Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-25
A Square Deal Means a March Election

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TT is a remarkable transit program which
L has been conceived and proposed.
1t involves the expenditure by the munici-
pality of more than s45,OOo,OoO, yet so ad-
mirably adapted is it to the necessities of
Philadelphia, so slsilfully does it measure
and provide for the several districts to be
served, so fairly does it balance public and
private interests, that during the long cam
paign of discussion not a single voice of
moment has been raised in opposition to It
and no man has ventured openly to gainsay
it's merits.
The program is an agreement between the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company and
the city. 1t bears, therefore, the Endorsement
of the traction experts who are particularly
well versed in the local situation. The
p. R. t. is on record favoring it, subject
to the approval of a subsidiary, the Union
Traction Company, which has waxed fat on
its earnings in this city and is asked now to
do nothing more than perform those func-
tions which are a corollary of it's franchise
privileges namely, the extension of surface
lines normally required. The essence Of the
theory that excuses monopoly in corporations
performing public service is that this service
shall be satisfactory. both in operation and
in extension, to meet the needs of normal or
abnormal growth.
Councils has dedicated itself to support of
the program by the appropriation for the
relocation of sewers
The people in a public mass meeting have
declared themselves, not only for the pro-
gram as an ultimate thing, but as an imme-
diate project, to be begun at once and rushed
to completion.
clear majority Of Councils have an
nounced themselves to be in favor of the
whole program, the poll having been con-
Quoted by the EVENING LEDGER.
This majority is entitled to record its vote
on the two ordinances now under constdera-
ton by the Finance Committee.
The people of Philadelphia are entitled to
record their vote on the proposed SSO,OOO,oOO
loan and to do it at the earliest possible
moment.
An election in March is what Philadelphia
wants and must get; an election in March
that there may be no pouring back of earth
into the excavations made for the new sew
ers, no discontinuance of the work once
begun, no postponement for another year,
with the possibility of another winter of
unemployment instead of the prosperity
which the work on SO vast public under
taking would assure.
Unless there are subtle influences sapping
the will of Finance Committees unless in
some mysterious way sinister purposes find
support in that body, the ordinances must
be reported favorably at the next meeting
of Councils. There is no politics in the un-
dertaking, for all classes of thought and all
conditions of men are united in it's support
For every obstructionist there are 10000
workers in the cause, 10000 advocates of a
Greater Philadelphia. 1t cannot be that this
insignificant minority has made Finance
Committee its citadel and can crouch behind
it as a barrier to thwart the will of tens Of
hundreds of thousands
Yet SO the matter stands. Finance Com
mittee at its next meeting will show whether
1t is for transit or against transit, for dig
ging this year or at some indefinite time in
the future for a March election or possi-
ble June election.
Let every citizen watch. His are the in
terests that are to be forwarded or knitted
Universal commentator for our representa-
tives in the one case, condemnation as gem
eral in the other. Which it shall be is up to
the Finance Committee first and thereafter
up to Councils.