Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-21
MAYOR AMAZED BY
TRANSIT PLAN DELAY


o'clock and, with Mrs Smith and his son
| Frederick, went home from the North
Philadelphia station before going to City
| Hall
The Mayor got to the Hall at quarter
TO one and Immediately sent for Director
Twining, repeating his inability to under.
| stand why the transit report had not been
given out Then he cdlled up Finance
Committee Chairman Gaffney and told him
to come over TO talk about the loan.
Most of the Mayors interview was given
on the train and at the North Philadelphia
station. He had gone directly there with
his wife and son, the other members of the
| party getting off at West Philadelphia
| They included Senator and Mrs. Ware, Mir.
and Mrs. w. F'reeland Kendrlck, Mr. and
| Mrs. Thomas Boyle, the Coroner and Mrs
Knight Mr. and Mrs James NJ Hazlett,
| Mr.. and Mrs. Harry Dolhnger and Mrs.
| William II. Wilson. Director Wilson was
on hand to meet her.
The first thing Mayor Smith had to say
| was:
II do not understand why the Twining
report has not been made public"
Asked II he had the Twining plan, he
replied that he did not.
II am surprised" he said. THAT the
| report was not out a couple of days after
! l left for the South. Both the transit
] and financial programs will be settled
within few days"
TALK OF TAX RATE.
Asked about the probability of an in
crease in the tax rate, he said:
THE city's financial condition is due to
cowardly evasion that has extended over
period Of many years, I am not pre-
pared at this time to announce my policy
regarding tax rate increase, 1t Is now
being made a political question. 1t will
not come before Councils for action for
some time. II 1t Is found that u higher
tax rate is necessary I am not afraid to
go to the public and show them why 1t is
necessary.
II am now trying TO find other means
for increasing the revenue besides in
oreasing the tax on real estate. There
certainly should be other means with
out increasing the tax nreal estate.
Other cities have other means of reve-
nue.
"I now have man investigating the
financial problems of other cities"
who is he?" the Mayor was asked.
THAT is my business" he answered.
The Mayor said he expected to attend
the meeting OF the Finance Committee of
Councils this afternoon.
"IEDGEs" ON SUBWAY
Revertlng to the subject Of transit, the
Mayor said:
"My position as regards tho transit pro-
gram is the same as 1t always has been.
l was from the first in favor of rapid
transit facilities connecting both ends of
Broad street"
He was asked II he favored a subway
along the entire length of Broad street,
He said:
"I favor n subway In Broad street
wherever feasible Mnrshy lands I'm the
lower ends of South Philadelphia present
engineering difficulties. however. I am in
favor of rapid transit facilities the entire
length of Broad street, but l am not say
ing whether | think 1t should be subway,
elevated or surface lines"
He would not say If the marshy lands
he referred to were below Oregon avenue
or whether they included most Of South
Philadelphia,
He was asked whether hs .houaat the
Broad street subway, built SJS 1nrire
length. would pay from t. stare, and
answered:
81 don't think that anyone has ever
had any idea that the Broad street sub
way would pay from the beginning.
Mayor Blankenburg told me before
went into office that IL was his opinion the
Broad street subway would not pay for
20 or 80 years hut whether II Will pay
or not is not influencing my opinion re-
garding the necessity for the line 1t Is
the convenience and the service to the
public that ! am considering. If they
want rapid transit lines they will have
them If It Is possible to build them"
"TwINING NOT UNDERSTOOD"
Discussing the plan announced by
Director Twining some time ago extend
ing from Erie avenue to Spruce street
only, the Mayor said:
director Twning's suggestions were
not fairly understood. The public hasn't
srT,r ion m, tha Of
the transit project and it is my duty as
the executive officer of the city to point
out what this cost will be. l have asked
irector Twlning 10 show in his report the
graduated cost TO taxpayers of the rapid
transit lines"
Discussing the $50, 100000 loan, Mayor
Smith said he would get busy on the big
loan within a few days He was asked
whether he looked for any more delay
under the hgh-speed lines authorized un-
der the $4,000 600 loan, and said: There
has ben no delay. All the money availa-
ble4s under contract, as understand H."
lie was asked how long he thought the
City Hall section of the Broad street sub
way would be held up, and said
''The City Hall section presents a seri-
Gus problem. You know / have talked TO
several eminent engineers as to what they
thought should be done there. That prob
lem is not yet settled"
WILL STICK TO ANIBLER,
The Mayor kept shy of any discussion
OF politics II have nothing to say" was
the only answer he gave to questions con-
cerning the announcement Of Governor
Brumbaugh's candidacy, the Governors
local option night Senator Penrose's pro-
gram for an uuinstructed delegation TO
the Republican convention, and the presi-
Dental bobm for Philander C. Knox that
was launched last week by Senator Oliver.
The Mayor did, however, declare that
he would continue TO support Charles A.
Amber for the Republican nomination for
Auditor General until the last His atten-
tion was called to the fact that the Gov
ernor, in a statement today, said he had
not endorsed any one for Auditor General
The Mayor said
Il am for Amber to the last. Regard
less OF what position Governor Brumbaugh
may take, / wil stick 10 Amber"
The Mayor was asked;
PENROsES INTENTIONS.
"Have YOU either directly or indirectly
learned whether Senator McNchol and
senator Penrose mean TO use every delay
ing tactic In their power and finally carry
the loan into the courts unless an agree
ment is reached curtailing the Ware
pOwerY"
"No. | have not learned of that either
diractly or Indirectly"