Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-04
CAMPAIGN STARTS
TONIGHT FOR FREE
TROLLEY TRANSFERS
Mayor Smith Is Invited to AZ
tend Meeting of United Busi.
ness Men, Who Want
His Support
WOULD KILL EXCHANGES
North Philadelphia Association Joir,
in Movement With Most Sec
tional Organizations

Frce transfers and the abolition of /,
cont exchanges on all lines Of the pbus
delphia Rapid Transit Company will 4.
the issue of vigorous campaign to \,
opened tonight on tho roofgarden of N,
Hotel Adelphia. The campaign will \,
under the auspices Of the United Ru,,
ness Mems Association It is hoped tb,,
delegates from more than loo local busl.
ness mems associations will attend IN,
meeting.
Mayor Thomas r. Smith has been IN.
vited, and IL is hoped that he will attend
and take a definite stand on the subtac,
Of transit in order that PHILADELPHIA busl
ness men can know his attitude toward
real rapid transit. Several members n,
Councils have promised to speak at IN.
meeting Every effort IS being made he
the committee in charge to work lin
height of enthusiasm among the guest,
such as will leave little doubt as 10 m
ultimate outcome of the battle for fros
transfers.
Immediately following the moetlr,
n widespread movement will he beru,
among the business mems association
and neighborhood groups for the mm..
diate accomplishment of tho object.
The mass-meeting tonight has been or.
ganHed by the Transportation Commit.
tee of the United Business Mems Assn.
citation. which has long been active In
its efforts to obtain better transit faciu.
ties for this city. Edward B. Martin /,
chairman of the committee, and he IA
taking the stand that now Is the time for
all local citizens to leap into the breach
and fight for the abolshment of the /.
cent exchanges at the beginning Of IA,
new administration. In a statement Is.
sued by the association. it is said:
"The United Business Mems AssocIa-
tion of Philadelphia Loyalty supported the
program of May "a 1915, not only becauss
1t meant new radial high speed lines 10
sections of the city not vet supplied with
rapid transit. but essentially because In
thus providing for the construction Of new
high-speed lines, it was also provided
that all sections of the city were to enjoy
the benefits thereof upon equal and equit.
able terms and tho Scent exchange tickets
we're to he replaced with free Transfers
on q 5-Cent fare bnsis preliminary TO the
completion of the new lines.
"In otncr words, 1t seems and still seem,
to us that the essential part Of the pro.
gram lay in the plans for the operation
of the lines when built-u the provisions
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com.
pany's present system aud in the provi.
sion for free transfers between virtually
all lines Of the city OF a 5-Cent fare basis
There is yet no legally ratified agree.
ment to this effect whatsoever. and un.
ill there is there is no prospect for the
elimination of the Scent exchange tickets
nor assurance of a general system Of
free transfers between the surface and
the new high-spccd lines, This phase Of
the situation should be laid before the
incoming administration at the earllest
possible moment" 20
The North Philadelphia Business Mems
Association considerably strengthensd
the movement last night when it decided
to take up the cudgcls for free transfers
along with the rest. \ committee of thrs.
was appointed to make arrangements fOt
joining in the fight allied with the main
central body. The business men have for
warded a petition to Councils requesting
that Germantown avenue from Ale
gheny avenue to Wayne JunctiC d
paved with granite block.
The annual election Of officers RESULTED
as follows: President. Edward T.. Biegier
vice president, Howard f.. Hecker Sec
retary, George NJ. Smith financial secre-
tary, Newton Il. Freed; treasurer, Georss
W. kimhall.