Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-10

Convincing arguments that West lPhila-
delphia will gain tremendous benefits in
stead Of being slighted in the transit and
port loan bill and the general improve
ment loan bill were laid before the voters
of the 46th Ward last night by former
Transit Director A. Merritt Taylor and
Mayor Smith at mass-meeting in the
Imperial Theatre, Goth street below Wal
nut.
More than 1000 men and women who
crowded the theatre arose and cheered
when Mr.. Taylor asked all who would
support the loans to stand. When Mr..
Taylor began to speak some one shouted,
"our next Mayor" The Mayor made a
plea to drive the political obstructlonists
out OF town on election day
The former Transit Director declared
that this is the greatest crisis in the city's
history. I'VE are here" he said. ITO de.
fend ourselves and our city. Philadelphia
must go backward or forward. We are
here to make It go forward.
BENEFITS TO SECTION
"Your best interests, and the best inter.
ests of the city require you to turn out
and vote for the transit and port loan,
which will enable the city to carry out the
so-called Taylor Plan
THAT plan provides that you West
PhiIadelphians will be enabled to ride on
a surface car to the nearest station on
your Market Street elevated, or OIL the
Woodland Avenue elevated, there transfer
FREQ over the high.speed system to any
other section of the city, and upon leaving
the high.speed system transfer free again
on a surface line to destination all for
one flve-cent fare.
1T provides that when you ride into the
business district on a high-speed line, and
wish to travel either into North or South
Philadelphia on a surface line, you Will
be able to do SO on free transfer In
stead OF being required to pay 10 cents In
making the journey In one direction, and
8 cents In making the journey in the op-
posite direction.
'It provides that the discriminatory and
Illegal exchange ticket, for which pas
sengers travelling into. within and out
of West Philadelphia pay penalty of
$2S4,000 every year, shall be abolished
and that free transfers shall be issued be-
tween surface lines where they cross"
Moreover he said the city has the right
to require extension of lines which will
assure the construction in West Phila-
delphia OF the 56th street crosstown line.
The Mayor read a statement showing
specifically what amounts West Philadel-
phia has received under former loans,
He then urged that the voters there should
not oppose the loan bills because of i'm
agIned Sights. The meeting was opened
by Harry A. Mackey, chairman of the
Workmen's Compensation Board, who in
truduce Prof II. Edgar Barnes, of the
University of Pennsylvania, who presided.
CONGRESSMAN WARE SPEAKS.
Other speakers were Congressman Ware,
Directors Wilson, Datesman. MacLaugh-
lin and FSrusen and Finance Committee
Chairman Gaffney.
The loan bills were also indorsed by the
board Of directors of the Manufacturers
Club, the Cohocksink Business Mems As
ISOLATION and the Frankford Business
Mems and Taxpayers Association.
u want every voter in North Phladel-
phia to realize that a vote for the transit
loan bill will be a vote cast for his own
best interests, for the best interests of
every member of his family and for the
best interests OF the city"
With this emphatic declaration Former |
Transit Director A. Merritt Taylor today
called upon the voters in North Philadel-
phia to join in the city-wide fight for the
passage of the SCI. 100 900 transit and port
loan bill at the polls next Tuesday. After
paying high tribute to the part played
by North Philadelphia in the four years |
transit fight, Mr.. Taylor continued:
Il appeal TO you in your own interest |
to roll up a magnificent majority for the |
transit and port loan bill and for the con- |
struction of the high-speed lines, which |
will add so much to your comfort and con- |
venience, which will enable you to save
much time and money, and which will |
enable the city to expand and develop |
along proper lines
Here are the facts that fully justify !
the effort which / am making in your /
behalf. and they should impel you to go |
TO work forthwith as individuals among |
your friends and neighbors in your own |
interest:
More than 717.7OO people live north of
Callowhill street. between B street on the
east and the Schuylxill River on the west.
ION N ga
travel out OF. into and within your north
ern section Of the city every day on the
street cars.
"of these passengers 231 ,OoO travel daily
between your northern section and the
central business district.
'Six hundred and sixteen thousand
travel daily between your northern sec
tion and South Philadelphia.
Forty thousand travel daily between
your northern section and West PhiladeI-
'.Fifty-eight thousand travel daily be-
tween your northern section and the
northeast section.
Two hundred and twenty-nlne thou
sand travel daily within your northern
section.
Upon the completion of the Broad
street subway, with branch 10 Main
street and Chelten avenue In Germantown
and another branch out the Northeast
Boulevard. and upon the completion OF
the other high-speed lines specified In the
transit and port loan bill, passengers tray-
cling into, out OF and within your north
ern section viii be enabled 70 save 1885,
SIS hours per year. This time you will
save. calculated at 15c per hour. would
be worth sss9.000 per year.
s'fou should all be aware Of the fact
that a tentative agreement was reached
the officials OF the PHILADELPHIA
Rapid Transit Company on the one part,
subject 20 ratification by the Union Trac-
lion Company. ana by the Director OF the
Of City Transit on the other
part subject 10 ratification BY City Coun-
Ills. II provided for the operation Of the
slty-OWned high-speed lines BY the Phil
ldelphia Rapid Transit Company, Il pro-
.lded THAI fair protection should be ex-
ended to the present net income Of the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company in
Of its cooperation.
III provided for the operation of All
llgh-speed lines within ths city Ia con
JUNCTION with the present surface system.
q that a passenger may take surface
ine and ride 10 the nearest station on
lie high-apeed system, there transfer free
= The hisn-spesd system to any other