Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-10-02
1914 TRANSIT PACT
COVERS NEW LINES
centlnr.a from rss. one

the formulation of the proposition and led
the debate in the Council chamber when
the agreement was threshed out
LETTER UNAUTHORIZED
The mysterious letter cent TO Mayor
Smith by the Philadelphia Chamber OF
Commerce recommending the selection Of
w. Barclay Parsons, Of New York city
as an expert TO participate in the transit
lease conferences between the city and the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company was
never specifically authorized either by a vote
| Of the general body or of the executive COM
mittee OF the chamber.
| This fact was established today 10y
| personal canvass OF the members OF the
| executive committee. Not only was the let
| ter sent without any vote OF authorization,
IL was established. but only one member
| OF the entire committee would admit that
he knew OF such letter before the matter
was published in the newspapers, and TINS
man said the matter had been discussed
| only In general way,
Every indication points TO the fact that
| the letter was drawn up by Howard B.
| French. president OF the Chamber OF Com
| merce. and Alba r. Johnson president OF
| the Baldwin Locomotive Works and one OF
| the vice presidents OF the commerce body.
| The actual writing OF the htter was left
to N. b. Kelly. general secretary Of the
| chamber
| FAVORED OUTSIDE AID
| While the members OF the executive COM
| mfttee today could not tell OF any meeting
| where the letter to Mayor Smith was
| planned, Il was recalled that resolution
| was adopted by the chamber some months
| ago, and before the primary elections,
| urging that expert he brought to this
| city to help untangle the controversy over
| construction plans which developed upon
the publication Of the Twining emascu-
| lated transit plan. The effect OF this would
! have been 10 postpone the vote on the $780,
| 100000 loan.
The name OF Mr.. Parsons was brought
| forward at that time by Mr.. Johnson. ac-
cording to a member of the executive COM
mittee. There was no thought at that time
| however. that the expert should give con-
| sideration to the question OF arranging the
terms OF the lease Of the subway and ele-
Ernest T. Trigg. the first member of the
executive committee to be questioned, was.
asked:
80 far as your personal knowledge goes.
was there ever any meeting either OF the
general body or of the executive commit
tee where the letter to the Mayor was au-
thorized?"
NO" was Mr.. Trigg's response.
HAD you ever heard OF the letter before
you read OF IL In the newspapers?" he was
asked.
mo" Mr.. Trigg replied.
In answer to a question as TO the time
expert was passed, Mr. Trgg replied that
he did not remember the date.
OTHER MEMBERS MUTE
An attempt was made to ask Charles J.
| Cohen the same questions. but before one
question had been stated he interrupted and
referred all queries to President French.
When Charles H. Tryon was asked the
first question. as to whether the letter had
( ever been authorized at any meeting. either
of the executive committee or of the gen.
! eral body, his reply was:
4. II prefer to make no comment about IL
: at all. I don't want to be interviewed
} Thank you. Good-by."
Thomas Il. HARRISON, in answer to the
| first question. replied:
, You'll have to ask Mr.. Cope, head of
| our publicity bureau. The reason / say
that is that our committee decided that any
news any member has must be given out
| through our bureau"
But Mr. Harbson," his questioner in
, terposed. this is not matter of news
. These questions concern your own personal
experience and II cannot be presumed that
Mr.. Cope is able to answer them"
We'll, l refer you to Mr.. Cope. IL Is
an agreement OF our committee"
H. X. Mulford. one of the vice presidents
of the chamber, was asked:
so far as your personal knowledge goes
, was there ever any meeting. either of the
general body or Of the executive committee,
where the letter to the Mayor was au-
thorized?"
NO" responded Mr. Milford
Had you ever heard of the letter be.
fore you read of IT In the newspapers"
~ had / was present at meetings Of
the executive committee several months ago
when this question was In controversy. We
had decided at that time that the matter
had become so involved with personalities
and politics that unbiased outsider. an
expert, should be brought In to clear IL up.
We decided that the Chamber of Commerce.
> Mt its own expense should employ this ex'
pert and give his services to the city. Mr..
Parsons offered his services for $500,
which was a low figure for such an expert
, as he, but the executive committee after
much discussion concluded that II would be
, inadyisable to go TO that much expense. So
we had to give II up"
SUGGESTED BY MR. JOHNSON
q who first suggested the name Of Mr..
E Parsons an expert2' Mr.. Mulford was
d asked.
, II think Mr.. johnson was the first per.
! son to suggest it."
a HAD you an opinion on what outside
: expert should be called before Mr.. Par
T. sonss name was suggested?'
mo; Mr.. Johnson is and has been the
best informed man on transit matters In the
3 Chamber of Commerce. l am willing TO
I accent his opinions. Mr.. johnson has al
ways been active OH behalf OF the people,
= and l am willing 10 accept his opinions.
Y When a chemical or a health question comes
r | opinions OF chemists or physicians attend
ing that meeting. l think a great mistake
Is being made In objecting TO Mr.. Parsons.
: He Is the greatest expert In the United
a States, and l believe he Is the best man TO
a frame this agreement--I do, absolutely! The
a Chamber OF Commerce is working for the
! best interests of the people of Philadel-
phla. For Heavens sake, give us some
a help
''Were the other members OF the com
= | mittee do you think, willing to accept the
opinion OF Mr.. Johnson-the opinion that
, | he was the first to express-that Mr.. Par.
: sons should be engagedY' Mr.. Milford was
asked.
''Mr Johnson Is the best informed man
!, In the committee on transit matters, and
every one knows Mr. Parsons's ability"
q cALwELL DOESN'T KNOW
Charles s Calwell, when asked TO discuss
|. the mysterious letter, said:
II did not attend the last two directorate
> meetings and 60 not know II Mr. French'I
l a.