Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-03-06
EDGE ENDORSES FEDERAL
ROAD MAN FOR JERSEY

Senator Mackay. who has always
been aligned with the Edge group in
the upper House was seen going to-
ward the Treasurer's office too, but
whether he was sent for or not is
unknown. Mackay has been classed
as a member favoring the ripper"
bill.
Senator Blackwell, of Mercer, aud
Larson, of Middlesex, are listed with
those opposed to the one-man plan
of Mr.. Edge and these with Stevens,
Case, Whitney, Pierson and Roberts
are the great impediment to any of
the plans Of ripper" bill or
commission Of one man.
1t is understood that the gift Of
the argument of at least some Of the
senators who talked with Mr.. Edge
was that they had entered into a
"gentlemen's agreement" with Mr..
Silzer for a four man commission,
two members to be Democrats ard
two Republicans. That pursuant to
this agreement bill had been pass
ed which Mr.. Silzer had signed and
then carried out by nominating four
men, Messrs. Stewart and Jelin as
Democrats, General Scott and Mr..
Kidde as the Republicans.
How can we go back on that
agreement" was the question in ef-
feet that the senators who saw Mr..
Edge put up to him. Just what his
answering argument was could not
be learned,
There are several other names be-
ing heard in connection with the
appointment, il one man Is finally
designated to direct the states road
program. James Macdonald, under
stood to be former Highway Coni-
missioner of Connecticut. is said to
be under consideration by Mr.. Edge.
in addition to Colonel BGwlby a.
ready mentioned. An army officer
who is an engineer and whose last
name is Spaulding. has also bee.i
mentioned as a possibility. as we'll
as Ralph Mojeska who has charge
OF the plans for the Delaware river
bridge to be built 10 connect CAM
den with Philadelphia.
Mr.. Edge held series OF confer
ences here last night. particularly
with a number OF the Republican
senators. He held forth in the Of
flee Of State Treasurer Read, which
was De Mecca for many Republican
leaders during the evening to shake
the hand OF the Atlantic City man.
talk to the newspapermen that he
was not hankering after the job of
Strengthening out the road tangle.
I'VE are weary working on this
thing, senator" one OF the cores
pondents told him.
II am very weary OF 1t already"
he answered. II am not looking for
this, but when friends urge you to
assist them and men in responsibility
here say don't remain in Washing
ton, come up and help us to solve
this thing, what can I do. have
no desire to dictate and have not
sought to interfere"
In his interview the senator said
that he had accepted information
given him that Governor Silzer did
not have any agreement with the
majority about the type Of Repubii-
cans to be named on the four-man
board. That his statements as to the
governors not keeping his arrange
ment with the G. o. p. members of
the senate and House was, therefore,
made under a false impression as to
the situation and the facts.
However, that is all water over
the dam now" he said. When press
ed for his latest viewpoint OF what
SHOuiu De uoHe, ne repileQ:
II do favor a one-nan board first"
He intimated that he did not think
the governors appointees represent
ed the proper idea of bipartisan
board, the inference being that the
two Republicans were not hardly In
that class to complete the fifty-fifty
political complexion of this proposed
commission OF four. Coming back
to his one-man plan he declared:
ST think we can find the right man,
1t makes no difference whether 1t Is
in the United States or Honolulu"