Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-02-07
| SILzER WINS ROAD FIGHT;
WASSER HAS RESIGNED
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of the armistice" between the ex.
ecutive and legislative branches OF
the state government. They were
the five propositions enumerated
above. The press representatives
then interviewed the governor and
Senator Stevens together in the In
uer office of Mr.. Silzer.
1--WE have reached a complete
agreement, began Stevens who then
went into details.
IF the appointments made by the
governor are not acceptable to the
Republican senators, we will reject
them" he continued.
''If do not appoint good men /
want them to be rejected" replied
Mr.. Sllzer.
The Republican senators who are
entitled to share In the victory for n
new highway commission free Of
any alliances and whose steadfas.-
hess blocked the program of the
friends of the bill to rip the pow
er OF appointment from executi' e
department were led by Senator
| leader of the senate Republicans,
ator Case of Somerset, Whitney of
Morris, Parry of Essex, Senator Lar
son of Middlesex, Blackwell of Mel-
Ger, Roberts of Burlington, Joined
him. Later Senator Allen OF Salem
aligned himself with these forces
and Pierson of Union, who had for
time gone over apparently to the
ranks of the "rippers' came back
to his original moorings this week.
One of the stipulations which the
Republican conference committee
made in reaching its agreement with
Governor Silzer, was that State
Highway Engineer Thomas J.
Wasser of Hudson, would not be
retained under he new regime. The
G. o. P. leaders took the position
wiser of the recently ousted road
commission, was as much to blame
as that body of commissioners for
the mistakes and extravagances
against its record.
"If the highway commission was
such as to warrant its removal, as
the governor outlined in his inau-
gural address, his special message
anC in his statement to the news
paper men, we feel that the engineer
was equally guilty as undoubtedly
he was the dominating factor in the
highway commissions act" ex-
planned Senator Stevens, after the
o agreement had been reached with
the governor.
'As a trained engineer, he knew. |
or should have known. that the state |
was making extravagant expendi- |
lures. The same would apply to any |
other state official. Therefore, we
are making a house cleaning and |
want to start fresh and new.
Ibid you take up the highway en-
gineer's status with the governor"
Stevens was asked.
YES and he agreed with US fully.
We understand the governor is going
to ask for his resignation
Mr.. Wasser was appointed state
highway engineer in July, 1920.
when the Democratic commissioner
succeeded the Republican commits
sioner succeeded the Republican
board named by Governor Edge. He
received a salary Of $4,000 at first
and during the past year this was
raised to $4,000 a year. Previously
he was county engineer for Hudson
county where 1t is understood his
former position awaits him.
The bill to be passed by the Re-
publican legislature next week for |
the four-man commission will sp ci- |
ically provide that the term of the
present state highway engineer is
ended.
Governor Silzer has told the Re-
publican leaders that he intends to
send them the names of four high
.ypes nominees for the new highway
two of whom have ma
ional regulations. When the senate
axes them up for consideration II
will, in view Of the situation which
las existed. call the House Republi-
ans into conference as to the fitness
If the persons named by the COVER
lor before putting the seal of con-
1rmation upon the selections the
Democratic governor makes.
When the agreement had been
reached late last night with the gov
srnor the Republican conference
committee was exhausted and ad-
Iournment of both senate and house
vas taken until next Monday evening
when the four-man commission bill
will be introduced and probably
rushed through both houses. Cover
nor Silzer will then sign it.
The main battle against allowing
The governor to make the appoint
ments was staged in the house which
died hard. Several members Of the
Essex delegation broke away and
favored giving the governor the pow
ar.