Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-09-19
THE MAYOR STANDS PAT

THE vital thing in the present transit
l. situation Is the operating agreement
and the vital thing about the operating
agreement is that 1t should embrace all
lines.
We can conceive OF nothing that would
be more fatal to the achievement Of the
kind OF rapid transit for which the peo-
pie have voted millions than an agree
ment with the p. r. T. for the operation
OF part OF the lines only; say. for In
stance, the Frankford l. and the Broad
street subway only.
II is important to recognize that the
city holds the whiphand as matters
stand. One OF the most important fea-
lures OF the Taylor plan Is that It can
stand absolutely by itself. 1t can be a
system operated independently Of any ex-
isting lines. Were there no p. r. T. in
existence, the Taylor plan would still
be a comprehensive plan. capable Of serv-
ing the whole people.
1t is. however. perfectly patent that It
is desirable to have the p. r. T. operate
the new lines. Not only would that give
universally OF service, but underlying
It is broad and fair public determina-
tion to protect existing investments and
not to use the municipalities great power
to imperil to the extent of even one
dollar the legitimate capital which is at
present invested in public utilities. In
this spirit of fair play, the people expect
the p. r. T. to meet them half way. They
expect it, in fact, to ratify in principle
the tentative agreement entered into with
Mr.. Taylor, which provides for universal
transfers and a refund to the company,
within limits, for the diversion of traffic
from the surface to the proposed high
speed lines.
The situation would be seriously dis
turbed and the city, in spite of its huge
investment, put at the mercy of the trac-
ton company If any arrangement were
made for the operation by the P. r. T.
of only part of the new system. 1t is
| all or none. 1t cannot be anything else.
for on that theory the whole Taylor plan
was constructed. To vary from it in the
slightest would be to plunge Philadelphia
! into the abyss and prevent real transit
development for fifty years to come.
There can be no compromise on this point,
for any compromise would be a surrender
of the public rights and a betrayal of the
public interests.
1t is understood that the Mayor has
been discussing the operating agreement
and is sanguine of an early and salts
factory conclusion Of the negotiations.
He has reason to be sanguine. for IL is
inconceivable that the p. r. T. would
refuse to take advantage of the great
opportunity which 1t is offered. 1t is
unfortunate, however. that rumors should
have been floating about to the effect
that the Mayor was party to an incom.
plete agreement.
The Mayor has nailed that lie.
Yesterday he gave the EVENING LEDGER
absolute assurances that the rumor was
the idlest sort Of gossip. without any
basis in fact and originating he knew not
where; and he declared emphaticaily and
unreservedly that he would entertain nc
proposition for any sort Of an operating
agreement that did not embrace every
one of the lines to be built.
This is the most important declaration
the Mayor has made In months. II
religiously carried out, as certainly II will
be, II means that the last menace to tn,
successful development OF rapid transit
has been removed.