Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-06-30

~ special Correspondent.
TRENTON, June so. - Invoking
the Edge highway act Of 1917, Gov
efnor Edwards today removed from
once summarily the five Republi-
een members who now comprise the
Highway Commission, all Edge ap-
po1ntees and appointed until the
etnfe senate meets seven new COM
mfsdoners, four being Democrats and
three Republicans. The governor
ix1fton by the selection of an eighth
new member. who will fill out the
unexpired term of the late George j.
Blakeslee. Of Jersey City. Mr.. Ed
wards campaign manager last year.
simultaneously with his bold
custer Of the five Republican men,
bers. the governor issued procla-
mation calling q special session of
the state senate for Tuesday, July
81. at II o'clock in the morning. at
which time he will send the names
of his appointees to the highway
board to the senator's for their con-
drmation.
The men removed by the governor
today and the expiration of their
terms follow: Louis c. Duncan, West
Vile, Gloucester county. March IA,
1926 Robert s. Parsons, Nutley,
E6sex county. March 81. 1929; John
w. Herbert. Helmetta, Middlesex
ncol1uty, chairman of the commission,
foFch ~. 19z7; Anthony r. Kuser.
y FdfVtlle, Somerset county, and
( 5|ssss @s,sl !, AsssdasSs Trenton
lell6wing are the appointees an
nofnced today by the governor;
TaVcau Cifu a.
inf Duncan; George Paddock, New
ark, succeeding Parsons;. Assembly,
man David Young. of Towaco, Nor
ris county, succeeding Herbert; Wal
ter F.. Whittemore. Newton. Sussex
county, succeeding Kuser; former
Asse mb1yman George L. Burton,
South River, Middlesex county. sue
cotdinf Haverstick: William J.
Kirby, Somerset county, for a full
term and Thomas E. Collins, of
Elizabeth, for a full term.
With the exception of the two last
named, the appointees will fill out
the uncxpired terms Of the men they
succeed. Kirby and Collins are
named for full terms Of four years.
They I'LL the vacancies caused by the
expiration OF the terms last winter
Of Commissioners Watson G. Clark,
6f Bergen county and Walter ]. Buz-
by. Of Atlantic City.
Ferris Burton, Kirby and Collins
are the Democrats on the new board.
Paddock. Young and Whittemore
the Republicans. They will serve
without compensation.
The new commission will have
the selection OF q state highway en-
Sineer to succeed William G.
Thompson, whose salary is about
~ - h. ~
take effect July Is and Watson G.
Clark. 4 former member of the
board, was to have taken his place
temporarily. This program is likely
"a be upset by the sudden action of
tho governor in sweeping all the
present board members out of office
With one stroke of his official pow
-. Chapter Is. Laws Of 1917, un-
dlr which the present commission
Wa1 cfsated. provides that THE
Goverpor shall have the power to
esimmarily remove any or all mem
bora 81 the commission" Nothing
y mtA In the act about q hearing.
Refusal of the ousted officials to
wink IA harmony with his ideals as
fo policies In the building OF the
new state highway commission is
assigned by Mr.. Edwards as the
main reason for his drastic action
today. He takes tho position in a
statement issued that the building
OF tho highway program il UP TO
him. The specific cause OF the ac-
sion Is the failure of the coMmts-
stoners to regard his suggestions
made shortly after his inauguratson
mot to follow out their announced
plan to take over all the county
roads inclded a part of the state
Midway system. When the state
fkkes over z county road for this
purpose, the county Is relieved OF
(Continued on page 81