Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-05-19

Amboy bridge land sale. The editor
ial pointed out that Mr.. Silzer this
week had declared that the testi-
mony taken on Monday to the effect
that Barney Cannon, Democratic
leader in Middlesex and friend OF the
governors had received $4,000. was
none of his affair"
THE governor is not seeking TO
save his friends" declared Mr.. Pease
in his statement, but in the most
effective way possible was and is try
ing to find out who they are who
have been robbing the people,"
Mr.. Silzer at the time he vetoed
the probe resolution explained that
he thought il should have embraced
an investigation of all the acts of
the ousted commission and NOT have
been limited to the Amboy and Hac-
kensack bridge project. Following
is the complete Pearse statement:
THE governor has nothing to con-
ceal. Surely, If he had. he would
not have adopted the course that he
did. He would not have worked in
the open the way he did; in fact, he
would not have dared to appeal to
the people If he had not been honest
and above-board in his Intentions
"Of course, If any of our personal
or political friends are caught in the
net which he himself originally cast,
/ that is their misfortune.
THE governor is not seeking 70
save his friends, but in the most ef'
fective way-possible was AMI L. i Z
| ing to find out who they are who
have been robbing the people. What
more is TO be said except to remind
the forgetful of that which has al
ready occurred?
The matter is unfolding just as
the governor said it would, away
back in January. You will recall
that in the campaign Judge Runyon
made these very charges, and that
the governor said that he would in
vestigate them, if elected. He did,
and on the first occasion after his
Inauguration he ousted the old high
way board, composed of five Demo-
Gratis and three Republicans. He
fought for a new board against the
united opposition of the paving in
terests and their county and legisla-
tive supporters and grafters in gen-
eral. and only succeeded in saving
the taxpayers by appealing to the
force of public opinion.
"1fe then directed the attorney
general to start a suit in chancery TO
recover the $3.50, 900 paid out for the
Amboy bridge approach, knowing
full well that this would bring out
all of the facts. Surely. if he had
anything TO cover up, he never would
have suggested this course.
by this chancery suit a practical
method was provided, not only for
getting back the money fraudulentiy
obtained, but also of getting at the
facts upon which further proceed
ings might be based, and all before
a fair and impartial judge.
His principal objection to the IN
vestigation resolution was that It did
not go far enough. He did not want
to limit it 10 the two bridges, but
wanted the whole road and bridge
subject investigated. and was willing
to have Attorney General McCrzn do
it.
by vetoing the resolution he gave
the legislature the opportunity Of
passing another resolution which
would have comprehended every
phase of graft in the highway situa-
tion, instead of a part OF 1t, as this
one did. This he stated in his veto
message.
The whole matter is progressing
as It would have in chancery, II the
testimony in the chancery suit had
been taken first, and all of this testi-
mony will have to be taken over
again when the chancery suit IS
tried.
"In my opinion. the thing to do Is
to wait until all the evidence Is in,
and then draw the proper conclu-
sions from IT, In this way the blame
will be placed where it properly be-
/ longs.
What the people of the state
want is the truth, the whole truth.
and nothing but the truth, and by
the methods already adopted and
under way, they will be sure to get
It,"