Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-03-04
P1LrNa on THE EXPENSES.

what the New ark Evening News calls
the general trend OF affairs ut Trenton.
The pace the legislature has set
seems to have no regard whatever for
the taxpayers. Instead OF economy
and curtailment all along the line IN
order to help adjust the present
chaotic economic conditions Of the
world, the legislators are INDUCING in
one grand orgy In salary raising and
increasing debt
Governor Edwards In his special
message sent to the legislature Nom
Gay night. brought the question OF
finances prominently to the fore. AS
semblyman Arthur N. Pierson, Of
tUnion county. a recognized expert on
financial affairs. also has given.
through the Newark Sunday Call. a
warning that should be needed.
The Newark News sums up the
whole situation very ably in an editor
Hal published last night. The senti-
mcnt agrees 30 absolutely with the
position taken by the EVENING
NEWS on the handling of the public
finances hat what the Newark News
says is here reprinted that we made
do our part in pressing home the duty
of public officials at the present time
as far as financial affairs are con
cerned.
Tho Newark News's editorial en-
titled, "a Mad Financial Program"
is as follows:
Governor Edwards's special mes
a sent to the Legislature Monday
night is OF more vital concern to the
people of New Jersey than was his
inaugural address. The Governor has
been aroused to the financial danger
confronting the state as the result of
three proposals for bond Issues total
ing $4,000, 0O0-sso,0 100000 for COM
pleting the state highway system,
s~2S,000.000 for constructing the inter-
state bridge and tunnel and $4,000
600 for the rehabilitation Of state in
stitutions. The putting through of this
program would be disastrous, n 1t
ought not to have been necessary to
have the Governor call attention to
the fact to convince the legislators OF
its folly.
But this Is only g part of what AS
semblyman Arthur N. Pierson declar-
ed in The Sunday Call to be q mad
program Of frenzied finance. Mr..
Pierson Is a Republican and an
acknowledged financial expert. while
the Governor, a Democrat, also has a
well-deserved reputation as q we'll
balanced hnancier. There a be no
charge, therefore. thai the warnings
these two experts have given are In"
spired by ~partizanship. Rather 1t
must be admitted that they have
spoken for the welfare of the people
of the whole state.
The Governor confines his warning
to the three proposed bond issues
mentioned. He tells the lawmakers
that the construction of the proposed
bridge and tunnel is vital to the in
terests of the state. which is commit
ted to the projects, and that h money
be forthcoming as promptly as
possible. As to the highway bonds,
though, he urges that nothing be done
at this session. as the work on the
Will not be hindered this year
be enough money on hand to carry out
the road building activities planned
for the coming season. AS to the call
for money from the Department of
Institutions and Agencies. he wants
moro time to investigate, and he urges
hat the appropriations committee be-
gin at once o study OF the report, as
"the present session should not be
allowed to close without some relief
being extended"
Mr.. Pierson has gone somewhat fur
ther than the Governor in his fnan-
cial warning. The former Speaker.
during his long years of service in the
Assembly, has been responsible for
numerous safeguarding measures
against extravaganza. There are now
before the Legislature numerous bills
that would 'lift the lid" on expendi-
lures, and the former Speaker sees
danger thai the present session may
go down in history as the One Hun
bred Million Dollar Legislature.
In addition to the three proposed
bond issue to which the Governor re-
fers. Mr.. Pierson estimates that two
thirds Of the bills pending at Trenton
call for salary increases on a large
SCALE. Then there lie the proposal
for $12, 900, 1000 to provide bonuses
for all Jerseymen who served during
the World War, to say nothing about
100000 In bonds for the translate
ship canal. both OF which measures
passed tho Assembly yesterday.
Tba RDoI pasaaps Of fhe Ondin