Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-27


naturally form continuation Of tho COM
rtchensive Improvement plans tnapped out
and started during the years ot the Rey'
burn and BiankenburE Administrations.
These plans. Including as they DO all lines
" advancement will require many years
"a complete Achievements divide them
selves into two classes of forward move
mcnts the FIRST backed BY the adminia-
traton and the people. and the second
forced upon an unwilling Mayor and cabinet
by public aroused TO the need Tor real
rapid transit.
The fnai acceptance ot the Taylor tran.
sit plan by Mayor Smith. the authorize
ton Of permanent loans amounting 60 ttii,-
$4,000, the Increase In the tax rate on
realty and a comprehensive campaign for
home rule" legislation are the things that
form a mos, interesting and Important
chapter % municipal anairs They arc
all tho direct result % efforts 90 modern
ine tho city and TO place u on pay-as
ypu-Eo basis.
MAYOR PLEDGED TO PROJECTS
When Mayor smith took ONCE last Jan.
vary he was pledged To many municipal
improvements which It was generally recog.
nEed would cost the city well over $780,
100000. The great coat OF the projects
forced all interested to recognize the need
for changes and improvements In municipal
methods of financing The needed loan lcgis'
lation and other changes kept CounellmRnic
nnGnciers more closely occupied with city
anairs than in any previous year In the
city's history.
Tho big projects TO which Mayor Smith
was pledged included rapid transit for all
sectionA tho erection OF many new piers
and wharycs along the Delaware River
water front a new Blockley. a scwaEe.diE-
| rosal plant the completion OF League Island
| Park and the many improvements In South
| philadelphia. the completion OF the Park
wa he Of
| Art Museum and other structures along
| the line Of the Parkway an economic gov.
/ ernment tho construction OF many new
/ bridges. the paving and improving OF many
/ highways and many other Of the ordinary
| projects that the city Ia called upon To han
die each year Of Its existence. How well or
\ how III Mayor Smith has carried out or fur
| thered his pledges and promises may be
| Judged from a resume OF the twelve months
activities.
THE FINANCING PROBLEM
| The year opened with many big projects
| decided upon during the previous admin
istration In their formative stage or partly
| completed. The question occupying public
attention first was how best 10 secure the
| vast fortune needed 10 complete the pro-
! gram that had been mapped out during tho
| years the city was ruled by an aggressive
| reform government That tho people HH n
| whole desired the improvements was shown
/
their approval OF all plans for borrowing
funds
At the very outstart OF the move TO carry
! out the plans completed under former Mayor
Blankenburg those back OF the improve
| ments struck "A snag In the attitude OF tho
| Mayor toward the rapid transit plans hH
drawn by former Director a. Merritt ray
lor, OF the Department OF Transit. This
proved the second stumbling block to prog
ress. tho first having occurred In the fall OF
1918. when for some reason best known 10
| city Solicitor John Connolly n big loan
planned was abandoned just as Councils
had prepared to pass upon Il fhvorably. X
was tho abandonment Of this loan project
that forced the whole financial scheme over
into the present Administration
The Mayor In his campaign speeches
advocated real rapid transit. but carefully
refrained from lndOrsing or approving IN
It's entirety the plans formulated by former
Director Taylor. The reason for this move
was shown shortly after his taking ONCE
when he for weeks, neglected 10 appoint a
new Director OF Transit and for n longer
period OF time DELAYED any serious eonsid'
Grafton OF new work.
CITY HALL CONTROVERSY
when finally he chose William s. Twin
ing 10 head the department the public
believed that the last obstacle had been
removed and that plans could be completed
for contract letting just as soon as coun-
|
| inana To anticipate such action was
merely the part OF good business and was
expected by ALL Judge OF the general sur.
| prise therefore, when the Mayor announced
that his new director was at work on
| modilcntlo nof the Taylor plans which ni-
ready had received the approval or the
entire city. To compllcats still further the
transit situation, engineers OF the city de-
cldsd that City Hall foundations we're In
secure and that no subways could with
| NNHss nd hR
stone that houses the municipal ofneea
Work was stopped under city Hall for
many weeks. and when IL was nnAlly re-
aumed arrangements had been completed
20 rebuild the walls. and Il was agreed by
all that the original plans could be car
ried through with safety. This controversy
consumed time, and while II was under
way Director Twlning, presumably acting
under orders OF Mayor Smith. had his costly
offee and field force at work on the reVi-
sion OF the Taylor plans. This work re-
oulred many weeks. during which time
work on plans and specifications for the
Taylor lines was virtually NJ n standstill.
SO much was public sentiment aroused at
these delays and efforts TO change plans
that provided rapid transit for every sec
tion OF the city that when Director Twining
appeared before Councils with his new
plans or notifications. as he chose 10 call
them. he received but seant attention.
MAYOR FAvoRs PLAN AT LAST
Again acting under the Mayors instruc-
lions. Director Twinlng had his plans
printed and several thousand copies were
distributed THIS action resulted In a gen.
eral protest against further tamperinE with
l.ths TAYLOR plans and finally Mayor Smith
changed his front and came out fatty In
favor OF the plans that had been approved
by hts pred scessor in office, In doing this
the Mayor said that az last he was con
WINGED that the people OF Philadelphia knew
what they wanted In the way OF rapid
transit ana that he would give Il 90 them.
between delays over final adoption of a
comprehensive rapid transit plan and fur
theF delays over framing loan measures 20
cover a part Of the many general improve
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