Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-17
Is THE STAGE SET FOR A
KILLING?

KILLING?
TODAY the long-heraldod Smith-Atit.
ten proposed transit lease will be
given TO a special session of Councils.
Some feeling of confidence in its pro.
visions has been instilod in the public
mind through the participation of Mr..
Twining and Mr.. Lewis In the negotla.
tions. The former is one Of the most capa.
bic engineers r. tho country but makes
no claim to political acumen and takes no
delight in the Vaccinations of politicians
Just as he pays little attention to them
The latter has been prominent rcforner
for many years, and his associations have
indicated his enthusiasm for public serv.
ice. He recently laid down certain broad
principles which should govern a proper
lease, the most important OF them being
the absolute impropriety of the city
assuming responsibility for the underly
ing leases Of the +. II. r. and guaranteeing
dividends on the watered stock of under.
lying companies. the public has been
inclined to hope that Mr. Lewis would be
able to write this principle into the pro.
posed lease. not understanding how he
could otherwise give it his approval
The city's government is owned from
toe to scalp, by two contractors--Mc.
Nichol and Ware. These men between
them will build the new transit system.
There is an opportunity for vast excess
profits due to existing abnormal condi. J
tions. Never were prices at such high
figures. If they can sign contracts now
and through unavoidable shortages of
labor or material, or through friendly liti. |
cation. secure delay-such delay as Nc
Nichol has just asked for and got in the |
construction work under City Hall---it is
obvious that events, following the tide
of war, may drive the whole scale OF |
prices down, leaving these contractors not |
only a legitimate profit but literally mil |
Hons in addition. Moreover, it is utterly |
impossible TO set definite time limits for
the completion of work and the law pre-.
vents the awarding Of contracts on
10 per cent profit basis, a basis so popular
with the United States Government II
Is evident therefore, that never again
will there be such a rich opportunity for
enormous profits as now exists. Every
itch of the palm is summons to the con.
tractors to hasten the signing of con.
tracts.
In these circumstances, citizens view
with alarm the news that secret cam
paign In support of the proposed lease
was waged among Councilmen and that
pledges of support were asked in ad.
vance all along the line. They smell a
rat They suspect that they may be going
up against stacked deck of cards in this
lease matter, that the ways are being
creased to launch it irrespective of the
views of the public, that the advertised
SN~O ""''hSS Will nc Il SndHl ana |
farce, not likely to change a single vote
In Councils unless the people themselves
take hand. The Wares, McNichol and
the p. r. T. In alliance would constitute a
powerful machine, able to do what IT
pleased unless the people rose en- masse
In opposition. When the bosses get TO.
gether it is time to ring the alarm bells.
Nevertheless, there is distinct longing
on the part OF everybody TO have this
transit question definitely settled. There
will be no fight against the proposed
lease unless 1t is decidedly raw" We
look for no captious criticism Of IL and no
effort to find merely theoretical objections
to Its provisions If it is, on the whole,
fair and square the entire city will
indorse it But when Councils and the
Mayor are controlled by two contractors
who stand to make vast profits from the
enterprise, 1t would be negligence of the
worst sort for any citizen not to keen
his eyes open.
EMANCJpATINCT THE IpEDrv