Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-16
THE GOVERNORS INAUGURAL ADDRESS

have been coming from the state executives office under the Ed
wardss regime.
that carries with it the respect that such a message coming from
such a source should have. 1t is plain talk that is easily under
stood. A plan of action is offered for each recommendation made.
It is for the legislature to consider the governors words care
fully and unless it can devise a better method Of solving the prob
lens it should cooperate with the governor in the program he
has mapped out.
In spite Of the fact that the recent campaign was fought al
most exclusively on the question of prohibition, Governor Silzer
does not let that issue o~ver-shadow all others as his predecessor
did. He handles it in a common-sense way and reaches conclusions
that must be apparent to all in the light of the verdict at the polls,
at least as far as New Jersey is concerned. He draws a keen
distinction between prohibition and temperance. He points out
how ridiculous the onehalf of one per cent. Intoxicating clause in
the Volstead act is and advocates changing the law so that the
light beverages can be used.
<'0ur people are against the kind of prohibition we have
today he says. "For we know that prohibition has brought
in its wake, it's booteggers, its violation and disrespect for the
law, its illeffeets upon youth, its increase of indulgences in hard
liquors by adults, its decentralization of public officials, its cor
ruption of enforcement officers, its perncious effect upon public
and private conscience, its breeding Of Hypocrisy, its disregard
for the rights of citizens, and the deprivation of their cherished
constitutional rights and privileges, its bad example to those of
foreign birth, who are thus invited to disrespect and disregard
not only this but all laws, its turning of our best citizens into
participants in law violating, its trail of those who have been.
blinded, and those who have been carried to the grave, its de-
privation of medicine to the sick, aged and inhrm, its demora!izng
example of law violation on the sea by the government itself, its
international complications, the observation at elections of all
other important issues to that of prohibition"
This is a severe arraignment of the present prohibition law,
but it is none too severe. 1t is handling the question in a straight
forward manner and every honest thinking man and woman will
agree that the governor is right.
But it is other more important issues before the state to which
the new governor gives the most attention in his inaugural adj
dress. The subject of utilities is dwelt on at length and the ideas
as set forth will cause considerable discussion. After summing
up the situation in this state very thoroughly, he answered his
own question as to what shall be done, by declaring that the va
rous utility companies may continue to exercise their fran.
chises onlyif they agree to a reasonable return upon a prudent
notwithstanding more"
eff they do not agree the governor says, ''the state must
then exercise its sovereign power And this is the keynote
of the message as far as this issue is concerned. The power of
the state, the governor holds, supersedes that of any municipality
and he insists that ''the state should therefore say to the railway
companies that unless they are willing to accept a reasonable
return upon a prudent investment value, then the public high
ways of the state must be vacated by them And the governor.
shows the way to do this. 1t is for the legislature to ponder.
well the governors words. He shows a way out that promises
real relief from the present chaotic condition. Unless the legs-
lators can advance something better they cannot ignore the gov
srnor's plan.
On the matter of roads Governor slzer has already spoken.
He reiterates his ideas regarding a reorganization of the present
State Highway Commission and a change in its personnel. He
ignores entirely what his predecessor said. only last week in his
final message to the legislature about the bond issue and takes an
opposite position on the matter. Whereas Governor Edwards
recommended the repeal of the law and the abandonment of the
bonding idea, Governor Slzer feels that the vote of last fall in ia
vor Of the bond issue sis in the nature of a mandate to the state
officials to make the improvement. 1850 long as no attack is made
upon this action he says, "or protest entered against it, l shall
deem it my duty to carry out the provisions of the road bond act. .
Evldenuy the new governor doeS not consider the fetlrlng COVER
nors ideas on this subject worthy of consideration as he does not
take his predecessors remarks to be either an attack or a protest.
Attention is called to the increasing state debt which will soon
be over $s0JOo0,N0 whereas five years ago the state had no debt
whatever. This is only a tendency of the times and it is something
that is viewed with concern by al. thinking people.
Night work for women is attacked and laws are urged that will
put an end to what is a reflection on our civilization. We do not
see how the legislature can longer deny such action. The whole
labor problem is considered in it's broadcast scope and it cannot
escape attention. The governor is on firm ground in his argument
Taxation and economy are not overlooked, The one naturally
follows the other. Mandatory legislation taking from the people
the control of their own funds, and the exemptions from taxation
are attacked. The adjustment of useless offices, consolidation Of
certain departments and the reduction of salaries where the labor
performed does not warrant such pay are all referred to.
It 9 q message such as one would expect from a man like Gov
4 ernor Silzer. He starts his administration most auspiciously. HI
4 gives every indication of being governor in every sense of the
word. He ought to have the hearty support of every citizen,