Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-10-21
HEAR RUNYON
ON ROAD ISSUE
Speaks of Big Cost of Con.
demnation of Land for
Bridge Approach Here

ELIZABETH, Oct. 21.-The Re-
publican candidates toured Union
county today and were well received
by large audiences throughout the
county The county tour ended in an
evening meeting, where Senator
Runyon again dwelt on the extrava-
gance of the Edwards Highway
Commission and the failure of the
Democrats to keep their pledges. He
called on Judge Silver, his Demo-
cratic opponen to explain what he
meant by the most important planks
in the Democratic platform. Sena-
tor Runyon said:
ssThe people of New Jersey have
always appreciated the value and ne
ecessity of good roads and have
cheerfully paid their taxes for this
They do not look with
comnlaisance. however, on the ex-
of the present Edwards
Highway Commission, bound up at
It is with the patented pavement
trust which makes each mile of o
cost so per cent. more than 1t should
cost IL made of non-patented pave
ments of equivalent merit. The Re-
publican legislature is pledged to
end this intolerable situation of ex-
and mismanagement OF
the public's funds in important road
building by passing an open speclh-
cations act which will force patent
ed pavements to compete on equai
terms with non-patented pavements-
With this law on the statute o
what has for years been
regarded as a great source of pontl-
cal corruption and debauchment will
be forever done awIy with IN New
Jersey.
sIf the people of New Jersey
elect me governor, 1 promise to nm
lsh the job Of putting the state
Highway Department in proper
working condition by seeing that the
members of the State Highway
Commission are business men OF
ability. trained to their work and
devoted solely to the public welfare:
zone instance of the conduct OF
the present Edwards Highway
Commission will show their incom-
petence to hold high public ONCE
The appraiser appointed by TINS
commission valued the properly OF
the Donnell Lumber Company at
the approach to the Perth Amboy
bridge at 5000 Notwithstanding
these a~ppraisals and notwithstand-
ing the fact that they had the power
to acquire the land by condemnation
at a reasonable price, they voluntar-
ily paid over the sum of S230,OOO.
The commission either appointed in
competent appraisers or it paid an
excessive price for the land. In
either event they have failed to pro-
test the public welfare and deserve
to be removed from office.
mot only has the commission
been wasteful and extravagant in
AZ. A,fId;1o re roadS and the mr.
chase of land, but the cost of main
tenance of the roads has increased
out of all proportion under the
Democratic regime. Road building
at best is expensive. The state can
not afford to continue the great
highway system so necessary 10 the
life of our people unless it is done
on the most economical basis. The
Democrats have had their full OPP
portunity, and have failed. The
Democratic platform, which Judge
Silzer admits he wrote. commendS
the work done by the Edwards
Highway Commission. Certainly
the people can hope for no relief
from this source. They must turn,
and they will turn, to the Republi-
cans. who are pledged to a definite
open specifications act as distin-
guished from the vague and indef-
mite plank of the Democrats, and to
a Republican candidate for governor
who is pledged to see that the work
of the present highway commission
Is not p~erpetuated.
''The Democrats are busy making
promises this year, as they were in
1919. In 1919 Governor Edwards
promised to make New Jersey as
wet as the Atlantic ocean Now
Tf1arAL Ci1ypr yrnrAfEaG m piva ne
wine and beer by recognized and
lawful methods. Will he explain the
Democratic failure to do this in the
three years from 1919 to date? VIII
he tell us how he expects to accom-
plish more in this respect than Gov
ernor Edwards did,
"Three years ago Governor Ed
wards promised a tive-cent fare.
Shortly after his inauguration he
appointed a utility commission. To-
DAY the people have an eight-cent
fare. with one cent for transfers.
Now Judge Silzer comes forward
with the same old plea for a five
cent fare. Will he explain how he
can do any more than Governor
Edwards did? Will he openly re-
pudiate the failure of Governor
Edwards to make good on this
promise, also? And will he take
the time to explain in detail what
he means by his proposed law to
restore the original franchises he
tween the trolley companies and
the municipalities?
"Just as Governor Edwards is
s~teadfastly refusing to state his st.
titude on n of the great national
issues of the day, so Judge Silzer is
falling from day to day 20 define
his position on the vital issues Of