Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-16
SMITH SAYS HE
HALTED ACTION
ON HUGE LOAN
Mayor-elect Takes Respon.
sibility for Delay
in Councils
LEGAL POINTS INvoIvFn

Action on the s95, 100000 loan wa. ~.
at the request of Mayor-elect Thoms,
Smith. The Mayor-elect made I'M. -
nouncement today, and said that ro ~
on the project will be taken un,u 49,
the first of the year. ~"
THE loan was held up at NV r.o,...,.
he said. 81 want it to come I'm ma. y.
new Councils. The City Solicitor r.r.s
my attention to several legal poIr,. 49,.
are involved, and asked Mr. corrs,,.-
sidetrack the loan until these na,,o.. y
Strengthened out. am like Davv cro.,..'.
l went to be sure of my ground.p
The Mayor-elect would not discus, a.
legal points" involved. II am No,
lawyer and therefore I cannot di,,n.-
them" he said.
Whether any change will ba rr.,..
the size OF the loan or in the apportI.I ~
ment of the money as planned undsr ~
loan that is being held mp the Mavor-s,a.s
declined to discuss pending the sol,,,.S'
of the legal difficulties which, he ss,s
were the cause of the delay.
THE loan will go through bowov,.
and all of the improvements planned NJ,
be amply provided for" the Mayor.eIs.,
asserted.
SITUATION a MYSTERY
What is wrong with the s95,oOOOeD lo.r,
This is the pertinent inquiry of mans
members of Councils who know that tbs
bill is printed and I'm shape to be called
up at this afternoons session. That 4
will not be called up for passage is Ger.
tain, unless some daring member cals
for action, and the real reason for ths
delay may never be fully explained
In the absence of any demand for
action on the permanent loan, the most
important piece of legislation in Select
Council will be the passage OF the Sl.a0.
900 temporary loan that will provide funds
for city payrolls and for some badly
needed supplies. This bill was passed
by Common Council last week, and after
its passage by Select Council will be
taken at once to Mayor Blankenburr
for his signature. The money will most
likely be supplied from the sinking
fund. and will be available for use in a
very few days.
The temporary loan does not cover The
needs of departments and bureaus for
1915, and n number of transfer bills will
have to be authorized If the necessary
demands of the cabinet members of the
Blankenburg administration are to be
met. Charles Seger, chairman Of the
subcommittee on appropriations OF Coun-
ellis Finance Committee, admits that the
loan will not provide for the needs Of the
city for the closing months of the year.
but insists that the money will be made
up by the transfer bills.
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Next in Importance to the loan legisla-
ton comes the passage of the apprOpria-
ton bills. The members of the subcom-
mittee on finance have Completed their
task of going over the demands Of DEPART
ments, and all the appropriation bills will
be favorably reported at a meeting Of the
Finance Committee, scheduled TO be held
10 minutes in advance of the session Of
Councils.
City Solicitor Ryan, in a communication
to Councils today. calls attention 10 the
fact that provision must be made BY the
city to comply with the workmen's COM
pensation law, under which l2,OOO munie-
ipal employees are entitled to compensa-
tion in case of injury while in service
No action on the compensation problem
likely before next week.
The City Solicitor in his letter to coun-
ellis says:
"I respectfully suggest that 1t is highy
important for Councils to take up
the question of what provisions
shall be made for the payment OF COM
pensation to such OF these employees as
may be injured while in the service Of ths
city, and whether insurance Is to d
taken against such liability, or applea-
ton be made to the workmen's compeh-
sation board for exemption from me
necessity of taking out such Insurance.
because of the city's being govern
mental authority having the right 70 ieW
taxes"