Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-12

COUNCILS yesterday, without division, re-
~ ferred the whole question Of rapid transit
to the people of Philadelphia. They have
been waiting with considerable patience to
stamp it for the second time with their en-
phatic approval. When the vote has been
counted there will be none to doubt what the
people want or to question their Endorsement
Of the whole comprehensive plan as outlined
and suggested by former Director Taylor
There is no longer any agitation in favor
of "bobtail" lines. A more or less sporadic
effort has been made, however, to spread the
impression that City Hall is in danger of
toppling over. There may be a few timid
pedestrians who will walk on the other side
of the street, for gullibility is a national
characteristic, but we imagine there will con-
tinue to be plenty of office.seekers willing to
risk their lives in the service of the city, by
having their offices in the structure upon
assurance that the ghost will walk on pay
day.
The truth is that construction work has
revealed negligence the part of the men
who built the foundations for City Hall. The
foundations are not on a par with those pro-
vided by modern engineers 1t is a wise pro-
cedure, therefore, to strengthen these founda-
tions and it can be done economically in con-
nection with subway construction. The task
is not one to tax the capacity Of engineers.
They can do the work expcditiously and with
out endangering City Hall in any respect
whatever. The science that can tunnel under
the Hudson River is not likely to be stumped
by underpinning building, nor has any engi-
neer been found who would expose his incom-
potency by venturing the opinion that the
work is not feasible.
No experts have stated what approximately
will be the cost of protecting City Hall by
strengthening its foundations 1t is known,
however, that the contract for the subway
work was let at a figure far below what the
Department of City Transit expected to ex-
pend. million dollars, we venture to sug-
gest, will more than pay for the extra work
and leave a nice profit for the contractor
besides 1t may be that half million will be
sufficient
We take it that, however often City Hall
may have prevented progress in Philadelphia
heretofore. it is not going to prevent progress
in Philadelphia now.
That some opposition to popular authoriza-
ton of the loan may develop is not improbable
But 1t is not likely that any great number
of people will be fooled by the obstructionists.
The Mayor is now dedicated to the Taylor
plan in full. So are both of the great polit-
ical factions. There is no organized body,
therefore, that will appear in open opposition.
The vision of a greater, better city has been
caught by tens of thousands of citizens and
they are going to translate it into a reality.
great victory for the people has been
won in that the final decision has been re-
ferred to them They become judge and jury.
They can have real rapid transit if they want
1t. We look for a majority in favor of the
enterprise quite as decisive as that given
last year when the first loan of s6OOOOOO was
recorded. 1t means a greater, better finer
Philadelphia and the beginning of an era of
growth and expansion such as the city has
never before known.