Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-09-30
IE@D
THE ORGY OF SPENDING

A few DAYS ago we commented on the fact
that the people could have lower taxes any time
they really showed a desire to have them lower.
The remedy was to shut off the incessant flow OF
money from the peoples pockets into the public
treasures for the oficeholders to squander. IL
s notorious that money comes in so easily these
laws that there is no incentive for public OFF,
cials to economic.
AS a striking incident of the way the peoples
money is being blown in we have the work OF
tbe New Jersey-Pennsylvania Bridge Commits
sion which was empowered by the state legisia-
t,re a few years ago to buy up all the bridges
snanning the Delaware river between New Jer-
sev and Pennsylvania and make them free to
the public. Up until this action was taken a toll
was charged.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been
paid out by the state, In conjunction with fehh-
rylvania, to the all-but defunct corporations that
owned these bridges all along the Delaware from
Trenton to Philipsburg. About the only use
that most of these bridges are is to make a con-
venient passage for Pennsylvania autoists TO get
over into New Jersey and help wear out our
excellent road system.
J,st at present the commission having tnls
matter in charge is negotiating for the prlose a.
yard1ey. The owners of this structure are oe-
manding s97, 900 although the bridge was bought
nv its present owners twenty years ago 1or $i0'-
400. OF course, a bridge as old as that hao re-
,,,ired some repairs and doubtless considerable
,,onev has been spent in trying to make 1t hoio
..uo+her mill II could be unloaded on the state
~ bandsome profit. but even the state commits
stow accustomed. as 1t is, to paying big prices
rebels. The commission has offered $55'ooo Tor
the structure and as the owners reruse SUCH ="
liberal offer. condemnation proceedings are
about to be resorted to.
WHY not let the present owners keep the
bridge. allowing it to rot if they desire 10 nave
n so? OF what use is it to the people OF Ne"
Jersey?
Eyen the Trenton Times, which has been the
most persistent advocate of the purchase OIL
~pela&are river bridges because u u"'
direct benefit some of them would be to Tren-
ton. admits that a large part OF the patronage
of this Yardley bridge has been diverted since
the freeing of the lower bridge at Iren'oh' l.
tho comparatively few people who would use
the bridge at Yardley are willing TO drive INV"
- +ba lower bridge at Trenton now in order to
escape the toll, it surely cannot be much OIL q
hardship tor them, so why should the s'a'e
souander between fifty and sixty thousand doi-
lars to buy the bridge to make 1t free Oh OILS
But this is only one instance OF the way tne
people's money is being spent by the puohc o'h-
Gals. AS long as the people consent 10 every
bond issue and quietly submit to increased TAX
rates there is going to be no let-up. When
money comes in so easily. why should there NC
any particular regard for the way IT goes ou''
Y 1t is up to the taxpayers to call a halt. Vo'e
.no, on every proposition to spend more money
for anything no matter what 1t u.s. ana IL 'ne
r,atter is important enough insist tnat II oH-
Gals find some other way through economizihs
m accomplish the purpose. 1t can be oohe IL
tbe right kind of men are in charge. Ihat Is
the way the individual or industry has 10 oo
and that is the way the public affairs ought TO De
run. especially when taxes are so high'' once
the people stop giving the public officials all the
money they ask for the orgy of spending VIII
cease.