Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-18

AN ORDINANCE

to increase the tnueDteuneSS OF tne bhW
city in the sum OF six million 5000 900
dollars, based on the assessed valuation
OF taxable personal property In sal
CITY, toward the construction OF O sub
way railroad I'm Broad street, from
League Island to Olney avenue, will
the necessary branch lines northeas
and northwest from Broad street, AM
the construction of an elevated rail
way, from Front and Arch streets L
Rhnwn street; and to authorize ant
provide for submitting to the vote Of th
electors the question OF increasing tn
said indebtedness in the sum of siI
million (6,O00000) dollars, fixing da!
for holding an election for the purpos
OF obtaining the assent OF the eleotor
TO said Increase. and authorizing tn
Mayor to give notice of such election
and TO make an appropriation TO pa!
the expenses for holding said election.
Section ]. The Select and Common
Councils OF the city Of Philadelphia
do ordain: That II Is the desire of the
corporate authorities OF the city OF
PhlladelphIa, which desire is hereby
siEnlned. that the indebtedness of the
said city shall be increased in the sum
of six million tss.000, ,Ooo) dollars, based
on the assessed valuation of taxable
personal property IN said city, toward
the construction of a subway railway
Olney avenue, with the necessary
branch lines northeast and northwest
from Broad street, and the construc-
tion OF an elevated railway from
Front and Arch streets TO Rhawn
street, via Front sCreet. Kensington
avenue and Frankford avenue to
Rhawn street.
Section g. That for the purpose Of OBJ
tainlng the assent of the electors to
the said increase of Indebtedness In
the sum OF six million (6,O0O,0O0) dol
lars for the purposes designated In
section 1, an election shall be held on
Thursday. the 18th day of April. 1915.
between the hours of n. m. and p.
M, at the usual places for holding
elections; that notice of said cleo
tion shall be given by the Mayor OF
the municipality by weekly advertise
ments in not exceeding three news
papers of the city during at least 80
days prior to the said election, which
notice shall contain a statement
OF the amount OF the last assessed
valuation of the taxable property OF
said city, the amount of the existing
debt, the amount and percentage of the
proposed increase. and the purposes
for which the Indebtedness Is to be
increased, and the City Commissioners
are hereby authorized and directed
to prepare and distribute the neces-
sary ballots, ballot boxes and other
articles, and to take such other ac-
tion as may be required for the hold
ing of suc'n election, as provided for
in the laws of the State of Pennsyl-
vania governing the increase of in
debtedness of the municipalities and
the holding of elections thereof.
Section 9. That the sum Of one hun
dred thousand (st00.0o0) dollars be, and
the same is hereby appropriated TO
Item "a In the annual appropriations
to the City Commissioners for the
year 1915, to pay the expenses OF hold
ing the election authorized in Sec
ton 2.
The Subcommittee on Finance went int
executive session at noon today and de
cided that instead of introducing tw
separate ordinances. one providing for tn
$1,000, 900 loan and the other setting Apr
90 as the date for the election, it woul
merge the two into one ordinance. Th
ordinance further provided for an appro
priatlon of 100000 to cover the expense
Of the special election. The change wa
only formal matter and will make n
difference in the consideration or tn
subsequent passage of the ordinance.
Immediately upon the adjournment o
the subcommittee, John p. Connolly
chairman OF the Finance Committee
called that committee to order and
motion to report the ordinance favorabl
was passed without discussion. Mr.. Con
nelly then issued the following statemen
reviewing the history of the transit legis
lation.
The statement is as follows:
ITO the President and Members of Selec
and Common Councils OF the City o
Philadelphia.
Gentlemen:
"The Committee on Finance. to whicl
was referred ordinances authorizing tn
creation of loan of $50 100000 for the con
struction of subway and elevated rail
full consideration has been given the sub
ject. Owing to the fact that no none
was available for appropriation to pay 70
the necessary expenses OF holding spe
clal election, immediate consideration o
the bill was not possible.
"At a meeting OF the State Senate Com
mite on Municipal Affairs the Directo
of the Department of City Transit re
duested the Committee on Finance to re
duee the amount originally urged fror
$50, 00o 600 to 5000, 600. based on the as
erty in the city, which request he agai
urged In a communication to Council
dated February IL. 1915. The amount o
SO ,60O, 900, therefore, has now been changes
in Difference to his request. A bill pro
vidlng for a eouncilmanic loan OF s4,0OO, ,OC
for general permanent improvements ha
been introduced today, which amount, u
addition to the funds already available
II Is thought will be sufficient to provtd
for all work that reasonably can be don
during the year 1915. leaving the question
OF other permanent improvements 70 b
submitted to the voters at the election
in November.
During the consideration by the Legis
lature of 1913 OF the passage OF the &C
making personal property assessable 70
city purposes, Il was distinctly under
stood that the purpose OF the act was L
provide money for transit facilities. Tn
Director OF the Department OF City Tran
sit In all his reports has figured the In
creased revenue TO the city from tn
passage OF this act as an Offset to the ex
tent OF carrying transit loans.
Your committee, therefore. deems II In
advisable at this time TO authorize an.
loan except the se,oo0.000 based on persona
property tax for any purpose other thai
city transit. thus keeping faith with tn
intention expressed to the Legislature b.
the city OF Philadelphia.
favorable Recommendation ana ask II
JOHN p CoNNgLLT.