Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-02
PARRY URGES
ROAD REFORM
Writes to Chairman Stokes
on Eve of Republican State
Convention

bCCidAAuS LAidL the state neSuS d
law that will release the ~strangle-
hold that the warrenite bithulithic
ring, a patented paving concern,
has on the New Jersey State
Highway Commission and on
Boards of Freeholders of certain
counties, State Senator William H
Parry directs an open letter today
TO Edward Casper Stokes, chair
man New Jersey Republican State
Committee. concerning the adop-
ton of an open specification plank
in the Republican platform. SEN
ator Parry's communication follows:
Edward Casper Stokes,
Chairman N. j. Republican State
Committee,
Dear Sir:
Newspaper reports have intimat-
ed that the conference of so-called
best minds which met At Trenton
on Friday to prepare the prelimin-
airy draft of the Republican plat
form to be submitted to the Repub-
lican convention on Tuesday, was
averse to adopting the open speci-
fications" plank.
1t is perhaps true that the term
open specifications is more or less
of a misnomer. We do not want a
law that is going to interfere with
any honest. efficient and economical
road program. There is no reason
to my mind why a bodybuilding
body, which desires to construct a
road of any recognized non-patent-
ed type such as concrete, reinforced
concrete, Topeka mixed or sheet as
phalt should be compelled TO place
the type it prefers in competition
with some other type.
Any contractor may buy the ma
terial for a non-patented type in the
open market and there may be hon
est and actual competition.
What we do need, however, is a
law that will release the strangie-
hold that the warrenite bitulithic
ring. a patented paving concern, has
on the New Jersey State Highway
Commission and on the Boards of
Freeholders of certain counties OF
the state, by providing that no pat
ented pavement shall be used in the
state, unless actual competition is
provided for with a non-patented
type equally suitable for the same
purpose. We also need an amend
ment to section 1922 of the county
dNI VI IO1os oiluSI tIldL SGCllOI, IL
the Board of Freeholders Of any
county in the state desires to adveT-
tise for bids for a patented type, it
Is not only not required to cali for
bids at the same time for a non-pat-
ented type, but it has been construed
20 mean that the board is actually
forbidden from receiving bids on any
other type. 1t is the only instance
of road legislation that I know of in
any state in the country which ac-
frally prevents competition.
Section rs of the New York High
way law has the following provision:
in the construction, maintenance
or repair of state or county high
ways, no patented material or art
icle or any other material or article
shall be specified, contracted for or
purchased, except under such cir
cumstance that there can be fair and
reasonable opportunity for compe-
tition, the conditions to secure which
shall be prescribed by the commits
siorer Of highways"
The United States government has
the following regulation for all
roads constructed under the federal
aid road act:
NO part Ol the money dppCT-
toned under the act shall be used,
directly or indirectly, to pay to or to
reimburse a state, county or local
subdivision for the payment of any
premium or royalty on any patented
o proprietary material, specifca-
ton, process or type of construc-
ton unless purchased or obtained
on open, actual competitive bidding
at the same or a less cost than UNI
patented articles or methods equal
II suitable for the same purpose"
CIRCULATION 8, Section A. Chapter
173 OF the Oregon laws for 1919
provides:
provided, no part of the money
expended for the hard surfacing Of
state highways shall be used direct
ly or indirectly for the payment of
any premium or royalty on any pat
ented OF proprietary material. spec
ifcation. process or type of con-
struction, unless the same be our
chased or obtained on open, actual,
competitive bidding; nor in any
case shall any patented or proprie-
tary material, specification, process
or type of construction be con-
structed unless in competition with
unpatented pavement, the same to
be purchased or obtained at the
same or less cost, including all roy
alties. having regard to strength,
durability and resistance to wear"
1t is a comparatively simple mat
ter to frame a statute along the
lines of the Oregon and New York
laws and the federal government
regulation which will adequately
curb in New Jersey the ravenous