Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-04-02
SERVICE BOARD DELAYS
TRANSIT HEARING AGAIN
Consideration of Convenience,
Certificates Postponed Because
of Magee's Absence
AINEY ANSWERS CRITICS
From a STAFF Correspondent
u c.IlIrnG.

| HARRISBURG. April ..
The Public Service Commission has post.
poned until tomorrow consideration of the
| applications filed by the city of Philadel-
phia for certificates of public convenience
to permit the Transit Department to pro-
| ceed with construction OF the various lines
| Of the high speed System
The absence of Commissioner Magee.
who telegraphed Chairman Ainey early to-
day that he could not be in attendance
| untfl tomorrow. was assigned Jy the board
| as the reason for the postponement. Chair
| man Ainey announced. however. that the
| commission would take up for discussion
| today several financial tables 6led by Tran
sit Director Twining two weeks ago.
AINEY ANSWERS CRITICS
The severe criticisms Of the commission
FOR its long continued delay. eliminating
last week in letter from Mayor Smith
to Governor BrumbauEh asking the latter
to use his personal influence upon the COM
mission, called forth the following com.
ment from Chairman Ainey today:
Governor Brumbaugh is out of town, !
had not heard of the note and will not see
1t until the Governor returns, probably to-
morrow. AS for any delay the commission
may be responsible for. ! think we are
emitted to take a few months time and
consider this matter carefully. You must
remember that the engineers took five years
to draw up the plans for this high-speed
system
Chairman Aurey went on to explain that
the executive session today the first
held since February .. The meeting to-
morrow will likewise be an executive ses-
sion and third may he called for Wednes-
day.
The applications for the certificates have
been under consideration for more than
three months without any decision being
rendered. During this time two public
hearings were held and one personal in.
spection of the proposed lines was made
by three members of the service board.
Should the commission fail to take
definite action before noon tomorrow, Drec.
tor Twining will be unable to award the
contracts for three sections of the Broad
street subway when bids are opened. Three
contracts are already hung up in similar
way as result of the commissions delay.
BIDS IN FEBRUARY
During the first week in February the
department opened bids for the three Sec |
tions of the subway delivery loop. Director
Twining had expected that the commission |
would have granted him authority before |
the bids we're scheduled to he opened ON |
The contrary. the bids have been opened for |
two months and no awards can be made |
and consequently the beginning of the |
actual work is being delayed indefinitely
lhe daily loss to the taxpayers in in. |
terest and sinking fund charges on transit |
Is
at approximately $3.50. The contracts for |
which bids are to be opened tomorrow to-
gether with three delivery loop contracts
involve about SIS 200. 900
1t is understood that the commission has
virtually agreed to bow to the will of the
city administration and take affirmative
acton upon the pending certificates. Cp to
the present time the members of the board
have been evenly divided upon the question.
three favorng immediate action and three
holding Off for further delay until the mat
ter Of an operator for the new lines was
definitely determined.
ON THREE CONTRACTS
The BIDS, which will be opened tomorrow.
by Director Twning, are for the following: |
Contract No. 1O3-575 linear feet of two
tract: and $500 linear feet of four-track
subway in Broad street from south of Fill
bert street to Buttonwood street, including
one station
Contract No. 104-40S6 linear feet of
four-track subway in Broad street from
Buttonwood street to north Of Stiles street |
three stations.
Contract No. 204-2960 linear feet of
four-track subway, merging into two-track
subway in Broad street from South Penn
square to south of South street, including
two stations.
Legislation planned by Director Twining
to broaden the city's powers in the transit
lease negotiations with the PHILADELPHIA |
Rapid Transit Company will be introduced
In the State Legislature this week
The Director has three definite objects
which he hopes to achieve through the |
bills One Is to extend the scope of the
Public Service Commissions powers so that
The Transit Company may be compelled to
transfer passengers from its own system
to the system owned by the city in case |
here should be an independent operator.
Mayor Smith today signed the bill au-
horizing the Department of city Transit
o proceed at once with the construction |
II the Chestnut street subway The final
passage of this bill will strengthen the cty's
position In the transit lease negotiations
md will in addition enable the department |
o charge to the Chestnut street appropria-
Jon the cost of constructing the double
ieck sections where the Chestnut street
ube Will transverse the Broad street sub
vaY and the subway delivery Innn