Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-04
MAKES THREE PROPOSALS

A prediction by Mayor smith that the
proposed transit agreement between the rnu-
nicipailty and the philadelphia Rapid Tran
sit Company will be ratified by January i,
1917. and q suggestion that the agreement
may he worked out by commission OF three
experts. are the direct results 40 far az
the public Is concerned of the visit here
yesterday OF w. Barclay Parsons, OF New
York city the transit expert whom the
Mayor n planning 20 engage.
The Mayor gave no reasons for his pre-
diction that the transit lease viii be signed
by the beginning OF next year. but de-
clared he would be very much surprised
and disappointed II II were not approved
BY all interested parties by that time
THREE PROPOSITIONS
The Mayor also announced that It was
not certain whether Mr Parsons. N no
acts at ali. will act alone as the city's
engineering counselor or as the member
OF n commission OF three engineers ~
any rate, the Mayor made II plain that
all he wanted from engineers Ia the present
situation is an expert investigation OF the
transit plans and an advisory report
AIRING AT the conservation OF the interests
OF the city and OF the people in the agree
rnent with the company.
TN. Mayor said the engineer made him
three propositions. The hrst named n figure
st which the engineer is willing 20 make
an Individual report. tho second sum
possible engineering commission to be ap-
pointed by the Mayor. and the third, the
aRure al which he will serve as n member
~ such a commission. His compensation
would be the highest In the nrHt instance
and lowest I'm tho last.
The Mayor virtually admitted that the
only question under consideration in con-
nectlon with tho employment OF Mr. Parsons
was the amount OF compensation for his
work While declining TO name the ngure
asked by Mr.. Parsons, he ihtlmated the
question Of cost would determine largely
whether or not q transit commission should
be formed.
Members ot the Fairmount Business
Mems Association will ask Mayor Smith
20 invite A. Merritt Taylor 90 be one OF
tho participants In the transit conference
A resolution calling for such action was
adopted Mt the regular monthly meeting
Of the organization held last night at Mer.
rpiI Hail, Nineteenth street and Paramount
avenue.
Those who are not in accord with the plar
of the Mayor to employ Mr. Parsons point
with concern 10 an address made by th'
New York expert before the City Club her,
In 1919. At that time he voiced some ldeai
directly at variance with the Taylor plan
He said that rush-hour traffic during tn
morning and evening would positively no
pay for the construction OF subways. an
STRONGLY opposed the bulluing OF SUBWAY
where competition OF surface system Ia keel
and effective. lie characterized as foil
the extension OF tubes into unpopulatc
areas TO build them up or through section
Of tenement dwellers" He said Rt tha
time that he doubted the practcabilty O
municipalities tying up public funds
transportation properties. and he also sal
that public officials under no circumstance
should operate lines.
He praised very highly the Paris system
where the municipality built subways an
leased them, exclusive Of equipment, to
private corporation on the basis Of thirty
i've per cent 10 the city and slxty-hve pc
cent TO the corporation.
BIDS FOR WORK
Transit Director Twining today began at
vertlsing for bids for additional work o
the city Hall station section Of the Broa
street subway The bids will be opened
hoon on Thursday. November q The ne
102. Includes part OF the work original
by the Keystone State Construction Con
pany.
Soon after the work under city Hall wa
begun II was found that the foundatio
walls OF tho building would have Go be RI
built In part. and for this reason the cor
tract limit OF 1000. 900 for the first wor
was found insufficient. Upon the advice
city Solicitor Connolly, Director Twinin
shortened the original contract from 700 !
406 linear feet so that II could be complete
cover the remainder OF the work.