Rapid Transit Move Stalled by Democrats

Trenton, Feb. 11—Angry Democrats yesterday stalled action for at least a week on a G. O. P. bill which would create a bi-State rapid-transit agency for the North Jersey-Manhattan area. Among other things, the Democrats said the bill would erase Hudson County from the map.

Senator Walter H. Jones (R., Bergen) introduced the bill 2 weeks ago. He hoped it would be passed yesterday and sent to the Assembly. But, after Democratic complaints, he agreed to wait until next Monday before asking for a final Senate vote.

Jones explained yesterday the bill establishes a permanent rapid-transit district for three New York counties and 10 New Jersey counties, including Bergen. A 32-member council would study proposals made by the Metropolitan Rapid Transit, a temporary study group which handed in its final report last month.

The permanent agency would not be bound to the Commission's recommendations. It would make its own suggestions, but no final plan could be established until legislatures of both States have approved it. It would have a yearly $150,000 appropriation for 5 years.

JONES CITES COMMUTER

The Senator from Bergen added: “Any one who has paid attention to the transportation problem of commuters in the metropolitan areas knows that the plight of the commuters is at its most harassing and critical state.”

Democratic Senator William F. Kelly of Hudson, in a talk that drew applause from the galleries, asked why there seemed to be such a rush on this bill at a time when a bill on rent control was bottled up in G. O. P. caucus. He and Senator Donal Fox (D., Essex) said they had been told the bill would not even come up for a vote yesterday. Minority Leader John A. Waddington (D., Salem) asked for public hearings on the bill.

Added Kelly: “I shall not let the Page report erase Hudson County from the map and run a loop around it instead of through it.”

The Page report to which he referred was made to the Metropolitan Rapid Transit Commission by Project Director Arthur W. Page last May. It suggested a $400-million rail loop plan as the core of a transit network for the metropolitan area. The final M.R.T.C. recommendation called for a $500-million loop.

Jones said he was puzzled by the other Senators’ expressions of surprise about the bill’s coming up for a vote. He said the bill had gone through normal Senate channels. But, he added, if they wanted more time, he would ask for it. Jones said he, too, questioned the proposals made in the Page report. The idea of creating a new agency, he said, is that it will come up with a plan more acceptable to the public.

“This is not a Republican plot,” said Jones.

He said that Governor Robert Meyner has asked for action on rapid transit. Jones, in a brief mention of rent controls, said he certainly agreed that the bill to grant continued controls in 17 Jersey communities should be taken out of caucus and should come up for a vote.

Jones was reportedly one of three G. O. P. Senators who voted for release out of caucus yesterday. The rent-control bill has already passed in the Assembly.

Democrats opposed another Jones bill up for final passage transfer the newly established Division of Aging from the Department of Health to the Department of State. This, said Jones, would remove any suggestion that the Division is solely for older residents who have health problems. Several Democrats said they thought the Division should be integrated with other agencies. The vote was 11-7 in favor of the bill.