The New York herald., 1921-12-09
VEHICULAR TUNNEL
HALTEDBY QUARREL
5 Jersey Commerce Chambers
May Put Delays Up to Miller
and Edwards.
MONEY WASTING CHARGED
Private Interests Would Bene-
fit by Disputed Contracts,
Says New York Member.

Gov Edwards of New Jersey and
Gov Miller OF New York are about to
be asked to investigate the quarrel be-
tween the two commissions which have
been designated to build a tunnel under
the Hudson River connecting Manhattan
and Jersey City.
The Chambers of Commerce OF Jersey
City. Newark Hoboken, Elizabeth and
Bayonne got together or Wednesday
night and decided that the New Jersey
commission has mo backbone" that the
New York body is pledged to rule or
ruin" policy and that the result Is a
constant quarrel and no progress TO-
ward the construction of the tube.
T. Albeus Adams, chairman of the
New Jersey commission. said yesterday
that he had no comment to make other
than that he and his Jersey associates
have put nothing In the path OF progress
But T.. w. Bloomngdale chairman OF
the Conference Committee of the New
York Commission. announced that he
and his conferees are heart and souf'
with the five chambers of commerce IN
their desire to have the two Governors
investigate. He added that II is per-
sion has delayed falling In with the New
Jersey plans. He said:
I'VE have deemed 1t our duty, mas
much as re are dsbursing public funds.
20 see to 1t that such funds shall not
be spent 70 further private enterprises"
The five chambers or commerce
agreed on a joint committee that is TO
irnportune the two Governors and
various commercial organizations to
compel more energetic work by the two
commissions. II they fail to inspire
action the committee proposes to suggest
that both commissions be removed.
The members Of the committee are
Edmund W. Wollmuth, N. G. Campbell.
A. D. Way and John E. De Schazo. A
report Of an investigation into the tun-
mel situation was made by Willard G.
Stanton, secretary of the Jersey City
Chamber of Commerce. This report
said:
"The New York State Bridge and
Tunnel Commission has adopted policy
OF rule or ruin with reference to the
tunnel. In other words. II intends to die
tate the terms under which this tunnel
is to be built. regardless of the natural
and contractural rights of New Jersey
as an equal partner in the project, or,
failing in that, to hold up the work by
endeavor TO create and foster the i'm
preston In the public mind and the
official mind that the New Jersey Tun-
mel Commission is responsible for the
delay.
"In furthcrance OF this purpose and
apparently also for some other reason
which may be suspected but Is not per-
haps susceptible of direct proof. the New
York Commission Is endeavoring by its
course to handicap or injure certain
property interests In New Jersey"
Mr.. Wollmuth suggested that the New
Jersey Commission be wiped out" and
a new body substituted. adding:
AN official investigation will disclose
an awful waste OF money by the New
York group. Anyway. there's a Niger
in the woodpile somewhere. There's no
use IN standing back OF this New Jersey
commission. It has no backbone at all. :"
Mr.. Bloomingdale, speaking for the
New York commission, said thus far this
state had appropriated $1,000, ,0o0-at
least s5,0O0,O00 more than New Jersey
had produced, although the latter sum
was TO be forthcoming through a bond
issue across the Hudson.
But II Is true we have delayed mat
ters somewhat" said Mr. Bloomingdale
Furthermore. we would be very glad to
have Cows Edwards and Miller investi-
gate Then many OF the things we have
said and the very reasons We have
baked at some OF the New Jersey prop
ositions would come out for public OBJ
servation.
For instance, we do not propose TO
agree to expensive plans that will be
good business strokes for a member OF
the New Jersey body IL we can get the
same efficiency and produce the same
results through less expensive plans
that do not make more valuable prop
erty held by interested individuals. And
we do not agree to signing contract
that will make the commissions liable
TO enormous damages and claims when
by adopting other measures we can
avoid such possibilities. BY signing the
first mentioned contracts private inter-
ests connected with the joint commits
sions would be benefited.
$50 let's have an investigation. Then
well be out In the open, and the public
will understand why there have been de-
lays that cost the two States millions OF
dollars in lost time and in business that
cannot be carried on because work on
the tunnel IS being postponed"