The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-29
PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS.
Big Row IN Philadelphia Over Sab.
way ana Elevated Railways.

PHILADELPHIA. March 2s.-The Hon.
Thomas II. Smith was elected Mayor Of
Philadelphia last November. He has
been three months In office n has done
and Is still doing-things. His first
act OF Importance was to appoint a
cabinet OF six directors. every n OF
whom WIS a friend Of Congressman
Ware. who IL laying plans TO secure a
seat In the Senate Of the United States.
and then when an underground murmur
rumbled along from Dan to Beersheba.
from Hog Island TO Holmesburg. that
Senator Penrose had been wholly ig-
nored In the makeup OF the Mayors
cabinet the new Mayor issued a ukas
that he was a sincere friend OF Senator
Penrose n would not c~ountenance any
effort upon the part OF any one to
ator Penrose as tho leader Of State
politics.; that in all matters relating TO
state politics ne. the Mayor. would rec
ogniIe Penrose as the leader.
The remark was made to one OF the
truest n best friends Congressman
Ware has In Pennsylvania that 1.-The
Mayors statement Is a soyt of Jess
Willard knockout for Congressman
Ware" and reply came az quick and as
forceful as a kick from the left hind
foot Of a Virginia mule: Don't worry.
The Mayor does things for the Wares
and he talks for Penrose." and forth
with the Mayor called a conference OF
the Republican leaders Of Pennsylvania
TO select twelve delegates at large to
the Republican national convention. at
which were present Governor Brum-
baugh. his Acknowledgement. Francis
Sheriff. Brown. former Mayor Of Pitts
burg william A.. Magce and former
Congressman r. v. y. Ainey. two mem
hera ~ tho p,.hItr Gorytra GsOv, v,tgaipp
appointed BY Governor Bruinbaugh.
Congressman Ware. Griest and kiess.
state Senator Ware. and Mayor Smith
Of Philadelphia, also a former Public
Service Commissioner appointed ~ such
by Governor Brumbaugh. In the alb
sence OF Senator Penrose. who was not
Invited TO be present. these gentlemen
proceeded to make up a slate. a Brum-
baugh -S,nith-vare slate. Of delegates TO
he supported at the statewide primaries
TO he held on May 16 next.
The next exploit by Philadelphia
now Mayor was the creation OF n loan
for $50. 500. 900. which IL successful will
increase the Indebtedness OF the city
Of Philadelphia from S99.3ss,5s3. the
amount Of the city's debt on January
!. 1916. to 3lss.l?s,5sS. Thh action
is in such striking contrast with that OF
the five Republican Mayors during the
~ '"'' ho'' eiNAt q
Mayors Edwin &. stuart. Charles +.
Warwick. Samuel u. Ashbridge. John
Weaver and John T.. Reyburn. that II
is herewith presented In evidence. Dur
ing those twenty years the Total In
crease OF the Indebtedness Of the city
OF Philadelphia was sllT.2l5.70o. an
average OF sj.sso.7S5 for each year OF
the five mayoralty terms.
During the reform administration OF
RTlhnlnh tAnkanhtr tina TrnOrnNHe-
Keystone Democratic Mayor. the city in
debtedness was increased $40. 1896. 900. an
average OF se.eS3.75o a year an increase
OF 20 per cent. over that Of the Ave Re-
publican Mayors preceding lin.
This proposed increase Of the deb:
of the city during the first three months
of Mayor Smiths term Ia the mos, stag
cering blow that has ever been dealt the
city OF Philadelphia. II will require an
100000 a year more to be paid into the
nkn fund for thirty years for the
redemption Of that Indebtedness of slS6.-
100000. and Il will necessi,ate an in
crease OF the tax rate OF 30 per cent.
over last years rate. with a further In
crease OF 20 per cent. next year in the
tax rate. Interest and sinking IN &C
count for thirty years is s373.43S,:?o.
which must be met by taxation.
In entering upon the work OF build.
ing subway and elevated railways the
city of Philadelphia seems 10 he enter
Ing upon a new and wholly untried en-
p%erience. especially as she has no lessee
for either the subway or elevated rail-
ways she has already started to con-
struct, and moro especially as this pro-
posed loan OF SIS. 900, 900 must have the
assent Of the people to make Il lawful.
II II were to be rejected by the voters
at the election OF May ia next. "W7ha;
them may we'll be asked. The row
over il promises to be big with startling
and uncXpccted results