Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-01

citys capital is treated as well as the
company's.
Tenth The contract Of 9O7 to be modI-
fed little as may be necessary TO cor
respond with conditions Of this contract
Payments now due the city hereunder
not to be abated or modified. The COM
pany to cancel all claims on unearned
and unpaid dividends cumulative since
1901 and change date so that per cent
dividends may be cumulative from date
of the contract.
Second The term Of the contract shall
be fifty years or preferably Of indctcr-
inmate length, with provision that the
city may reCapture either its own sys-
TEN, or both systems at any time, after
due notice upon stated terms
These suggestions aim 10 prevent the
company from placing on either the taxes
or the fare any burden not due directly to
the city's program, and 20 prevent the COM
panying using the city's credit for its pri-
vate advantage"
The Director used charts and lantern
slides to drive home his points.
Three developments of the first import
ance today marked the city's effort to undo
the transit tangln. These were an announce
ment Of Teferenum vote by the full MEM
bership Of the Chamber of Commerce on
the Transit Compauys lease proposal; a
conference between city representatives and
officials Of the company upon the four
transit bills pending in the Legislature, and
the third public before Councils Committee
The conference on the pending legislative
measures was the most significant Of the
days developments. Mayor Smith an
n0gnced yesterday that an effort would be
made 20 have the Philadelphia Rapid
E-srsit Company withdraw its opposition
TO the bills asked for by the city. Realizing
tint no time is 70 be lost If the measures
are TO be passed, the Mayor arranged imme-
diataly for the conference this morning.
IN TwTNING'S OFFICE
Contrary 10 the usual custom, II was
held in Director Twning's office Those
present for the company were f. T. Stotcs-
Bury, chairman of the board Of directors :;
Thomas +. Mitten, president; Ellis Ames
Ballard, chief counsel; and A. /. Drumm
consulting engineer The city was repre-
sented BY Director Twining william Draper
Lewis. legal transit adviser Of the admin
istraton and Joseph Z Gaffney, chairman
Of Councils Finance Committee.
Except for Mr. Gaffney, who said salts
factory progress was made" none Of the
conferees would discuss what took place
during the two hours they were closeted
in the Directors private office.
MAYOR DETERMINED
Mayor smith is determined that the posi-
ton of the company upon the pending bills
shall he thrcshed out thoroughly before
next Thursday, when the Senate Judiciary
General Committee which has them under
consideration will meet to take action upoD
them,
Senator McNichol. although plainly in
dicating his opposition to the measures at
the hearing last Tuesday in Harrisburg.
made the suggestion that the city and
the company get together. If this cannot
be done, it is likely that the Mayor will
notify the committee that efforts T. recon-
cile differences over the bills failed and
accordingly he will urge that the Legisla-
ture pass the measures.
Todays session was only the frs, Of the
series Of conferences to be held between
this time and next Thursday II was an
nounCed after the conferceS left the direc-
tors Office. When the next conference will
be called has not been decided as yet,
The declaration Of the Mayor on We'd
nesday that the city had reached a point
where II was found impossible TO keep the
promises to the public and give them all
that was anticipated for a ive-cent fare, It
was ntimated yesterday. might be followed
by the announcement soon Of a siN-cent fare
proposition, with universal free transfers
for a limited number Of years.
None Of those identified with the transit
plan is willing TO come out and face the pub
lie in this matter in view Of the promises
which have been made, but II was declared
positively that this a similar plan was in
the minds of many. Colonel Potter origi-
nally suggested a seven-cent or at least
an advanced fare on the city-built lines
to meet the situation.