Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-21

individuals as we'll? Arnold Bennett has
taken this liberty with foreign capitals New
York diagnosed is surely suffering from ele-
phantlass. As for Philadelphia, we all con-
cede she has poor circulation, and some
dare affirm rush of blue blood to the head.
Now. recognizing the presence of a. poor
circulation Is going quite far enough. No
need to single out Rittenhouse Square, for
| after all, its ascribed symptoms are common
! TO Boston and Baltimore, and are not alarm
ing. Besides, the rest of us must look to
the quality folk and the people on their call
ing lists to finance the only cure for the
! citvs impaired and run down circulation
! Philadelphia's new rapid transit development
with universal free transfers.
There are few cities In the care of Mayor
| who can remember transit conditions before
there were horse cars But Philadelphia has
n chief executive who can, and who also can
| look into the future and see high-speed ele-
waited lines running TO Darby and Frankford,
a subway under Broad street. end to end,
| and a tube to Camden. That is why Mayor
| Blankenburg put brains in charge of the De-
partment Of City Transit-Director A. Mer-
rtt Taylor-and unless the Hands of Esau"
interfere, the arteries Of travel as we'll as
Philadelphia itself will be purged forever
of the adjective "slow."
Impossible for any influence to interfere
now" you say disdainfully. Ibid not the
entire business community speak out vsor-
ously for the lines in a recent meetnR?"
Friend citizen you have only begun to fight
for rapid transit. What do "the hands care
about the wishes Of either the business
working people? II they are we'll filled they
slip contentedly into capacous side pockets,
hut If they are not (this time It looks like
they are going to be empty, then watch out,
for they are sure to try to pluck the heart
out of the whole transit program.
How? Well, they have three chances as
follows:
l. In Councils which august body must
provide the funds necessary to build the new
lines, approve the routes, award the con-
tracts and ratify the agreement reached by
Director Taylor with the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company.
2. Before the Public Service Commission,
which State board must pass upon the public
necessity Of the new transit facilities and
contracts with existing companies; also ap-
prove Of the routes.
3. Among the stockholders of the Union
Traction Company. majority OF whom must
ratify the agreement reached by Mr.. Taylor
with the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com
pany before the latter corporation Is pledged
to universal transfers and operation of the
Director Taylor proposes that the city shall
proceed to establish the facilities and reach
an agreement to their operation later.
New York did the same thing when the oper-
atinE companies balked. but they came
across in short order as the city con-
WINGED them that it was in earnest by start
ing construction. They could not stand what
would have otherwise created ruirsous COM
petion.
Jim McNicho and the Wares have direct
wires running into all three of these centres
They control Councils. AS for the stockhold-
ers Of the Union Traction Company and of
the p. r. T.-well, It will rot do just now TO
tell what the finger holds OF THE Organiza-
tion" are in this quarter. But they are
known, and the public may some day hear
some interesting explanations anent stock
ownership and early franchise gifts,
Debt increase is Justifabe only when II
buys permanent properties and improve
ments Of benefit and need to the whole pub
lie Rapid transit is one OF these. The
project launched in Councils to spend sl2,-
900 900 or more for land properties in Broad
street Immediately south of city Hall is a
prime example Of ways that can be concocted
10 exhaust the financial resources of city
a. time when they should be conserved
Innocent citizens are drawn into the meshes
Of deep intrigue, never dreaming that they
are being used by the hands" to defeat by
indirect methods large project Of great
public necessity.
II is a famous trick, this using up the city's
credit In the path Of some civic betterment
undesred for the moment by the contractor
overlords Tammany worked it threadbare in
New York. but did not defeat rapid transit
even with the added old wheeze Of tax
PAYERS suit" For rapid transit Is one Of
those insistent. forceful determined move
ments that carry the strongest Qualifications
An American city with enough quiet
strength 10 he profoundly Indifferent 70 for
eign fads has the energy TO get rapid tran
sit when It wants 1t. Phiadelphia's far-nung
population. under unnecessary physical han
dlcaps, already senses an early freedom
from the present antiquated system OF trans
portatlon. But the city has shown the spirit |
Of "brotherly love" by first offering a part
nership in the new order Of things TO the |
operator of the existing lines. This is a hne |
attitude and deserves recprocation in the |
seats Of the financial mighty.
II is useless for a citizen in the habit of |
losing his temper TO argue that the TRACTION |
interests deserve no consideration, and that |
1t serves no end for the city TO treat with |
the trolley barons This argument will not |
prevail against the accomplishment OF uni |
versaI free transfers which spells the abOI- |
ishment of $40 exchange points, where an |
extra three cent fare Is now charged Think |
OF IT, A fast rde anywhere for a nickel II |
comes into the public ear like the sound OF |
sweet music and Joyous laughter. OF a fu-
ture transit paradise.
Omcials Of New York were badly over
reached by their Traction interests" They |