Palisadian., 1925-01-23
Mackay Bridge Bill
Sure of Passing

The Mackay Hudson River Bridge
bill which Senator Mackay introduced
last Tuesday is the first bill on the
Senate Calendar. 1t, therefor, bears
the coveted number l. Immediately
after it's Introduction and first read
| ing, it was read the second time by
dispensation and passed. 1t will, there
| for, be considered on third reading
and final passage during this weeks
session of the State Senate. There is
no question of it's passage in the up
per house. After is has been signed
! by the Senate President it will go to
the Assembly where it will doubtless
| be referred to the Highway Com
mittee of which Colonel G.. M. Hurd
of Leonia, is the chairman. 1t ought
to have no difficulty in getting through
| this committee and inasmuch as there
has been no active opposition of any
movement developed in the Lower
House, the bill ought to be in the
hands of the Governor within the
next ten days or two weeks.
Governor Silzer is already commit
ted to the construction of a bridge
provided it is built by the Port
I uthority Inasmuch as the Mackay
bill covers this point, there is no
doubt but that Governor Silzer will
approve this measure. In New York
an enabling act framed along lines
similar to those of the Jersey bill will
be introduced before the close of this
week 1t will have the important and
influential support of the two United
States Senators from the great En-
pire State Inasmuch as the Repub
lican majority in both Senate and
House is considerable there should
be no difficulty in having the measure
passed by these bodies. Like Gov
ernor Silzer, Governor Smith is also
pledged to the construction of inter
state tunnels and bridges by the Port
Authority Therefor, it is extremely
unlikely that he will interpose any OBJ
! jections to the bill. The only point
on which objection might be raised in
the Empire State is that of the small
appropriation of S150,000, which the
bill carries. Governor Smith is max
| ing a heroic attempt to decrease the
| burdens of taxation in New York but
it is unlikely that he will go to the
length of vetoing the bill providing
for the construction of a bridge by
| his favorite body-the Port Authority
to save the relatively small amount
out of a budget running into many
millions.
The Mackay Hudson River Bridge
Association which was organized
about month ago has developed in
to a very live organization. Only one
meeting. aside from the organization
dinner at the Hachensack Golf Club,
has been held, but the officers and
members are putting on a campaign
which is winning support everywhere.
To this date approximately forty of
the municipalities in Bergen County
have gone ON record as endorsing the
| project.
An active campaign to secure five
thousand members has been ordered
kept open another month so that any
who wish to enroll under this class
ification may do so. AT the Hacken-
sack Automobile Show. which opened
on Saturday evening, January II, fifty
six charter members were enrolled.
This campaign is being conducted by
Mrs. J. c.. Barclay.
Meetings at Hohokus, Hillsdale and
Tenafiy in the interests OF the bridge,
were held during last week. A meet
ing is being planned for this week at
Englewood and another at Rutherford.
These meetings we're addressed by
the officers of the Association, Sen
ator Mackay, President John B. Ia
briskie Vice-President, Andrew Knox
and others being the principal speak
ers.