Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-10


in Philadelphia with unanimty rarely ac.
corded any public undertaking.
The Taylor plan was subjected to the closest
scrutiny Of labor unions, business mems and
civic associations, and by interests which
would have been delighted by the discovery
of any flaw.
1t stood the acid test.
After months of intelligent public consider
alton of every phase and financial aspect of
the plan submitted, that plan lndorsed
by virtually every organization in Philadel-
| pha which is interested in public affairs.
| A special election was then ordered by City
Councils to afford the people Of Philadelphia
an opportunity to vote for an increase in the
city's Indebtedness in the amount of 49, 900
for the construction of the recommended
system.
Every voter believed that he was voting
upon the carrying out of the Taylor plan
1t was the plan which had been approved in
every section of the city. 1t the only plan
before the people.
The electorate of Philadelphia thus by their
voice.
Mr.. Taylor resigned from the office of
Director on January 3 with his great plan
adopted by the people, with the financing of
construction provided for by enabling egis-
lation and with the construction work well
under way, with the initial $6,OO0,OOO made
available by Councils.
The people thus had and still have within
their grasp a great municipal transportation
machine, planned to connect up every import.
ant section to every other important section
in Philadelphia in a manner to enable passen-
gers to travel to and fro quickly and COM
fortably for one scent fare
The municipal system was skilfully planned
so that 1t could be equipped and operated in.
dependently of the P. r. T.. only II necessary
as a fatal competitor.
The equipment and operation of the munic.
ipal system by the P. R. T. was thus assured
Mr.. Taylor has always recommended and
agreed that the p. r. T. should equip and
operate the municipal highspeed system in
conjunction with it's existing high-speed and
surface lines on a free transfer basis.
He has pointed out that such operation
would virtually connect UP every front door
with every other front door in Philadelphia
by the joint use of the most convenient com.
bination of surface and high-speed routes for
one scent fare,
In return Mr.. Taylor recommended, and the
public agreed that the P. r. T. should be
compensated annually for its loss resulting
from this desired cooperation, by being given
a first charge on the earnings of the new
high-speed system in an amount equal to such
losses-the city share in the earnings to be
secondary.
The p. r. T. thus assured against any
loss of present income resultant from the es.
tablishment OF the municipal high-speed sys.
TEN, or the operation thereof by the p. r. T.,
according to the Taylor plan.
Mr.. Taylor's successor in office barely en-.
tered upon his duties when he promulgated a
plan for the curtailment, emasculatlon and
virtually the elimination OF all of the broad
provisions made under the Taylor plan for
the proper service of the city presently and
prospectively.
Worse than that the TwinIng plan would
forfeit every provision made by the Taylor
plan by which the municipal authorities gained
the necessary strategic position to require the
P. r. t. either to equip and operate the munic-
pal lines under a fair contract with adequate
nP ffs nfL
ruinous competition
The people are aroused They know their
power Their voice must and win be heard
and needed,
The people demand that the forthcoming
loan bill shall provide adequate funds to carry
out the Taylor plan in its entirety. They also
demand that the loan bill shall be so framed
as TO designate the routes of the lines which
are TO be constructed in such manner as to
settle this question for all time.
The people will act for themselves In this
matter and settle it by their vote once and
for all.
If the loan bill is not framed so that the
people in voting upon it financially settle the
routes OF the municipal lines in positive terms,
the loan bill win be defeated.
This is the peoples chance.
To defeat the entire loan bill would mean
delay OF only few months pending a second
loan election, and such delay, If it be made
necessary by political laundering. win be fully
justified by the ultimate result. which win
bring great and lasting benefits to Philadel
,.bfa