New-York tribune., 1922-02-21
Vehicular Tube
Is Held Up by
Jersey Politics
Commissions i'll Deadlock
After Agreeing Contract
Be Awarded to Booth
& Finn for SI0.33l.725
Hague Threatens DELAY
Jersey City Mayor Refuses
Ordinances Until Grip
per- Bill Is Abandoned

The New York State Bridge and
funnel Commission and the New Jer-
ty Interstate Bridge and Tunnel Com
rission lesdlocked yesterday after
separately deciding to award the vehic-
ssr turnel contract to Booth & Finn
;or sls.3Sl.725. the lowest bid. Booth
Finn in 4 sense have the contract
tut Mayor Hague's administration IN
Jersey City dropped monkey wrench
into the works, which for the time
being will hold up the legal award Of
the contract. Joint action by the two
commissions in awarding the contract
5 necessary before the successful bid
der car begin work, and this Joint
seton will not be possible for another
week or two
Summarized, the situation IS this:
The New York commission viii not
sgree to the awarding of Contract No.
! the Jersey section of the twin tubcs)
srti Jersey City; through Mayor
Hague and his subordinatcs. passes
certain ordinances demanded by the
Erie Railroad Company to safeguard
1eir titles and franchises. Mayor
Hague who controls the New JERSEY
Interstate and Tunnel Commission.
says that the ordinances will not bc
passed until tho Republican maioritv
IN the Legislature At Trenton agrees
"a abandon the so-called "ripper' bill.
shich would take from Mayor Hague
control or the New Jersey commission.
Il this deadlock continues Booth &
Finn viii not be able to assume their
contract. although both commissions.
svard il to them.
Jersey City Ordinance Necessary
Paul Windels, counsel of the New
York commission, said at the meeting
c. the joint commission in the Hall of
Records Yesterday that the New York
commission had awarded the contract
to Booth Finn, contingent upon the
completion Of ccrtain contract with
the Erie Railroad Company. in JERSEY
fty and tho passage of certain ordin-
srces now pending before the Jersey
CITY authorities.
The completion of the Eric Railroad
contract. which is for the acquisition
oi certain property in Jersey City
needed for entrances and exits to the
tunnel. is contingent, tho railroad com
psny Says, on the passage OF Jersey
City ordinances, necessary, in the judg-
ment Of the company, if the company
IS TO have egs! title to ground needed
10 AXE the place of property rclin-
Qulshed by the company for entrances
AID exits
When it came the turn of the New
Jesey Commission at the meeting yes
D ,'frasy to deliver The goods,I T.. AZ
'eps Adam, chairman OF the comm IS
SION So / that his commission would
ieluse to accept the form of the New
.orS COMMISSIONS resolution, for the
'ason that the "ripper" bill is pend
lc in the Jersey Legislature, and he
sded that so long as the "ripper' bill
changing over the New Jersey Com
aission, tho New Jersey authorities
soud not pass the ordinances desired
b. tho railroad company to facilitste
IT'S REIMBURSEMENT Of realty titles.
Thirty Days to Make Award
The Joint commissions have thirty
days in which to thresh out their CON
troversles and make the award. and
possibly this time could be extended
Then, toe. under the law, the commits
sion is authorized to begin condemna-
ton proceedings when necessary. but
there is clear intimation from Mayor
hague's city government that if that
IS attempted Jersey City will definitely
block the entire project by beginning
su action to test the constitutionality
Of the Vehicuiar Tunnel act. The com
missions will meet again on Tuesday
OF next week