Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-18

framing Of the new transit lease have Ger
tainly prepared fine gold brick. but II !
another question whether Philadephians ar
going TO swallow the gold brick which 4
embedded In the transit lease. II our olt
friends Barnum and Bailey. could be resur
rected and shown this lease--I mean th'
one that Mayor Smith had the audacity e
present TO Councils yesterday guess
those two gentlemen would take of theil
hats to certain gentlemen.
/ "One OF the chief characteristics OF the
population OF this city is that they are un
concerned when important measures come
| UP. L hope that that characteristic will not
be In evidence now when this transit grab Is
being fourished In our faces. We have
had gas steals and many other steals, but II
is an insult to human intelligence to have
us be satisfied with a lease the kind that
| the Mayor proposes. for one will never
| agree TO be handed gold brick. And there
are others who feel that way We have
| representatives in Councils who trust will
| not forget their duty. Whether Philade-
phia is to be satisfied with this transit gold
| brick will be decided by Councils and, be-
! lieve me, the eyes OF thousands Of voters
and others will be centered upon the gen.
tlemen who occupy seats In the council
manic chamber. l will bring this matter
before our members. / am opposed to the
present lease.
Samuel ID. worthington. president of the
East Germantown Improvement Assoca-
tion:
There seems to be too much politics in
IL and the people are not going TO get a
square deal. It's absurd to attempt to sad.
die six or seven cent fare on us when
1t has been proved that the people OF
the city can ride for less than five cents
with handsome balance still on the side
OF the traction companys ledger. The peo-
pie Of Germantown have the most at stake
and our association will take UP the fight
vigorously"
John u. Sheaty, vice president Of the
Overlook Improvement Association:
mo lease should be allowed which would
In any way increase carfare for the citizens
or Philadelphia. We should not permit any
body to advance the fare. When the people
OF Philadelphia voted for the transit loan
they did so with the distinct understanding
that the carfare was not to be increased
and that exchange tickets should be abol-
lshed. II the people of Philadelphia had
not had that understanding they would not
have voted for the loan"
Lewis Jones. Jr.. second vice president
or the same associations
"A six-ccnt fare certainly will NOT be |
tolerated in Philadelphia In this era of |
high prices we should be thinking of putting |
the fare down rather than raising Il 4
lease providing for six-cent fare certainly |
VIII NOT De acceptable
Mark Lipschuetz, secretary of the Cam
trail North Philadelphia Business Associa-
tion: -i'''''"-
am net In favor OF the transit lease
as IL stands. No business man would stand
for anything like this after voting for a
nve-cent fare and square deal It is
bit surprised
. II cant understand how with the no,i
tlclans supposed to be with us and the
sentiment in favor Of real transit, this
'hlng can go through. It's up to the busi-
ness men TO get busy and say something"
Robert T. Carson, 5o11 Penn street
director of the Business Mems and Tax
payers Association of Frankford:
Il am extremely opposed to an in
crease OF fare. as set forth in the transit
lease introduced in Councils yesterday bv
Mayor Smith. I hope that the earnings
from the Frankford elevated will be so
large that an increase will not be necessary |
Ana as for the proposition that p r. T.
stockholders should be guaranteed a per
cent and possibly per cent, on their in
vestment, 1t Is extremely doubtful to me
mat the city should make any guarantee
Tor private corporation"
Fred l.. Lemont, a grain dealer at 4522
the Westminster Belmont Improvement AS
sociation
There goes fve-cent fares for Philadel-
'hia There is no doubt about that. |
ant sa2 that l expected anything much
however. | formed my opinion
ong ago. I knew the Philadelphia Rapia
Transit Company was overloaded burdened
ls 1t is with heavy fixed charges to its
Underlying companies.
"The city gets off where It usually does
l,Dt ta tI,..a
lelphia Rapid Transit Company is the only
me getting anything out OF such a lease
rs that. l have often wondered how they
were going to get out of It, might have
tnown they'd get out all right, since they
nave the politicians with them
"In my mind there's only one way 10
ettle the whole business and that is for
he Rapid Transit Company to go into
have a fair valuation placed
m the underlying companies, and then start
BUSINESS after the water is all squeezed
'ut of the stock. That would be the way 10
get fair service for fair price"
John A. Moore, a member of the trans
,ortation committee of the United Business
Mems Associations:
II am not surprised at the jokers in the
ease. thought the Rapid Transit Com
'any could not pay its own way I have
I on good authority that out of every Ave
,ent fare collected three cents goes to nav
ixed charges to underlying companies and
he remaining two cents must take care
II operating expenses deterioration and go
orth. The whole point of the Joker ia in
he clause where 1t reads that If II ,s
ound that deficit will exist the ctty
hall join with the Rapid Transit Comnany
n petition to the Public Service Commits.
'ion to raise the fares to such a figure as
will guarantee the removal of the deficit
That's the point! There will be a deficit
III right There is no question but that
he lease Is unfair to the city. I am IN