Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-18
TRANSIT ISSUES
ARE DISCUSSED
"A Little-knoWn Gibraltar and a
Modern Columbus Overcoming
Incredible Difficulties
TRANSIT EMPLOYE IS CONFUSED


/ TO tho EdHor Of nc ErcHUg Lcdp"":
! Sir-Your editorial appearing in the issue
! of September 10, entitled THE Cardinal
! Feature" is most confusing to those familiar
with rapid transit development. 1t quotes
/ paragraphs from the report of the Depart
| ment of city Transit issued March 20, 1916,
and it deliberately attempts to convey to
! the readers the impressions that the Director
| of city Transit avoided. in the aforesaid
! report, the important question OF fares. In
/ view Of the ruthless and unfair reception
which this report received at tho hands of
the editor of the EVENING LEDGER, | am
not surprised that, in the haste to discard
il as Nalueless, the important features deal
ing with the question of fares. exchanges
and free transfers were overlooked. What
is astonishing is the fact that, at this late
day the EVENING LEDGER should give any
attention whatever to this report Of eighteen
months ago. While this report was dis
carded because Of passion, prejudice and
unfairness, and J might add because It did
not suit the exploitation fancics of certain
individuals, it was accepted all over this
country as one Of the greatest contributions
on the subject Of municipal transportation
ever put forth.
Tho EVENING LEDGER, in referring to tho
cardinal feature" fails TO mention the
fact that tho proposed operating lease Of
last December. which was advocated by the
cX-dircCtOr aud which the people were
urged to accept without delay, Tepudiated
every promise which, under the so-Callcd
Taylor plan. had been made TO the pco-
pie in the matter of five-cent fares and
free transfers. True, when tho people voted
in favor OF tho transit loan they were
promised and were given to understand by
the cN-dircCtur that the railway systems
could be combined ana operated for a five
cent fare. Thoy we're not then told by
him that deficits would result and would
a o hN
I'm fare or by an increase in the tax rate
But what would have happened had the
now rejected lease of last December been
accepted? Tho city would have surren-
dcred to the rapid transit company in re-
turn for free transfers an amount that
would reach approximately $4,000, 900
during the life of the lease faced an in
crease i'm the tax rate and i'm addition the
rapid transit company at any time it
needed the cash for its dividend could
have increased the fares without limit, Mr.
Taylor in his statement, page II, of May
rs last. stated that the situation, for the
city's protection, could be met with penny
transfer or otherwise. What was intended
by otherwise" was never explained or
understood, but it is an undeniablc fact
that, in addition to the grant of $4,000 600.
the rapid transit company could have
raised the fares without limit. [ did not
see any editorial I'm the EVENING LEDGER
warning the citizens against the obnoxious
and Objectionable features of the lease pro-
nosed last December, although the
EVENING LEDGER advised it's readers sew
cral times that careful analysis of the
document was being made The readers
were promised an explanation of the terms
Of this lease, but it has never appeared
After careful examination and public hear
ings, this lease was found TO he the worst
from the standpoint of the city that has
been submitted
The lease ordinance now before Councils
committee preserves for the city the S45-
100000 which was to be surrendered under
the proposition of last December. It as
surcs the payment of cty's rental for IFS
system before the rapid transit company's
stockholders obtain n penny; II gives no
guarantee of a dividend whatsoever and
leaves the determination of fare TO the
Public Service Commission. where il be-
longs. Not one OF these features appeared
in the draft of last December, and further
more, the latest proposition wipes out the
exchange ticket almost entirely without n
penny OF compensation to the rapid transit
company or without loss to the taxpayer.
Sometimes am tempted to believe that the !
EVENING LEDGER is like the Scotchman
who said, IL am open TO conviction bur 7
would like TO see the man who can con-
vince me-" Or suggest the lines OF Pope.
"A man conYinced against his will is of
the same opinion still" JOHN ]. EGAN.
Philadelphia, September H.
Mr. Egan is an employe of the Depart
ment of City Transit His statement that
the editorial In question deliberately at
tempts to convey TO the readers the impress
sion that the Director of City Transit
avoided, in the aforesaid report the i'm
portant question of flres" Is best answered
by the following quotation from the edi
torial: Director Twining himself, since
taking Office, has been consistent advocate
of higher fares. Elsewhere In the aforesaid
report he took the view that TIE full cost
Of the service should be paid by tho rider"
There are other statements by Mr.. Egan
which appear - b. rather forced. ~ thai