Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-20
EDWARDS

1AOhOAOAO ILL., CAV hAoe IVA - wv
ernor Edward l. Edwards in his inaugural address which the
EVENING NEWS publishes in full elsewhere in todays issue
The governor has set out to keep his pledge to keep New Jer
sey 'wet." We doubt very much if the governor himself
really believes that he can accomplish much along this line,
but he feels that he is duty bound to at least give the appear
ance of doing something.
In commenting on the message of Acting Governor Run
yon delivered to the legislature a week ago we said that it
would serve best as a standard with which to compare the in
augura, address of the incoming governor. That comparison
can now be made.
In regard to prohibition it is apparent that Acting Gov
ernor Runyons message was much more sound and would ap-
peal more readily to thinking men than what Governor Ed
wards has to say on the subject. The great difference is that
the acting governor took a calm, matter of fact view of the
situation and accepted conditions as they are rather than as
one might wish them to be; whereas the governor is trying to
appeasc the clamor of those who wildly demand something that
is utterly beyond their reach and entirely without regard to
plain, cold facts.
Regardless of what we may think Of the eighteenth
amendment to the federal constitution it is a part of the or
ganic law of the land and must be respected until it is proven
ineffective through a decision Of the United States Supreme
Court. Governor Edwards would at once take steps to test
the validity of this amendment. In the meantime he recon-
mends the enactment of legislation that would be in defiance
of the federal government before the supreme court had de-
c1ded the matter. SnoulQ the cOnsttuiloudI hum NC uP~
held this would leave New Jersey in a most embarrassing po-
sition, not to mention the defiant attitude toward the supreme
authority of the land while the question is still pending.
Acting Governor Runyon gave advice that was much more
sound and reasonable and which would Uphold the "repute-
ton and fair name of the state. "Let New Jersey take no
STEP" he said "until her right so to do along constitutional
lines shall be fully determined"
1t does not require any action on the part of New Jersey
to ascertain this right. Only yesterday the United States Su-
preme Court granted the state of Rhode Island permission to
institute original proceedings to test the validity OF tho federal
prohibition constitutional amendment. This action on the
part Of the state of Rhode Island is brought along lines SIM
liar to those recommended by Governor Edwards and any de-
cision rendered in the Rhode Island case will have the same
bearing on such proceedings as New Jersey might bring. For
this state also to burden the supreme court with a matter al
ready before it from another state is only clogging the wheels
of the court and would accomplish no purpose.
1t is apparent, therefore, that Acting Governor Runyon is on
much surer and safer ground when he declares that in view
of the fact that there are not wanting agencies which are
taking all possible steps to gain a decision from the United
States Supreme Court regarding the validity of the eighteenth
amendment that it would be inadvisable for New Jersey to
undertake any legislation in the meantime which might he
interpreted as attempted notification of the federal constitu-
tion's provisions"
Just as it was to be supposed that Governor Edwards
would devote the first part of his address to the question of
prohibition, so it was to be supposed that the matter of the
Public Utility Commission would come next. Here again the
contrast is severely drawn between the message of the acting
governor a week ago and the inaugural address of the new
governor. While both recommend that a new commission be
named, the public having lost confidence in the present body,
Governor Edwards would have the commission an elective
body while the acting governor recommended that a commits
sion be appointed by the governor only to consist of three
members instead of five as at present.
Here again the acting governor is on the safer ground. 1t
would be a calamity to have the handling of public utilities
made the football of politics as surely would happen if the
utility commission were made elective. A public utility COM
mission must necessarily be made up of men of particular skill.
1t is not a politicians job by any means. By all means, the
board should be kept out of politics as much as possible.
Naturally, the state highway commission is treated third
in Importance by the incoming governor. For some reason
he has taken umbrage at the present commission and would
have it superseded by another commission Of three receiving
adequate compensation in order that it may be constantly in
session. Judging from the experience of other state commits
sions, it is hardly to be expected that there would be any con-
tinuous session no matter how large the salary might be. Usu-
ally a lot of supervisors and clerks are appointed and they
carry on the work while the duly appointed commissioners
meet only once every so often and approve what has already
been done and draw the salary.
The present highway commission has not been able to
accomplish a great deal because of the restrictions placed upon
the oOuntry durino tho uar Thara &c raaeon 30 bol;-o 49,: "a