Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-01-11

oe sian 1OIlt<kgHotAAs
TRENTON, Jan. 11-Leading Off
with a barrage against the proposed
Blue Sunday legislation and de-
claring for laws that will permit out
door recreation for the youth OF the
cities and the masses of the people,
Governor Edwards today sent his
first annual message to the legis-
lature shortly after he had been
advised by a joint committee from
each branch of the lawmaking body
that II had organized for, the 1921
session and was ready to hear from
T. hun. The message contained sug-
geStions and recommendations
touching upon a number of import
ant state policies. The governor
made the Sunday observance ques-
fion the first topic of discussion and
then outlined his views upon the
following subjects:
State highway financing, money
for the development of the states
charitable and correctional institu-
tons, improvements In the taxation
system, event from the motor We
hicle license fees. protection for the
-T,rth Jersey water supplies, legis-
ution for women in industries. re-
ration of the criminal laws. labor.
.ghe National Guard. daylight saving
and the ceding of state lands to the
federal government for the Raritan
Arsenal.
Striking out against the Puritan
ical Sunday, Mr.. Edwards declared
that the forces which brought about
prohibition and the Volstead act are
planning to go further. "Embol-
dened by their success In that par
~ticular," said the message, they
now plan to further restrict and n
croach upon the liberties of the
American people,"
II believe it TO be to the advan-
tage of the churches that such leg
islation should not prevail" said Mr..
Edwards further. "Sumptuary leg
islation upon questions of morals,
restraining the liberty of the indl-
vidual to worship God in his own
way and to take such recreation rs
may be necessary to his well being,
may cause a reaction that will be
detrimental to religious observance
and will in itself be demoralizing to
the community. i, therefore, ssug-
gcst to you hat If such bills appear
they be not approved"
Then the executive declared his
belief in the liberalizing of the Sum
day. He advocates a general act 20
take the form of a local option law
to be adopted by ordinance in my
city which may desire to take adj
vantage of its provisions. The mes
sage did not specify what ought to
be allowed on Sunday for the enter
tainment of the people. Here is
what the governor told The leg:sla-
ture OF this phase of the Sunday
question:
Not only am ! opposed to any
extention OF 'amplifcation of the
Sunday law for the reason stated,
but | believe ii should be liberal
lied. The difficulty inherent in our
present Sunday law Is that the SEN
timeht of the people in many locali-
5ieS is opposed to its enforcement,
with the result that it becomes un-
enforceable at the hands of grand
Juries and it is. therefore, publicly
condemned. This situation is un-
desirable because it breeds a con-
tempt for law. and its results strike
at the very basis of u system of
government. While the settled pol
icy of the state has at all times been
directed to preserving the sacred
character. OF the day. of rest.
the necessities of modern life have
resulted in compelling the people
to take advantage of the Sunday as
an opportunity for recreation and
amusement.
Golf playing and driving on Sun
day are generally INDUCED in by
those who can afford that species
of recreation, but that does not in
clude the best masses of the people,
who seek other and less expensive
methods of recreation. While l am
anxious to preserve the sacred char
acter of the day. 1 do not think any
thing In that regard can be lost by
the enactment of legislation which
will permit outdoor recreation by
the youth of our cities and the
masses of our people. This privi-
lege need not be imposed upon ev-
cry community. ! ut may assume
the form of a local option law. to
be adopted by ordinance in any city
which may desire to take advan-
tage of the provisions of any gen.
eral act containing a local refer
! endum."
Pointing out that the Edge d.
rect road tax will expire in 1922
and that $55,o00. 900 more is needed
to building the new highway sys-
tenn and its connecting bridges and
also calling attention to the ten year
program of the Department of In
stitutions and Agencies, calling for
100000 to properly deevlop the
states institution, the governor
urges the legislature to name a spe-
cial committee to confer with him
on the SUBJECT, SO that a solution
may be presented to this session.
He also urges that the State
Board of Taxes and Assessment be
given broader powers so that it shall
have authority to order a reassess-
ment of property in any taxing dis
trict. to the end that undervalua-
ton may be halted.
The governor wants the State
Board of Health given power to
prevent the pollution of any water
shed or stream which contributes to
a municipal water supply source.
He urges a bill giving the board
power to prevent the location of
factories liable to pollute the waters
along any stream which supplies
any community with water, and
also recommends that the board be
empowered to prevent bathing at
points where. in its Judgment, such
bathing will be a menace to persons
using the water for other purposes.
1T seems to be an accepted fact
that available water sheds or our
ces of potable water supply in
northern New Jersey will sooner or
later fail to meet the demands of
the municipalities now drawing up
OF them. This would seem to die
tate the wisdom of inaugurating