Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-01-16
healthv and accegslble.

healthy and accessible.
This part of New Jersey is destined
! for q rapid and healthful growth.
That growth, however, at this time,
is being seriously retarded by the
lack of comfortable and convenient
! facilities for transportation.
Subways and ferry boats are
crowded, passengers are inconven-
fenced and motor travel is congested.
If we are to take advantage of u
opportunities, we must see that
more comfortable and adequate fa-
! ~cilities are provided to transport
those who must cross the Hudson
river.
Among the methods suggested is
| the erection of a bridge Of ample
size to care for vehicular and pas
senger travel, and for railroad ter
minal service.
A similar enterprise already I'M
dertaken across the Delaware river
ought to accomplish a like benet1-
cial result in the southern part OF
New Jersey.
In this connection, we must also
have in mind scientific planning
| which will make such development
as attractive as possible. In these
| eIllSflLeIlSu udyS Wo CdAiOl 49,
along and permit ugliness to pre-
dominate,
The ultimate growth in this sec
ton will bring with it a most de-
sirable population, and the increased
ratables will add greatly to the pros
perity of the entire state.
Conditions in this country are
lrapidly changing and this is particu-
larly true in our eastern states. Large
industrial communities a. been
established and the problem of car
ing for and protecting those who Ia
Dor in mills and factories. is becom-
ing, every day, more and more COM
pick.
The lives which the people in
these communities lead are not con-
ducive either to health or happiness.
Most of them came to this land seek
ing freedom and contentment, and 1t
is the function and duty of the state
to so regulate the conditions under
which they live and work that they
may be given an equal opportunity
with those of us who are better stu
ated. If our country is to continue
in greatness, the health and happi-
ness of all of it's people must be
l tdICu LUZ LtAS "A
1 of Woodworking men and tired wo-
men, as well as helpless children, are
our responsibility, and the state is
not doing it's duty to its citizens II
these things are neglected and If the
helpless ones, men, women and chill
dren, are left alone to help Them
selves.
Our thoughtlessness, selfishness
and neglect will affect not only the
present but future generations.
If the children of industrial work
ers are to become happy, c~ontented
and useful citizens, their fathers and
mothers must lead happy lives II
their hpme surroundings and the
conditions under which they labor
must be bettered. go
Chief among the present day Ills
of industrial workers is night work
for women in III mills and factor
les, particularly young married wo-
men, who are either mothers or are
about to become mothers. Such
things should not be either possible
or necessary in this enlightened day
and generation. If the man or men
of the family are not paid a sufficient
wage to enable them to support the
family with some degree of comfor.
at least, then that condition must be
changed and changed Immediately
Pregnant mothers, working al
night, gaunt and weary with toll
standing eight or nine hour at a
machine, running noisily and cease
lessly, and then returning to a cold
and cherries home in the early
hours, greeted by crying and hungry
babies, is not a pleasant picture N
behold and should never exist in this
free land of ours. Conditions n
tke homes are appalling. Ihe
mother obtains little or no rest, for
her days are spent in caring for hey
children and attending to other ar
duous household duties and her
nights are spent toiling in the mlil
Both for humanitarian reasons ana
for the good of the state these Things
must not be-.
will again urge upon the legisla-
ture the passage of laws regulating
night work for women. Reasonable
opportunity should be given to ad'
lust operations, so that conditions
NAV be changed without disturbing
more than may be necessary the
processes of manufacture and the
steady employment of labor.
The time has also arrived tC
change the schedules for the COM
~pensation of those injured while en-
gagged in the performance of then
work, giving an increase which shall
be commensurate with the higher
cost of living. 49,.
Having had the honor of partlci-
pating in the preparation and en-
actment of the original compensa'
ton law. it is gratifying to me to pe
in a position to urge improvements
IN this most humane statute.
In reviewing the question of pup
lie utilities, it is helpful to examine
the historical background.
In the beginning franchises were
granted to street railway companies
bv municipalities, under legislative
permission, in nearly $50 municl
ralities, upon terms agreed upon re
tween the companies and the munich
palities, and almost invariably upor
conditions that a five cent fare onl!
be charged.
The companies operated under
them with apparent success. But IN
the operation of these franchise:
abuses grew. Then public opinion
demanded that these companies, the
creatures of the state, be regulated
and controlled. This resulted in the
passage of the public utility act II
1911, creating the Public Utllt9