Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-11
NeNichol Yields
April Transit Vote

sisrusslon actually centred aOout tne
" y ,1o4 transit plans
.,ruoL MEN FIGHT RESTRICTION
..ntativos of the McNichol faction,
admitting that they were at last
alsas 49,. 10 act favorably upon the SSoO :
riiilns ordinance offered bitter opposi-
e ioe" ~, restriction being placed upon
ten .uV,reased borrowing capacity or the
ne that the funds could be applied
cU \, mort and transit development
o1Js "a, Connelly, chairman OF Couneils
bcth To,,inittee, and Seger, chairman
Flnah'e .,,t,cornrnittee, offered the neces-
of tlle other pressing municipal needs
aty !" axcuse for opposing the use of the
/ as ~ increase In municipal borrow
proposs.ua for transit and port devel-
lns snt exclusively.
cpnel,.tnat Improvement projects totallng
Au stta 900, 900 we're suggested as be-
IN COSY as essential to Philadelphia s
lss Jus sovsIopment as the Taylor transit
pan sb the amendment to the State
Al,I,,,,ion was perpared for Philadel-
Vons'nd and introduced in the Legisla-
pl,sb us ne philadelphlans, 1t was urged that
t.0 ". legislature should not be permitted
" .av how the money should be spent
n.,ber. it was argued, TINS privilege
isa,,id be reserved to Councils
!. snswer TO the contention that there
other municipal improvements Of
~, Importance needed by Philadelphia
n,.,,tor TayIor voluntarily agreed at the
s.,,,no today to ask for only se,ooo,ooo at
\. .oselsI election instead Of 100000
,ad.d he was assured that the pend
=, .msndment would be adopted as II
~, .,snds, and that the money available
,,or, the Increased borrowing capacity Of
Il. eltv from 7 to 10 per cent. would be
.,oIIsd to transit and port alone.
The remainder Of the $4,000, 900 and all
,,hsr money available under the per-
.ousl property assessment he said,
peould then be used for these much
needed other improvements"
COUNCIL CHAMBER THRoNGED.
proof that all Philadelphia is awake to
tha Importance of the meeting was
shown when delegations from every Sec
linn Of the city crowded into the gallery
ana upon the floor of the Common Coun-
III Chamber. Every inch of standing
room was taken half an hour before the
hearing opened and scores were turned
away.
IN calling the meeting to order Senator
ware chairman of the Senate committee
Fald:
pThis meeting is called at the instance
or the chairman of the Finance Commit
lee of Councils to hear arguments pre-
and con whether the amendment to in
crease Philadelphia's borrowing capacity
from to 10 per cent. for transit and
port development shall pass the State
legislature for the second time.
1--WE will commence hearing the argu-
lnents now, If we shall not have finished
today we will meet tomorrow at the
same time, and If we are not finished
then we will continue meeting until al
arguments are heard. The members oi
Councils Legislative Committee will be
heard first"
SEGER'S ARGUMENT.
Charles Seger, called first, in outlining
the improvements which he declared Phil
adelphia needed, at cost of $119,OOO,OO0
exclusive of transit and port, estimated
NOl5o,OOO for the Highway Bureau, fol
the Improvement of streets and roads
the Parkway, League Island Park, boule
Yards and bridges.
He further contended in his plea fol
improvements that the city now needi
an enlarged water system as a cost O.
t5,OO1OOO. He would give s4s,5o00oO to th'
Bureau Of Surveys for grade CROSSING
elimination, the projected sewage-disposa
plant, sewers and other improvements
He said that no one has any disposition
TO delay transit
1T is said 1t would cost $4,000, 600 t.
complete the transit plans" he said
'There Is plenty of money from the per
sonal property assessment for transit
The Dock Department will not be allowed
70 suffer by amending this amendment
A delay of two years will not make I
partcal Of difference"
CoNNELLY's SPEECH.
John P. Connolly, chairman of Coun
els Finance and Legislative Committees
asserted with vigor that there had beel
no effort on the part of Councils in an!
way to delay the right of the people t
express themselves whether or not the,
we're willing to take on an additiona
debt OF 100000 for transit development
Il want to express myself" he said
most vigorously against the effort o
my opponents to fasten the cause of de
lay upon me. I object most strenuousl'
a. an Individual Councilman against be
ing driven into a corner and being sho
At like at rat.
Il believe every man who knows tn
city will say that the estimates are
per cent. under what they ought to be
From s5O,0O0 to $4,000 is much nearer tn
cost OF special election than $4,000 Il
me next four years on the present sevel
per cent. basis you will have only $4,000
0s, and you will also have current ex
penses of s133, 10000. OF that s131, 250,0o
hhl be liabilities, leaving $l,75O,0Oo TO
Improvement. Eventually you peopl
nave got to pay the bill and by a.
enormous increase of the tax rate.
II there is one thing you people knoN
Is that the rate should not be In
creased unless 1t Is absolutely necessary
we're not opposed to these works, bu
submit that they will not be self-sus
sslping FOR many years TO come, some 70
He years and some for more.
nhere are we going to get the none
carry on this government II yo
sAAe 100000 for sinking funds out @
-ifeht revenue, where are you goln
get another 100000 for expenses? IT.
ns Peoples job. I'm glad to see ther
s We thought the people ought I
se me say whether the city was to
IN ~, inside barbed-wire fence. The da
ns M come when the purposes for whic