Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-16

II
and Independently operated, competing
with existing surface lines.
The Director also accused Balfour and
| Fogelsanger, of "misrepresenting" facts
| In a letter sent by them to feIIow-stock-
holders concerning the proposed agree
ment between the city and the P. r. T.
| Company. He served notice on the Union
Traction Company that unless the stock
holders OF that company we're willing to
finance tho necessary extensions to the
present surface system, and approve the
proposed rapid transit program, tho city
would go 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 $4,000 needed for prelim-
mary work settled by Councils bosses
at the conference yesterday, the Direc-
tor at the meeting last night obtained
the cooperation Of the United Business
Mems Association in movement TO
force Councils to approve the transit
plans, which have been piReonboled IL,
Councils Transit COMMITTEES since last
spring.
Director Taylor. after pointing out the
salient features of his transit plan die.
cussed the attitude of the Union Traction
Company stockholders.
They have two alternatives" be
said. First, they can accent tho
terms of the program. The other alter
native is IL the program be not accented
by the Union Traction Company. tho
urgent need for the establishment of the
new high speed lines and for the other
adVantages arranged for the public by
tn .ne transit program still will exist and
tney VIII have to be obtained without
Union traction Company cooperation.
II tnis second alternative be sdopted
poth the Philadelphia Rapid Tranait
company and the Union Traction Com
pany Will forfeit that protection which
is anorded them by the transit program
against loss of net income diverted to
the nigh speed lines and against loss of
exchange ticket revenue.
The city has the legal authority. the
financial ability and the necessary ma
chinery to establish adequate rapid tran
sit facilities and the people have the
power to abolish exchange tickets"
If any action by the city be deferred
until after the Union Traction COMPANY
has agreed to the program, he said. then
all thought of rapid transit may as we'll
be abandoned, because that would he
the equivalent of giving the Union Trac-
tion Company the power OF veto on the
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
81
have when 1t is realized that they We're
obtained in response to a circular letter
containing an absolute Misrepresentation
of a 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
OF equipping these lines would be ap-
proximately s12,0OO,0oo, but the proposed
agreement with the Rapid Transit Com
pany provides that all funds for that pur-
pose shall be furnished by the Rapid
Transit Company, and not by the Union
Traction Company. The only thing that
Union Traction stockholders are asked to
do is to supply funds for the normal ex-
tension OF existing surface lines.
"The protests of the Union Traction
stockholders, therefore, are protests
against thing that has never been
asked or suggested, and can have no pos
sible force as a protest against the only
thing that has been suggested or asked"
LEADERS FRIGHTENED
An illustration OF the fright of Coun-
cilmanic leaders in the face of the united
demand for an immediate start in carry
ing out the transit program was given
at the meeting by Select Cou.. Gilman Ed
ward w. Patton, OF the 9th Ward. Mr..
Patton, who is a members OF Councils
Finance Committee, appeared at the
meeting and protested his loyalty to the
interests OF the people and pledged his
vote in the Finance Committee and on
the floor of Councils chamber to the
transit plans of Director Taylor
He then displayed letter sent out by
Edward 3. Martin, chairman of the
Transit Committee of the United Busi-
ness Mems Association. in which the
voters of the 27th Ward had been told to