Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-26

attempt TO put their mad program into
eject
nN THE eve OF the election last November
~ the EVENING LEDGER solemnly warned the
people Of Philadelphia that the comprehensive
transit plans would be imperiled by the elec-
ton OF Mr. Smith as Mayor. What that warn
ing was worth was amply demonstrated
few weeks ago, when the Smith Administra.
ton seriously proposed to slice the whole pro-
gram and give the people a make-believe sys-
tenn instead OF the great system for which
they had voted and to which the city was al.
ready dedicated.
We deem it to be our duty at this time once
more to warn the people of Philadelphia that
the success OF their splendid undertaking Is
again threatened and that It will require the
utmost vigilance on their part to prevent the
defeat Of the transit loan bill by interests
which are intent on preventing the achieve.
ment OF rapid transit.
1t is true that both factions, through their
leaders, are dedicated and pledged absolutely
to the support of the loan. There is ap.
parently no organized opposition to II. 1t is
backed, in the open, by all important political
interests Yet the fact remains that factional
leaders are conspiring and planning together,
endeavoring to discover II they can find some
plausible excuse for opposition, something to
soften popular Indignation i'm the event that
Philadelphia woke the morning after election
to find that she had been betrayed and cheated
of her future.
The public has been lured into false sense
of security. 1t has been led to believe that
majority in favor of the loan is abso-
lutely assured. We believe that ma
jority will be registered but only II
the people bestir themselves For If
.I,. H.,
taken from them by default. But gentlemen
who planning to vote their gangs against
the enterprise need not imagine that they can
do so in the dark. Whatever the faction, IL
any, that decides finally to instruct its voters
to oppose rapid transit, it need expect no
hiding of it's purpose. This newspaper and
others, too. which intent on serving the
public need and assuring Philadelphia her
proper place among the great cities of the
earth will expose any conspiracy and give
pitiless publicity to the duplicity of any men
who in spite of their public promises under.
take to knife the transit plan.
We take no stock in the argument that the
Smith Administration is so dscreGited that it
would be folly to intrust It with the expendi-
ture of transit loan money. We hold no brief
for the city government, which is about as
spineess, puny and secondfddle a thing as
hold brief for rapid transit. 1t would be
sensible thing. would 1t not, for the people of
this city, when they have real rapid transit at
last actually in their own hands, to spurn 1t
and turn it down because the Mayor hap
pens to be a weaSling and politician in.
stead of constructive executive. The plans
prepared by Mr.. Taylor are too elaborate and
detailed to permit of any extensive juggling
In the award of contracts AS 10 the inspection
of the work, If need be. citizens commit
tee could give assurance of honest per-
formance. Not only so, but there will be a
councilmanic election year from November.
when the city will have 1t In its power to
select sure guardians of the public funds. 1t
would be the very acme of folly for the people
of Philadelphia to deny themselves the one
great facility for which they have yearned
and fought because, forsooth the city Admins
tration does not command their confidence It
might be worth the while of an Administration
to get itself discredted il by so doing 1t could
ruin the chance for rapid transit. No, that
plea Is but another of the subterfuges devised
to prevent the accomplishment of the great
plan. Anything, in fact that would tend to
prevent a favorable verdict on the loan In
May is a subterfuge, and must be so regarded.
The bogey of higher taxes has been many
times exposed. Rapid transit will cost the loan
OF the city s credit tndt Is all IL Will cost.
The situation has been admirably stated by
Director Taylor:
want to remind every that part
of the interest sinking fund payments
accruing city bonds issued TO- transit
development will be payable out of current
revenues by the city until one year after
the facilities actually in operation and
earning revenue. Therefore the transit loan
could have no effect whatever the tax
rate for four five years in any event,
no matter what any one says.
Men who advance the bogey of higher taxes
are doing so not because they fear higher
taxes, but because they do not want rapid |
transit.
The transit loan is not going to fail by de- |
fault The public is already beginning to take |
notice. and will be thoroughly aroused by
voting time Meanwhile, it behooves the lead.
ers who are considering a plan TO knife the
loan to recollect that they will be held re-
sponsible to the last degree for any under
handed work in this AFFAIR. What they pro-
pose to do will be explained to the people be-
fore not after, the act. They have before them |
the recollection OF what happened when an /
attempt TO betray transit made a few
weeks ago. They would do well TO take that |
lesson TO heart and abandon now the program |
OF scuttle which they have under considera.
tion.
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