Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-10

ACCUSE POLICE
Transit Protest Meeting
Threatened With Interfer-
ence, League Charges
RIDICULOUS, WILSON SAYS

Slim attendance due. It was charged, to
threat Of police interference. caused the
postponement this morning of the first
protest mass-meeting scheduled to he held
at 10 30 O'Clock in the Parkway Building
under the auspices of the Nonpartisan
League of Philadelphia The meeting
for later this afternoon will be held accord
ing to the original plans II was announced
The postponed morning meeting will be held
Friday night
The explanation for the postponement Of
this mornings session was contained in
statement made by members Of the execu-
tive committee of the league The state
ment contains the pledge which it was
planned to submit to the independent can
didates for Councils. who had been invited
TO attend the meeting.
THE PLEDGE
Upon distinct threat Of police inter-
ference" the statement reads, and in
order that the entire citizenship OF the
city might have full notice and oppOr-
tunity to place on record their opinion
regarding the proposed Smith-Mtten
transit lease, the executive committee
decided to postpone the open mass'meet-
ing Of the league until Friday evening
next. and in the meantime give ample no.
tce through the newspapers asking any
additional candidates for Councils or
other public Offices who care 10 take
stand at this time against the contractor
bosses 10 come forward and indorse the
following pledge:
herewith declare myself unalterably
opposed 10 any lease, contract. agree
nent or ordinance that shall bind or tie
up the city or any corporation or indi-
viduals for long or indeterminate period
of time in dsposing of any valuable prop
erty or franchise rights without full and
definite consideration and guarantees that
safeguard taxpayers and citizens gem
orally, at every point, and | further declare
that II elected to office I shall serve
with an eye single to the interests of the
entire city, without reference to, or con-
troll by any political clique, faction or
so-called boss.
Director Of Public Safety Wilson was
told of the statement charging police inter-
ference threats. He CHARACTERIZED II Is
ridiculous"
The persons who attended the meeting
decided to hold an Informal session and
for more than an hour the Smith-Mitten
lease was attacked from various angles,
Former Assistant City Solicitor Paul de
Moll urged that only short term lease be
ratived. The present lease, he asserted,
was illegal because 1t did not state the
time when the company shall begin the
operation of the system, which Is required.
he said, under an act passed approved
June IT, 1913.
Former State Senator James T. Nuty.
of Frankford. assailed the fare provisions
of the new lease and compared the high
fares in this city with those in Detroit.
where tickets are sold eight for twenty
five cents.
J. Foster Thomas spoke in favor of TAX
ing over the system of the transit company
by exercise of the right of eminent domain,
He advocated the postponemen' Of the con-
struction program until prices have dropped
and declared that ratification Of the lease
in its present form would mean that the
city was putting its head deeper in the
lions mouth
Robert s. Bright executive chairman Of
the league. will preside at this afternoons
session. Among the speakers then will be
s. Davis Page, Select Councilman Ira d.
Garman, DR.. Daniel l. McDermott and
Joseph B. Thomas. Joseph p Gaffney,
chairman of Councils Finance Committee,
has been invited to discuss the lease, but
he sent letter declining on the ground that
Il would be improper for him to enter into
public discussion of the lease until after
the councilmanc hearings have been con.
cluded.
Resolutions expressing the sentiments of
the majority of those present at the
meeting will be forwarded to the
Joint Committee on Finance and Street
Railways at the next hearing in accord
ance with the desire OF William Draper
Lewis. Mr Lewis at Fridays hearing sug-
gested that all those interested in the
transit situation and who cared to do so
could send questions to the committee
and they would be answered verbally on
September 81.
The Philadelphia Subway Construction
Company, OF which Senator Edwin H.
Ware is the head has announced that final
decision on the acceptance of the subway
contract II was awarded will be made
known to Mayor Smith today On last
Tuesday the contract was refused by the
firm. Later. through Senator Ware, the
company announced that 1t would be re-
considered.