Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-02

to the building of roads. also
know that a farmer necessarily does
not have the opportunity to acquire
the technical skill or experience in
building roads and bridges that an
engineer has.
1.-THE senate committee that visited
me clearly demonstrated that their
only purpose in asking for the SUBJ
stitution was political, and / do not
believe that the people of New Jer-
sey want eighty million dollars spent
in that way.
General Scott has served his coun-
try in every high Office which it is
possible for an army officer to fill.
He has been chief of staff; he has
been governor of Cuba; he was as
sistant to General Leonard Wood in
Cuba; he built all the roads at West
Point and many of the buildings. He
was chosen by the President, to-
gether with Elihu Root, to study
conditions in Russia. He many times
saved us from war with Mexico. His
sons wen: to the front at the earliest
opportunity, and one Of them died in
the cause.
cannot permit a man Of this type
to volunteer his services to the state,
and then desert him. l would feel
myself coward IL did SO, AMI der
elict to the interests of the people of
the state.
If the senate of New Jersey desires
to repudiate him, it may do SO, and
justify it's course before the people
of the state.
Mr.. Kidde, an eminent engineer,
only consented to permit his name to
be used when / told him it was in
the public interest, oven though he
should be making a sacrifice; and
what l said about General Scott ap-
plies equally to Mr.. Kidde.
During the campaign I repeatedly
said that l was opposed to the forty
million dollar bond issue. I am
more opposed to 1t now than ever,
because / am rapidly becoming con-
vinced that this sum is in danger.
I am rapidly becoming convinced
that the interests Of the people of
the state of New Jersey will be sac
rificed. if possible. The forces OF
selfishness, the forces allied with the
corrupt paving inte: ests, and the po-
litical forces are all now combined
against the people OF the state, and
unless the people are watchful,
these interests will succeed. If they
do, then large part of our eighty
million dollars will be gone, and we
will have many useless roads to re-
pave q few years hence.
shall ask some member Of the
legislature, at the earliest opportun-
ity, to introduce a bill resubmitting
TO the people of the state OF New
Jersey at the next election the ques-
ton Of whether they want forty mill
lion dollars worth of bonds issued
to build roads. IL this bill is not
passed, then shall put it before the
people at the coming election in
such form that they may make
their wishes felt. r. we do not issue
any bonds at all, but merely spend
the money that is now available to
Us, there will be spent in New Jer-
sey the coming year the sum Of
thirteen million dollars on roads.
We need go no further with further
expenditures; we need issue no
bonds. Even II the bond law is null
lifted this year, there is still tenpta-
tion enough in this large sum to Sc
cure control of our State Highway
Commission and turn it over to- pat
ent paving interest and politicians
If the people of New Jersey want
to protect themselves against fako
open specification laws and against
the unwarranted expenditure of
their moneys, they must rise, and
rise at once. I have pointed out to
them the way.