Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-01

F~N---N@N--'
transit loan.
A FEW weeks ago Mayor Smith ordered
"A certain changes in the comprehensive
transit plan, the effect of which would have
been to waste millions Of the taxpayers money
and deprive them of real rapid transit. At that
time the Mayor was eloquent in his declara-
tions that he was true friend of transit
and that the whole purpose of his remarkable
proposal was really to benefit rather than
harm the city. 1t was a regular Bryan God
Bless You" sort of situation, with the Mayor
and his friends ready to "bless' rapid transit
out of existence.
But the people were not dumb enough to
want that kind of blessing, having been prom
ised the real thing, and they protested with
such vigor that the Mayor backtracked faster
than he ever progressed forward and straight
way got into line.
For that he deserved praise and gladly we
accord it to him. The next best thing to a
good Mayor is poor Mayor who can be made
to do good thing provided he is pressed hard
enough by the public.
But now the epoch.making, comprehensive
transit plan, the key to the future greatness
of the city and the supreme test Of the COM
munity's fitness for intelligent progress, is
before the people themselves. At last they
have the affair in their own hands. Yet
wonderful to relate, they suddenly discover
that among the factionalists the achievement
of rapid-transit system for Philadelphia is
not half important as the temporary politi-
cal success of this or that ephemeral pigmy,
who happens goodness knows why, to be
clothed in the raiment of office, or has hopes
in that direction And the reason, are
told. why factionalism must fight the loan is
that the Mayor. who was to be Mayor of all
the people, is in fact nothing but one of the
Ware office boys obsessed with the idea that
Philadelphia and all of its revenues are the
personal property of the Wares, to be used
according to their direction for the greater
glory and aggrandizement of pigprotectors
and political voluptuaries.
The Public Ledger charges and the Rec
ord charges and the Inquirer charges and the
Bulletin charges that the Mayor himself is
the greatest menace to the success of the
loans that exists. In fact. every newspa-
per in the city which speaks with any au-
Shority, including the North American, be-
1ieves and has said that Philadelphia must
have rapid transit as planned, and every news
paper in the city which has an opinion of its
own and refuses TO bootlich, not including the
North American believes and has said that
while the Mayor pleads for the loans with
the voice of Jacob. his actions reveal the
hands OF Esau. with a couple of knives in
them. political Mayor is a heavy burden
for any cause to carry.
We hold brief for Mr.. Smith, whose
shameless conduct of his office in the inter.
ests of the Ware gang is an injection of
malaria into government. But, ON the other
hand. not less contemplate would be any
other man or set of men who used the collar
on the Mayors neck as an excuse for them
selves TO knife rapid transit and deliver the
city in a straitjaeket to this sefsame Mayor
and the traction interests.
The loan bill was drawn in such a way as to
tie up the Smith Administration. The routes
are specifically designated. in their compre-
hensive relationship. Given the money. of
which he can spend but part during his term
OF ohiee. and the Mayor must stand by the
Taylor plan and by no other plan He cannot
aeviate from it essentially. A favorable vote
means a eontractual obligation which neither
Mayor nor Councils can vitality change But
let the transit loan bill be. defeated and the
Mayor vll at once claim that the people are
opposed to If, wherefore he win dump over
board all Of the magnificent work done by Mr.
Taylor, cali for a new deal and expose the city
70 the mercy Of the traction interests The
uss 10 put strength into the Mayors hands
Is . beat the loan.
There Is no reason 70 believe that MeNichol
fapors rapid transit IN spite Of Senator Pen
ross and Mr. Lane Is, BY intimation. too
slrene an advocate of ten-eent fares and
sasar-bslass traction dixldends to Be anything
=. straight enemy q puhAe improvement
$ kass aas So leader from the eaa nse.
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