Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-08-20
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PERTINENT QUESTIONS.

inspires Joseph d. Holmes, of
Orange, to conduct . campaign
against the proposition to bond the
state for s2s.oOo,Oo0 this fall for
the construction Of a vehicular tun-
mel under the Hudson rive between
Jersey City and New York. and to
build a bridge across the Delaware
river from Camden to Philadelphia.
but the questions he had had printed
and circulated throughout the state
are worthy of the deepest considera-
ton on the part of the voters. The
questions Mr.. Holmes asks in his
circular are:
do you know that the plans of
General Goethais for q vehicular
tunnel have been changed, and the
new engineers estimates are for
double the original amount ?
"Do you know that there has been
no necessity shown for such a tun-
ned. and that no estimates have been
made Of the possibilities of Increased
ferry trafic?
do you know that the p. r. R.
Ferry at 2Sd Street has been aban-
doned for years. and hat the Erie
has only been running three boats a
day to that point for months?
do you know that the capacity
Of the ferries could easily be doubled
BY using the entire lower decks for
teams and autos?
do you know that the New York
Memorial Committee favors a "vic-
tory Bridge" over the Hudson, and
that such a bridge will probably be
built7
"Do you know that such a bridge
besides being a magnificent mem
orial, will accommodate railroad and
auto traffic, to an unlimited extent.
and beneft New Jersey beyond all
estimate?
do you know tina New Jersey is
out OF debt, and that no debt a be
placed without your vote?
"Do you know what New York has
spent, and owes, for the Barge Canal,
which is pronounced to be a fail
ure?
.Do you know that this law, Chap.
$50, includes a bridge between Cam
den and Philadelphia, to get votes
from south Jersey"
We are willing to believe that Mr..
Holmes is acting as an interested
citizen who will have to pay his por-
ton of this awful expense and he is
performing a patriotic duty in using
what influence he can bring to bear
to have the proposition defeated.
In the first place, no n knows
how much these two projects are go
ing to cost. The figures named in
the bond issue are $2S, 600. 900. But
il Is admitted, even by the strongest
advocates of the tunnel and bridge,
that neither one of them. not to mem
ton both, can be built for any such
amount. 1t is apparent, however,
that once the state has gone into IA
project TO the extent Of $4,000, 900
it is going to Sc. the matter through
even it it requires $500, 00o, 900. The
object now is to get the people COM
mitted to the project.
New Jersey, as Mr.. Holmes points
out in his circular. is now without
debt. What a fine thing it is for a
state to be out of debt. Not until a
tax was imposed for the construction
OF a state system of highways did
the state have a state a. And this
tax was imposed with the under
standing that 1t was for only five
years. Now the five years are about
IN and the state highway system has
hardly been begun. The talk now is
not only to renew this tax but to
double it.
On top Of this m the tunnel
and bridge proposition, which, in
cid~entally. carries also a state tai
supposed to run only until the tun'
mel begins to pay its own wal
through tolls. But with the highwa.
INK as an example 1t is doubtful i
this tax, once it is imposed, will eve
be removed. Then the state viii
have two state taxes and an enor
nous debt besides.
The state government has bee
handed down to the present genera
ion free and clear Of debt. Are we
. III this generation. when prices ar
away out Of sight. to rea an enor
nous debt for future generations t
earrx7
we DO not believe the people o
Sew Jersey viii favor this tupns
scheme. It is very evident. as MI
Holmes points out in his circular
that with the proper kind Of ferr
service the congestion o complain
I'd about in crossing the Hudson ca