Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1920-01-15
FAILURE To CURB
EDWARDS WAS
G.O.P.BLUNDER
New Governor VIII Start Term
With Full Powers
ADJOURNMENT YESTERDAY
Edwards Says He Does Not
Contemplate Any Rush in
Matter of Removals
By Specia, Correspondent.

TRENTON, Jan. 15:-GoVernor
Edwards will start his career in the
executive office with the same pow
ers possessed by Governor Edge
when he went out Of that position 10
become United States senator. The
Republican majority in the legisla
ture Will not pass, at least for the
present. any measures to curb" the
incoming administration in the mat
ter of removing members of state
boards. Both branches of the legis-
lature adjourned yesterday afternoon
until next Tuesday morning, when
they will meet Just prior to the in
auguration of Mr.. Edwards.
Adjournment was taken for the
week after a long conference of the
majority from which came the state
ment of Senator Allen, of Salem,
/ Republican senate floor leader, that
inasmuch as Mr.. Edwards had stated
he did not contemplate anything rash
in the matter of chopping off heads
the majority would not take steps to
curtail his authority.
Senator Pilgram, of Essex. sprung
a letter from Mr.. Edwards. dated
January 10, in which the governor
elect was quoted as follows:
IT am told that the reason for
such extraordinary and discourteous
action (referring to the passage of
the proposed bills) is the belief that
shall summarily remove these
boards when | take office. Let me.
? therefore, deny that l have, either
by word or action, indicated that
! would do any such thing. In my Off
cal career l have never taken hasty
or ill-considered action. Any board
IN the state has no reason to expect
aught but cooperation from me as
f, long as they properly perform their
| duties. l have prejudged no cause" +"
The Edwards letter to Pilgram
! was seized upon as a graceful way OF
/ sliding out OF q nasty situation which
| faced the majority. 1t is admitted
| on all sides that the bills to curb"
| Edwards stood little or no chance of
| passing and this is apparent from
| the fact that they were not even in
| troduced. Therefore, the plans TO
pass these bills to protect the high
way, institutions, bridge and tunnel
and utility boards which had been
mapped out for several weeks in the
Republican conferences have all
| gone awry.
Governor Edge was the man who
| put through Highway, institution and
agencies and bridge and tunnel laws
| giving him full power to remove any
board member summarily. Yet, he
was here on Monday and understood
to be endeavoring to take that sum
mary power away from the incoming
| administration.
1T is the intention and desire of
the Republican legislature to be per-
fectly fair with Governor Edwards, "
said Senator Allen, land in view of
his statement that he has not pre-
| judged the state commissions, nor
| come to conclusion without charges
or hearing regarding culpability on
! their part, 1t has been determined to
| drop the proposed legislation during
| the first week of the session"
Allen reviewed at some length the
newspaper statements credited to Ed
! wards regarding his plans to GUST the
! board members. He quoted from a
story of last December in which the
new Governor was reported to have
declared: "It does not make any diff
| ference to me whether such legisla-
| tion is passed or not. Those boards
| (The State Highway Commission ana
| the State Department of Institutions
I and Agencies) will be cleared out of
office within q month after l am gov
crnor."
with this open declaration" said
Mr.. Allen. made upon de Iteration
+, by the Governor elect, the Republican
conference determined to pass meas
ures that would prevent removal for
! partisan purposes, it being deemed
| grossly against the interest of the poo
pie of the state that such a commits
sion as the State Highway Commits
sion. engaged In large pubic enter
prise and spending millions of DOL
| lars Of the States money should be
summarily removed from office with
out cause and without hearing or pub
! licity."
Senator Allen then pointed out
| that Mr.. Edwards must have changed
his mind, as on January second he
was quoted as follows in the press.
| II have not determined upon the re-
moval of any member of any State
Board, either individually or as q
body" Then the Republican leader
| concluded by quoting from the etter
| to Senator Pilgrim as the reason for
| the decision to withhold any legisla-
| tive act so long as the Democratic
executive promised to be reasonable
| in his rem oVals.