Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-12-27
He Gives Suggestions for
Checking Further Spread
of laWIeSSness in State.
CONFERENCE TOMORROW
Chiefs of Police, Prosecutors,
Sheriffs and Legion Men
Will Meet at State House.
BY Special Correspondent.

special correspondent.
TRENTON, Dec, 81 - Governor
Edwards has invited the public to
attend tomorrow's conference here
and to assist in framing a program
to combat the crime wave. The ex-
ecutive has announced that sugges-
tons from all citizens will be well
coined in deciding what steps are to
be taken. Invitations to about $50
officials to attend have been sent out,
and in this communication Mr.. Ed
wards sets forth at length what he
believes should be done to stop the
era of banditry.
A feature of this letter is that 1t
suggests the offering of rewards by
the state in cases of murder or
crimes of violence when such a pol
icy is deemed TO be for the public
good. Following is what the Gov
ernor says in his invitation:
The great prevalence of crime
makes it necessary that every good
citizen give thought to ways and
means for it's prevention.
ITO those in authority it becomes
a duty to make the machinery of
justice as efficient as possible.
AT the present time, in our state,
each police department is function
ing as an individual unit. This does
not make for efficiency in the pres
ent circumstances, and the time has
arrived for "a thorough coordination
of these forces. Accordingly, / have
arranged for a meeting to be held at
the state house Tuesday at noon. at
which there will be present the at
torney general of the state. the pros
ecutors of the various counties and
the chiefs of police of each munich
pality, no matter how small. j have
also asked to be present, the heads
of the police departments of all the
railroads. the commissioner of mo-
tor vehicles and his inspectors, rep
resentatives of the telephone, tele-
graph and trolley companies.
This conference should be of in
calculable benefit in devising ways
and means for the prevention, de-
lection and punishment of crime,
now so rampant.
New Jersey is surrounded on
three sides by water, and so lies
favorably for this work.
II desire to point out some of tho.
things that can be done by the
proper application of energy and
thought"
II would request the railroad
companies to make full record of
ekeIN HlolOr Nenicle crossing the
ferries. This would cover our en-
tire eastern boundary. would
make a like request at the Camden
ferries. Preceding up our western
boundary, ] would have similar rec
ords made and kept at the toll
bridges at Trenton, and so on UP
the Delaware to the New York state
boundary.
Il would designate these repre-
sentatlves as special motor vehicle
inspectors and have them inspect
the licenses of every driver who en-
tors the state and make a record
OF 1t. and where the inspection de-
velops suspicious circumstances the
police should be called in.
"As each municipality is usually
entered by not more than two or
three roads, l would have these
entrances and exits watched from
twelve midnight until a. m. and so
much longer as might be found
necessary. In these cases licenses
should he examined and drivers in
terrogated.
II would take the same course
at every bridge, especially such as
are found at Perth Amboy. New
Brunswick. Trenton. Passaic. Jersey
Il would arrange for a speedy
method of communication between
the police departments of the va
vious municipalities.
II would arrange for a method
whereby information as to crime
ard criminals might be interchang-
ed
II would ask our neighboring
states to cooperate with US and |
have us cooperate with them, so
that speedy action might follow.
Il would have the police depart |
'nents locate those who are known |
to have criminal tendencies and put |
them under surveillance.
Il would provide for the prompt |
of substantial rewards by |
the state in cases of murder or |
crimes of violence. when deemed |
to be for the public good.
II would ask the owners of mo-
tor cars to exercise more care so |
that cars cannot be stolen on the
public streets and so used for Grim
inal purposes and to disguise the
criminal operations.
Il would have some one desig-
mated by the state, either a present
state officer or one to be appointed
for that purpose. to see that con-
certed action is carried on In an
efficient manner. If the latter. the
act should provide for the auto
matte abolishing of the office at the
end of two years so that 1t would
not become a permanent state job
after the emergency has passed, and
when it can be carried on by an or
sanization thereafter to be formed.
by the zegular forces