istration, and that as my RESPONSE
bility is so clearly indicated by the
statute. 1 fail to see any other
course than to act"
He says he has therefore appoint
ed in the place of the encumbents
seven men as ad interim selections.
made during a recess of the legis-
lature. Some question has been
raised as to whether the recess of
the present legislature will permit
ad interim appointments" COM
mented the governor. while / am
convinced from proper legal advice
that there can be no question raised
in this matter, / have deemed it
better judgment to appoint these
men and convene the senate for the
purpose of confirming them"
It was learned here today that
Governor Edwards newly appointed
state highway commission will Sc
lect Thomas j. Washer. county en-
gineer of Hudson county to direct
the work of the new state highway
department as successor to William
G. Thompson.
The possibility of two state high
way commissioners meeting here to-
morrow to transact state business
doomed W today as the result of
Governor Edwards move. 1t is the
regular meeting day of the ousted
members and it is understood that
the Governor has called a meeting
of the seven new members he has
just appointed. Members of the
busted commission were otday con-
sidering the question as to what
course to follow in view of Mr.. Ed
wards action. They may decide to
fight and refuse to give up their
offices and meet here tomorrow to
transact business on the regular
meeting day, which Is the first
of the month.