Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-29
MAYOR DEFENDS
HEFFERNAN BILL
Declares Loan Divertion
Needed for Independent
Transit Operation
'ATTAcKED BY TAYLOR


dhe Heffernan constitutional amendmer
WAS inended to give the city additional bol
towing capacity TO equip the high-spee
tfansit lines.
The constitutional amendment as IL read
fhrows open to general Improvement pur
poses the borrowing capacity now exclur
ively limited TO transit and port improve
fnents In spite Of the fact that this none
already Is available for transit the Mayo
eaid he had been advised that II might no
be legally considered available for transI
equipment expenditures.
The Heffernan amendment has been al
lacked by former Transit Director A. Mer
ritt Taylor Mr. Taylor declared that tn
passage of this piece Of legislation woul,
impair. II not wreck. the entire program
Of high.speed transit development.
MAYORS STATEMENT
The statement from the Mayor follows II
full:
The Heffernan constitutional amend
.nent will be submitted to the people for
adoption or rejection next fall. The
amendment was originally passed by the
Legislature OF 1918. | was not in Office
rat that time and had nothing to do with
its Introduction and no knowledge OF It's
existence until after became Mayor.
Under existing constitutional conditions
the city has a borrowing capacity of
per cent of the assessed value OF the
an extra borrowing capacity OF 3 per
cent for the construction and improve
ment Of transit facilities, wharves and
docks. Under the Heffernan amendment
the borrowing capacity for any purpose
would be 10 per cent | advocated the
passage OF the amendment by the recent
legislature and believe II should be
adopted by the people.
Pending action by the Legislature upon
the Salus bill discussed with my advisers
the position of the city in the event OF its
defeat. / became convinced that It might
become necessary for the city to equip its
own high-speed lines.
MONEY FOR EQUIPMENT
BY equipment is meant not only tracks
and wires but electric substatons and
cars. l was advised that while under
existing constitutional provisions It might
be possible for the city to use the extra
per cent borrowing capacity for the
purchase Of cars and the building of the
electric substations the matter was subject
70 grave doubt
II the courts should decide that the
city cannot use the extra 3 per cent bor-
rowing capacity for this purpose II would
be impossible TO equip its lines This
would require the city to secure an oper-
ator with financial capacity sufficient to
borrow the amount needed 10 equip the
lines or compel the city to submit to
bucn CoHoltions as lne r. H. Il. ChoSe
20 impose
have champloned the cause OF the peo-
pie In their demands for fair play in the
present transit situation. The defeat Of
the Salus bill makes me more determined
10 see TO 1t that the citys hands shall be
free to secure another operator IL the
p. r. T. will not enter into a fair and
equitable agreement / make this state
ment in order that the people may not be
misled by the mis-statements OF the trac-
ton interests and their spokesman.
sToTESBURY IN CONFERENCE
AS the Mayor came out of his office to
fBsue the statement f. T. Stotesbury, chair
man Of the board of directors of the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit Company, arrived,
presumably for a transit conference with
the Mayor.
The Mayors first conference today was
held at his home in Glenside with Director
Iwining When the Mayor reached his
once Senator Ware, Finance Committee
Chairman Gaffney and william Draper
Lewis. the administrations transit legal
adviser. arrived successfully and talked the
situation over with the Mayor.
Following the Glenside conference IL was
announced that the Mayor had decided to
proceed at once with the execution Of the
program announced by him yesterday. To
that end Director Twining will appear be-
fore the Public Service Commission on
Monday to request a certificate Of public
convenience for the Chestnut street subway
When Mayor Smith arrived at his Office
mis- afternoon, following the conference
With the Director, ne was asked whether he
gould tell what had been discussed.
''Not yet Just be patient" he replied.
I The Mayor then went into conference with
Joseph p. Gafrney, chairman of Councils
FINANCE Committee
. erL.
bowed charges by Senator McNichol that
powerful State traction lobby defeated
PIE Salus transit bill, necessitating new
plans by Mayor Smith to force a settlement
sf the city's transportation problems
, Senator McNichol, whose followers from
,he rural districts in the House Of Repre-
Ientatives are held responsible by the Smith
administration for the defeat OF the Salus
BILL revealed what he said was a lobby in
which Statewide traction interests in
,luding the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company. undermined the measure,
Denying vigorously that the country ad-
lerents Of the Penrose- -McNichol faction of
he Republican organization organized to
iefeat the bill, he showed a copy Of a state
nent sent 10 each member OF the House by
he Pennsylvania Street Railways Assocla-
hon. which urged the defeat OF the bill
rhe men who voted against the bill feared
he effect Of It in their home communities
,e said
With echoes of the bilrs defeat still
Iounding Mayor Smith is preparing a sum-
ier campaign for a final settlement Of the
issues. raised-whether or not the city
lvin lease it's lines or run them indepen-
Iently. He hopes, he said, for a solution
Il the problem when Councils reconvene in
he fall ...
During the July and August recess OF
Councils Director Twining will employ com.
,etent legal and engineering aid in planning
new lease proposition to submit to the
Rapid Transit Company - the event OF
mis- being rejected efforta will be made to
interest outside companies in the project OF
landling the high-speed lines.
To be in a position TO submit concrete
,lan 70 outside interests Director Twining
donday win present two petitions to the
Public Service Commission.
WANTS CERTIFICATE
The first request will, be for a certificate
Il convenience TO allow the extension OF the
frankford elevated structure from a point
lorth OF callowhill street to Arch street as
portion OF the proposed Chestnut street
'ubway The second will be a request for a
'ertincate OF approval TO permit the Chest
Iut street subway TO be built This connect.
ne link il known 10 be favored by several
members OF the State Board who have op-
,osed the plan without this link
Ths construction Of the Frankford ele-
faI .rIth Ita