Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-07
IS 10
SUBWAY LEASE
Smith Says Commission
Must See Contract Is
Fair to City
TOO MUCH FOR Tw1N1NG
Responsibility of Operating
Agreement More Than In
dividual Can Bear

Mayor Smith wants no question to arise
as to the honesty of any agreement that
may be made with the Rapid Transit
Company regarding the lease of the pro-
posed hlgh-speed lines, the Mayor said to-
day.
This is his reason, he added, for deslr-
Ing commission of reputable men to
act with Director Twining in all mat
ters relative to an operating agreement
with the company.
When questioned about the powers and
duties of the Transit Commission he in
tends appointing, the Mayor said:
II want them to take up the matter of
the lease with the Rapid Transit Com
pany. / don't want any doubt in any ones
mind as to the lease, and for that reason
want a commission composed of re-
putable men to act with Director Twining
in all conferences held relative to an oper-
Rting agreement with the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit It is too important a
project for the department alone to handle
and to be responsible for.
WOULD DIsARM SUSPICION.
II want no question to arise as to the
honesty of any agreement which may be
entered into. All of the engineering prob
lens can be met by the department. but
Director Twining needs help in the matter
of the lease"
Asked II he thought that the wallis under
City Hall would need snoring UP even IL
1t were not planned to take the subway
under the building, the Mayor replied:
'I don't think the bad condition of the
Foundation of City Hall would ever have
endangered the building when packed
round by the earth, but when this sup
port Is gone conditions are different. These
emergency engineering questions are up to
the department. l have heard nothing as
Nyat frnf tlnn ,ptr Ton,
pany, and as will not be here this aft
ernoon or tomorrow, 1 am not likely to
hear anything before Monday"
The basis upon which the keystone
State Construction Company will offer to
resume work on the Broad street subway
and the island station under City Hall is
being considered today by officers of the
company in conference with underpin-
ming engineers of New York. The de-
cision and terms under which the COM
pany will propose to continue work will
be made public on Monday or Tuesday.
The statement early next week from
Senator McNichols company will be
handed to the Mayor in reply to the order
10 resume work Immediately. which was
given by Transit Director TwIning late
yesterday afternoon at a conference in
the Mayors office of the Mayor, City So
llctor Connolly, Director Twining, Senator
McNichol and ]. H. Loucheim, president
of the Keystone concern.
The engineering difficulties of the work.
the legal phases of the contract, and the
questions of responsibility for damage to
City Hall, and the probable cost of the
additional work were discussed at the con-
ference. Senator McNichol indicated that
no new contract will have to. be drawn
20 cover the continuance of work. The
contract drawn by former Director Tay-
lor. he said, was as fair as any could be
and provides for every contingency.
DIFFICULTIES UNUSUAL.
The Senator made 1t plain that unusual
difficulties were being faced and that the
deplorable condition of the City Hall foun-
dations was causing the gravest concern
to his engineers. The probability that the
walls will have to be rebuilt was indicated.
by the Senator, but he indicated at the
same time 1t will be possible TO do all
necessary work under the terms of the
present contract.