January 12, 1984

News Analysis WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 - When it was formed last July, the commission on Central America was charged with developing both a rationale and a political consensus for the Reagan Administration's program of military and economic aid to the region. Today, it appeared that the commission headed by former Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger had succeeded in providing the rationale but had been of minimal help in forging the political support the Administration wants and needs. ''The commission did what a commission can do,'' said Jeane J. Kirkpatrick, the chief United States delegate to the United Nations. ''The fact that its report was signed by quite a diverse group of members ought to be impressive. Whether it will be is another question.''

An article in Metropolitan Report on Dec. 10 about opposition to the building of a movie theater in Southampton, L.I., misidentified a lawyer for the developer. He is William Esseks.

David L. Gunn, the head of Philadelphia's mass-transit system, was named yesterday as president of the New York City Transit Authority, the largest subway and bus system in the country. The announcement was made by Robert R. Kiley, chairman of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which oversees the Transit Authority. ''In the transit business there are neither miracles nor miracle workers,'' said Mr. Kiley, who has known Mr. Gunn since 1975 when they both worked for the Boston transit system. ''As we have seen in New York there are primarily problems and problem solvers. David Gunn is an extraordinary problem solver.''

The CSX Corporation said yesterday that its board of directors had authorized management to begin a review of Conrail to determine if the company should acquire the carrier. Hays T. Watkins, the chairman and chief executive of CSX, said the company had been asked by the Department of Transportation to review Conrail several times over the last few months. Mr. Watkins emphasized that CSX had not decided to make an offer or proposal for Conrail. The Transportation Department has been eager to find buyers for the railroad, 85 percent of which is owned by the Federal Government. Last week, the Norfolk Southern Corporation, a major competitor of CSX, said that it also planned to make a study of whether it should acquire Conrail.

-CENTURY designs - a 1908 Viennese vitrine, a 1909 California hall bench and a stained-glass door from a house in Buffalo - commanded the same fierce bidding at auction last year that more venerable 18th-century antiques did. These prices constituted the single most important trend for collectors in last year's auctions of decorative arts, more than a decade after the revivals began of Art Deco, Arts and Crafts and architect-designed turn-of-the-century furnishings. Quality, not age, became the overriding reason collectors coveted scores of period decorations, paying record prices. In sales around the world throughout 1983, wares too young to be classified antique were collected as if they were. This was seen in virtually every area of furnishings, even spoons.