Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-16
UNION TRACTION TRIES
TO BLOCK TRANSIT

ccntint from Psss
n,snt between the city and the p. r. +
Company. He served notice on the Jnior
Traction Company that unless the atock.
holders OF that company we're willing tc
finance the necessary extensions 10 the
present surface system, and approve the
proposed rapid transit program tho city
would 90 ahead with the transit pro.
gram, Leaving them to pocket all losses
from competition with the high speed
lines,
BUSINESS MEN SUPPORT TAYLOR.
The business men OF the city, at the
meeting last night, unanimously pledged
their support to Director Taylor in his
fight for the immediate realization Of
rapid transit In Philadelphia. with the
Issue of the s5Oo,0Oo needed for prelim-
mary work Z Attled by Councils bosses
at the confer hce yesterday, the Direc-
tor at the meeting last night obtained
the cooperation of the United Business
Mems Association in a movement IN
force Councils to approve the transit
plans, which have been pigeonboled In
Councils Transit Committee since last
spring.
Director Taylor, after pointing OUT the
salient features of his transit pjan disS
cussed the attitude of the Union Traction
Company stockholders.
They have two alternatives he
said. First, they can accept the
terms OF the program. The other altar.
native Is II the program be not accented
py the Union Traction Company, the
urgent need for the esta ablish,nent OF the
new nigh speed lines and for the other
auNantaBes arranged for the public nv
.he transit program still will exist and
tney VIII have to be obtained without
0.iVn "It traction Company cooperation.
h.., 'nls second alternative be adopted
t ootn the Philadelphia Rapid Trans,t
company and the Union Traction Com.
pany VIII forfeit that protection which
is aHorded them by the transit nrovro,n
AGAINST loss of net income diverted to
the nigh speed lines and against Iose of
exchange ticket revenue.
rhe city has the legal authority. the
nnenc'al ability and the necessary ma
cninerN 70 establish adequate rapid tran
SIT Facilities and the people have the
power to abolish exchange tickets"
IL any action by the city be deferred
until after the Union Traction Companv
has agreed to the program, he said then
all thought of rapid transit may az we'll
be abandoned, because that would he
the equivalent Of giving the Union Trac-
whole enterprise. He continued:
NO SIGNIFICANCE IN PROTESTS
Much has been said about the protests
filed by various stockholders of the Union
Traction Company. These protests lose
any significance they might otherwise
nave when 1t is realized that they were
ootained In response to a circular letter
containing an absolute misrepresentation
Of material fact.
That circular stated to the Union Trac-
ton stockholders that they should supply
funds not only for the extension and
equipment OF existing lines, but for the
equipment OF the now proposed city-built
and owned system of rapid transit lines
1t has never been proposed by any one
that the Union Traction stockholders
should contribute one dollar for the
equipment of any city-built or owned
system of rapid transit lines. The cost
II eduipping these lines would be ap-
$4,000 900. but the proposed
agreement with the Rapid Transit Com
,any provides that all funds for that pur-
bose shall be furnished by the Rapid
Transit Company, and not by the Union
fraction Company. The only thing that
Union Traction stockholders are asked to
10 is to supply funds for the normal ex-
ension OF existing surface lines.
THE protests of the Union Traction
tockholders, therefore. are protests
Lgainst thing that has never been
sked or suggested, and can have no pos
ible force as a protest against the only
hing that has been suggested or asked"
LEADERS FRIGHTENED
An illustration OF the fright of Coun- |
ilmanc leaders in the face of the united |
emand for an immediate start in carry |
nG out the transit program was given
/ the meeting by Select Cou.. Gilman Ed
iard w. Patton, of the eth Ward Mr.
'atton, who is a members of Councils
'inance Committee appeared at the
leeting and protested his loyalty to the
interests of the people and pledged his
ote In the Finance Committee and on
he floor of Councils chamber to the
ransit plans of Director Taylor.
He then displayed a letter sent out By
'dward B. Martin. chairman of the
ransit Committee OF the United Busi-
ess Mems Association. in which the
oters of the 27th Ward had been told TO