Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-03


Frankford trains were to be through
routed to Darby, -
"It js thus made absolutely clear tina
the ordinance calling for the special elec
| ton should not specify any routes WhaV
| ever because; 49,.
T Changes In certain portions Of th'
routes may be devised by City Councils
or may be ordered by the Public Service
! Commission, over which the city Counclls
have no control Under the terms of thht
ordinance drafted the loan FUNDS codiu
not be used for the construction OIL any
of the facilities. the routes OF which may
be so changed in the future.
"2. The ordinance eliminates the de-
livery loop and any provision Therefore II
provides for no proper delivery facilities
for passengers using the Broad street
subway.
"9. city Councils should give careful
consideration to the routes with all OF
the facts relating to location, engineering
problems, traffic problems and cost in
volved before attempting finally and ir'
revocablv to fix and determine such
routes In n manner which will make their
construction lmpractlcable and therefore
impossible by their having been deslg
mated In the ordinance calling the special
election.
FIRST ORDINANCE EXPLAINED.
Fourth. The ordinance requested by
the Department of City Transit calling
for an Increase in the Indebtedness of the
city to the extent of Sc, 100000 to be au-
thorized for this beginning Of transit de-
development without any routes being
designated, will place City Councils In a
position to direct the expenditure Of that
money in manner which will either re-
quire the existing railway system in the
city to cooperate with the city in equip
ping and In operating the recommended
high-speed lines. as arranged between the
officials of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company and the Department of City
Transit under the terms of the Co.
operative Program, which provides for
free transfers between high-speed lines
and surface lines, coupled with the elmi-
nation of the illegal and discriminatory
exchange tickets on basis which is fair
and affords reasonable protection to the
existing system, as agreed or otherwise,
II the existing system falls to cooperate,
will place City Councils in q position to
proceed with the construction of the
recommended hgh-speed system regard
less of failure on the part of the exist
Ing system to cooperate, and thus the
city will be enabled to secure the equip
ment and operation thereof If necessary,
company.
THESE are ample reasons why an or
finance, or ordinances, prepared in the
usual and legal form, calling an election
10 authorize an increase in the city's in
iebtedness to the extent of S6,OOOOO for
.he beginning of the transit development,
should be passed without specifying any
'outes
None of the loan fund would be avail
Cble to the Department of City Transit
lhtil 1t Is appropriated by City Councils
'r until City Councils finally have fixed
ma determined the routes and tho same
ave been passed and approved by the
'ublic Service Commission,
What we are asking is absolutely fair
that the people shall bo given the right
o authorize an increase in the city's in
ebtedness for the beginning of the
ransit development, and that City Coun-
lis shall reserve unto themselves the
light TO designate the routes rather than
attempt to fix and finally determine
nworkable routes at this time in the
lection ordinance and thus tie up the |
increased indebtedness which is to be
uthorized in way which will prevent |
Is use.
Let US work together to have this or
lnance amended and passed in the usual |
nd legal form. Then tho construction of
cal rapid transit will be assured to the
Iti2ens of Philadelphia and the city will
70 IN position to require the existing
ystem to equip and operate the city
wned lines under fair conditions and
'lth adequate protection to their existing
ystem, or to secure an Independent COM
any to equip and operate the city-owned
mes on favorable basis"
"PULLBAcK" ACCUSED.
Supporters Of the Blankenburg admins
ration declared today that attempts were
eing made by the transit "pullbacks"
D becloud the issue by atributing too
reat significance to the mild tone used
y the Mayor in his telegram to Mr..
totesbury.
Friends of the Mayor said he had in
Ormed them he did not care to enter
ito a personal controversy with Mr..
totesbury at this time because IL he
i'd so he would only satisfy those who
wanted to draw "A red herring acrosss
he trail"
According to these informants, there
re two things which the administration
anxious to have Stotesbury commit
imself to. One is whether he favors the
Ike transit ordinance introduced by
ouncils two weeks ago in place of the
aylor plans, and again whether he
i'll maintains the position he announced
st May when, with the Rapid Transit
rectors, he gave his approval to Di-
ctor Taylor's project, provided CO.
1eration on the part of the Union Trac-
on officials could be obtained.
Senator Ware arrived this morning from
lorlda, but Senator McNchol is not
cpected until the latter part of the !
eek.
Director Norris also returned to his
fice for the first time since Mr.. Stotes-
Try publicly denied the insinuations
ade against the Philadelphia Rapid
ransit Company by the city official at ,
q Academy of Music. February a.
After the meeting of the members of the
lyor's Cabinet, Director Norris was
ked what his opinion was relative to the
.erchange of kilograms between Mr. [
otesbury and Mayor Blankenburg, and
nat he thought of charges made by the
action magnate that the directors had
lde slanderOus statements at the Acad- I
~ of Music meeting.
Director Norris declined to discuss the
ltter, II have nothing to say today, at {
y rate" he declared. Questioned fur I
sr, he refused to say whether he would
ike a statement later in the day or not.
| l.,