Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-15
COUNCIL LEADERS
HEED PUBLIC CALL
FOR BETTER TRANSIT
Decide to Reapportion Loan
and Permit Early Start On
New System and Aboli-
ton of Exchange Tickets.

Councilmanlc leaders, meeting this
afternoon in City Hail. virtually agreed
TO grant the united demand of citizens
of Philadelphia and include in the new
Sll 100000 loan bill the item of $500, ,00C
insisted upon by Director Of City Transit
Iaylor, as being necessary for the re-
construction of sewers downtown, pre-.
paratory to the actual building of subway
ana elevated street car lines.
The meeting was held in the room OF
the subcommittee on Finance. 1t was
attended by John p. Connolly, chair
man Of Councils Finance Committee
Harry c. Ransley, president of Select
Council Charles seger, chairman of the
subcommittee on Finance, and Common
Councilman Peter e. Costello.
1t was decided meeting of the Sub
committee on Finance should be called
at 1:S0 o'clock on Thursday afternoon.
Immediately following this and before
the special meeting of Common Council
on Thursday afternoon there will be a
meeting of the general Finance Com
mttee of Councils.
AT these meetings the transit item of
the new loan will be carefully considered.
1t was said by Councilman Connolly
after the meeting today that other items
which the present Administration tie
slred included in the new loan bill would
also have careful consideration
The conference this afternoon was called
following the statement of Director Tay-
lor yesterday, in which the Director
showed how every citizen in Philadelphia
would suffer through a years delay in
the transit program IL Councils stood by
their refusal to include an appropriation
for transit in the loan.
1t was not a meeting of the finance
subcommittee, members Of that commit
tee explained. but conference of some
of its members to determine the advisa-
bility of calling a meeting of the sub-com-
mittee to reapportion the loan.
CHAIRMAN CONNOLLY EXPLAINS,
The change in the attitude of Council
manic leaders, following the strong de-
mand that has been made upon them.
was reflected by Chairman John p. Con-
nelly of the Finance Committee, today
There is no de sire in the Finance Com
mittee to deprive the Transit Department
of any funds which it needs" he said
IN apportioning the loan we cut our
cloth according to conditions.
"The Finance Committee received no
detailed request from the Transit Depart
ment. so 1t did not pay much attention to
It, In the absence Of an agreement be-
tween the city and traction company.
however, do not see how the work could
start"
"a meeting of the Subcommittee on
will be held Thursday next
at 1:3O o'clock meeting of the Finance
Committee will be held Immediately after
ward before the session of Common Coun-
eli for the purpose of considering chang
ing certain items in the proposed loan
bill. Director Norris, of the Department
Of Wharves, Docks and Ferries, has re-
luested modification of his first state
ment which was taken care of in the
original allotment.
He now desires the article changed
from his first request, which I deem of
such Importance as to require considera-
Ion by the general committee. At the
same time it is expected that careful
will be given to the ques-
ion of relocating the sewers in the CEN
raj part of the city as preliminary work
o the construction of the Broad street
subway construction, for which 100000
las been asked.
Since the original allotment was made
additional requests have been filed by the
Department of Health and Charity for
ertain extensions OH improvements to
ne institutions at Byberry Holmesburg
nd the Contagious Diseases Hospital at |
second and Luzerne streets. These were
ot provided for in the loan bill because |
he committee was under the opinion |
hat immediate demands could be better |
rovded for by n transfer of idle funds, |
Which would enable the department to |
tart work at much earlier date than !
the loan bill money We're waited for"
The amount of the loan will not be |
hanged, 1t was said today. II the sub
ommittee recommends that the transit
llotment be included $4,000 will be
lyan fFnn tl,n piaTir aIlA
| 100000 for mandanslses: s2O0. 200 from
he s1,OOO0O0 originally apportioned TO
he Parkway, and 100000 from the origi-
al allotment of 100000 for general re-
aving. The allotment for general re-
aving can easily be cut. said Council
nen today, because of the expected
nnual payment of about $4,000 by the
Rapid Transit Company for
aYing.
Councilman seger, chairman of the sub
had talk with Doctor Harte
lis morning. and said that Doctor Harte
ants S2I2.OO0 to make Byberry and
habitable and for repairs
I the Municipal Hospital. The items
5ked by Doctor Harte are: $4,000
II steam and electric duct pipes
Byberry; $4,000 for a sewage disposal
ant at Byberry; $4,000 for a power plant
Byberry; $4,000 for completing the
,wer system at Byberry; 100000 for a
over plant at Holmesburg and $4,000
n alterations and repairs to the steam
pc lines at the Municipal Hospital
BUSINESS MEN MEET TONIGHT.
Business men from all parts OF the
ty will attend the meeting in the Bing-
am Hotel tonight, called by William
ancock, President of the United Bust
sss Mems Association, and unless IL
as been definitely determined that Coun-
Is will include the transit appropria-
on in the loan, they will make an
zen demand upon Councils for IT,
irector Taylor will speak at this meet
g. and will tell the business men the
,cessity for an immediate start in the
pid transit program.
The meeting has been called at the
quest of the Transit Committee of the
nited Business Mems Association. The
luation will be handled without gloves.
embers of the committee said today
ley will institute a movement to COM
i the subcommittee 10 include in the
an the 100000 needed to start work on
e rapid transit lines.