Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-26
soUTH AMBoY's PROBLEM

South Amboy is now paying the penalty for her neglect and
indifference in the past. The city has been on a wild debauch and
the SOLDERING up time has arrived. But things that were done while
the spree was on cannot be undOne and the taxpayers have no
choice but to take their medicine.
If there ever was an illustration of what happens when the
people allow a lot Of incompetent men run their municipal gov
eminent, South Amoby furnishes that illustration. 1t is to be
hoped that the taxpayers there have learned their lesson. Judging
from the last election there is reason to believe that they have.
The choice of D. G. Chase for mayor shows that the voters realized
that the time has come for a change, and conditions are already
Beginning to improve.
It is one of the regrettable things about squandering and reck-
bsssness that the innocent have to suffer along with those who are
responsible for the condition that obtains. South Amboy, today,
must curtain in every way, do without many improvements that
are greatly to be desired and keep her nose to the grind stone for
some time to come in order to make up for the folly of recent years
when the taxpayers let things go by default and were not interest
ed enough in their city government to see that the right kind Of
men were electedto run it properly.
1t is a. pity. however, that even innocent little children should
have to suffer for the fonies and Indifference of their elders. 1t
ID too often the case that this is so, but where it can be avoided it
should be. One would think that in a city like South Amboy the
people would be willing to pay the fiddler without putting any of
the load on the boys and girls. It. is up to the residents of the city
across the river to measure up TO situation. cost what it may, and
make good. This means that no matter what the cost may be, they
will not permit the public schools to suffer.
It is in the public schools where the future citizens of the city
are being trained. Having had such a lesson in citizenship as
South Amboy has just had forced upon it, one would think that
everything would be done to so educate the next generation that
such a state of affairs could never be brought about again. Give
the children the right kind Of a start, educate them in true citizen
ship, and when they come to take the reins of government there
will be a higher standard Of ethics than that which has prevailed
iii South Amboy recently.
In economizing, then, in order to make good for the reckless
past, the public schools ought not to suffer. To cut down the ap
preparation for education, demoralize the teaching force by break
ing faith with the teachers, and otherwise reduce the educational
standard Of the community is a very bad policy. IF anything,
more attention than ever should be given to the cause of educa-
ton. Let the officials of South Amboy consider well what they are
doing in this respect. Their desire to economic in every way pos
>ible is commendable, but there are certain ways of economizing
that, in the end, become more extravagant than that which the
eeonomizng was expected to correct.
No community can afford to be niggardly with its public
schools. Especially, should a city which has suffered so much
from ignorance in handling public affairs, have particular regard
for its educational system in order that the men and women of
tomorrow may be better trained and therefore better able to
handle the taxpayers money wisely. There is a great RESPONSE
bnity resting upon the Board of Education at this time. The city
IL passing through d crisis. Those in charge of affairs must look
into the future as well as at the present.