Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-11

tAts 0A5AN
on Sunday is fully justihable. Sunday can be
made a day of wholesome entertainment and
without destroying its sacredness,
provided it is not commercialized For the leg
islature to act favorably on the governors rec
ommendation and make Sunday more liberal In
this state would, in a sense, be an effective an
swer to that element which would restore the
Puritan Sabbath with all the horrors that 1t
implies.
1t is very evident that the legislature will
have to extend the operation of the Edge high
way law because the program mapped out four
years ago is nowhere near completed. Tine
war came and upset all calculations. "A state
highway system has been started in New Jersey
and 1t must be completed. In enacting legisla-
tion in this regard the governor warns against
TOO much state debt, which already amounts to
$40. 900. 900.
In connection with the highway problem the
matter of state charitable and correctional, in
s~titutions are discussed. That something must
be done to remedy conditions that exist in these
institutions has heen realized for some time. but
the legislature has been putting the matter on
from year to year. The governor suggests the
appointment of q special committee consisting
OF representatives Of both the senate and the
House to confer with the governor and try 20
arrive at some concrete program for the pres
emit session to act upon.>
More power is recommended for the State
Board of Taxes and Assessment in order that
1t might go into any section Of the state and
secure a greater equality of assessment as be-
tween taxing districts and as between counties
The question Of taxation is always a boog-a-boo
for every administration. Sooner or later the
advantages of the single land tax will be real
lied. The present method of penalizing a per-
SON for improving his properly or for bringing
an industry into a community. thereby devel-
oping vacant property and giving employment
to many hands. is about as foolish q notion of
the way to tax people as can be devised. Real
estate SPECTATORS hold vacant land year after
year for an increase In price and pay out a
nominal tax thereon because 1t is unimproved.
II this land were taxed on an equality with all
other land and no tax was placed on any i'm
rrovement that might be placed on the land. 1t
would pretty soon be taken out of the Idle,
speculative class and be developed. Besides, a
tax on land is something easily valued and
equalized. No tax board in existence can equal
lie taxes on personal property. neither can one
be created that can successfully do it.
Before changing the motor vehicle license
fees the governor waiting for the
report of the commission now having the mat
ter under consideration. He intimates, how
ever, that he will favor an increase in the Ii
cense fees to help pay the cost of maintaining
the highways.
On the matter of protecting the states water
supply the governor takes a sensible stand. He
sees the time rapidly approaching when the
state, especially the cities and counties OF the
northern section. will be demanding more water
than they are now receiving and every means
should be taken to conserve what supply the
state has. To that end the governor would
give the State Board of Health authority to
prevent pollution Of streams OF the state and
power to back up such authority.
Labor legislation affecting the issuing of writs
of injunction. trial by jury in certain contempt
cases and better protection of women workers
are recommended. Also, the governor favors a
daylight saving law but would have the stand
ard time restored earlier in the fall than was
the case last year. In this matter the governor
might better urge cooperation with congress so
that the whole eastern time can be changed.
To have the time changed by states or by sep
arate municipalities as was the case last year is
only to cause confusion and chaos to railroads
and industries generally. The public does not
want a repetition of last years experience.
Daylight saving is a good thing if it can be done
for the whole section of the country at once.
but not any such condition as existed last year.
The federal government has asked that the
state surrender all jurisdiction to such land in
Middlesex county as is occupied by the Raritan
Arsenal. This is in accordance with custom
where government reservations are established.
No doubt the state will readily comply with
the request of the War Department.