Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1923-02-02
NEW JERSEY ROAD PROBLEMS

becloud and confuse the highway STU
alton, and to defeat the will Of the
people as expressed at the recent
election, the Good Roads Association
of New Jersey, at a meeting held in
this city last night, passed strong
resolutions c~ondemning the attempts
of political and other interests to hold
up the highway program.
Delegates were present from all
parts of the state, and no words were
minced in expressing opinions con-
corning alleged sinister attempts of
certain interests to make political
capital out of the highway situation"
The highway bond bill, it was point
ed out, will apply only to the 725
miles now a part of the state system,
and this work, it was claimed, should
be finished before additional mileage
is placed in the system. In its So
called program, the Good Roads Asso-
citation had declared for the highway
department certifying to such addi-
tions as may be made from time to
time, instead of the legislature, in or
der to take the highways out of poll
tics.
at is high time the people of New
Jersey awoke to the seriousness of the
situation" said one of the officers of
the association. The highways of u
state have been a political football
far too long. The program advanced
by this association is business like,
and will provide the necessary roads
quicker and more economically thar
any other plan advanced. The SUI
preme merit Of the program If carried
out is hat it precludes the necessity
of any new or increased taxes, as we
have repeatedly pointed out, and as
we again reafirm, despite
unsupported statements to the con-
trary.
The introduction of an unnecessary
gasoline tax, Increased license fees
and the proposals to repeal the one
mill tax, coupled with the plan to
make highway expenditures only by
legislative appropriation, are all at
tempts to make political capital, in
stead of an attempt to serve the
people.
The highways of this state are too
important to every one in the state to
be played with. In the next five years
nearly a hundred million dollars will
be expended on highways and bridges,
and every means that will make it
possible to see that the public gets a
full dollars worth of value for every
dollar expended should be adopted.
The obstructionists and expediency
men must stand back. The public
is watching the outcome and will not
longer stand for such tactics as have
been employed in the past in handling
the roads of the state.
The resolution adopted follows:
Whereas, The Good Roads Associa-
ton of New Jersey after thorough
research confirmed by independent in
vestigations, endorsed the $40, 000, 900
Highway Bond Issue approved by a
substantial majority at the last cleo
ton.
And Whereas, Recent n
statements have been made and quoted
as authoritative that the endorsement
of the election referendum had been
secured by Misrepresentation.
Therefore Be 1t Resolved, That we
hereby affirm by resolution unani-
mously passed, that the completion of
the State Highway System and Bridges
as at present constituted CTS miles)
will be accomplished within 5 years
without other taxation, than the pres
ent l mill road tax.
And Whereas, There appears at the
moment serious attempt by political
and other interests to becloud issues
by suggesting unnecessary legislation
and interference with a sound solution
of our highway problems, be it fur
Their resolved that we recommend and
urge.
"A"-The quick agreement Upon a
Highway Commission, non-partisan,
of high caliber, and not more than
three in number.
"B"-We strongly oppose any effort
to defeat the reforms and economies
which will be accomplished through
the Highway Bond Issue and which
would make the Bond Bill referendum
ineffective, such az the Senate Bill
just introduced to repeal the 1 mill
State Road Tax.
"C"-We strongly oppose legislation
already introduced this year, adding
approximately 400 miles to the State
Highway System. The making of such
additions should be a function of the
State Highway Commission and not
the legislature.
DIVE declare as absolutely I'M
necessary any measures seeking at
this time to add revenues by taxes or
fees of any kind for road construction
or road maintenance.
Also, Be 1t Further Resolved, That
we deplore efforts to confuse the pub
lie directing their attention from the
forward, comprehensive plan for State
Highway Development (of which the
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