Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-28
City Could Operate
Transit, Says Mayor
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Continued from Page One
session. If the lease connot be consum-
mated upon such terms then the city can
handle the matter itself
"Of course, the equipment Of the lines
would mean the expenditure by the city Of
additional millions for this equipment, but
by the time the lines themselves are COM
pleted the borrowing capacity of the city
will have increased TO such an extent that
sufficient money can be made available for
this.
The Mayor indicated that a fairly
thorough program had been mapped out to
provide for the possibility of municipal op-
Grafton The bill introduced in the Legis-
lature February IA by Representative Cans,
the Mayor said, was one of the first legis
lative steps to prepare for such CON
tingency.
This would make It compulsory for the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company to
,run the city's cars from the Frankford and
Darby 81" lines over the present Market
street high-speed system. Such bill was
introduced as there is some doubt as TO
the bearing of the act of June %, 1913,
upon this point.
BILLS PROVISIONS
The Cans bill that is now before the
Judiciary General Committee provides that
ut shall be the duty of every street rail-
way corporation in this Commonwealth TO
construct and maintain, whenever the COM
or other connections with or between its line
or lines of railway and lines of railway
owned, leased or operated, by any municipal
corporation where the same Is reasonably
practicable. to form continuous line of
transportation and to cause the conveyance
of persons and property to be without un-
reasonable interruption or delay and TO es-
tablish through routes and service therein
and just and reasonable joint rates, fares
and charges applicable thereto, and shall
diCnr iDNtn pfn In fha gntd Rafn
charges or in any rules or regulations ap-
plicable thereto between any such connect
ing lines"
The resolution introduced In the Leglsla-
ture yesterday by Representative Boyer,
providing for the establishment of a munic-
ipal plant for the collection and disposal
or garbage as well as giving the city power
10 clean, pave and repair its own streets.
the Mayor characterized as a sister to
the probe resolution.
This resolution, which was aimed directly
at the Wares, the Mayor would not dis
cuss in detail
The Mayor placed himself definitely on
record. however. as opposed to another bill
introduced by Mr.. Boyer which would re-
ouce the size of the present City Councils
and give each Councilman a salary of $4,000
year. The Mayor declared against the
salary provision particularly.
another measure put in by Mr. Boyer
calling for constitutional amendment
under which II shall be possible for the
legislature to consolidate some of the
onces In City Hall the Mayor would not
discuss In detail. saying he preferred to
walt until he had the bill before him for
study.
:, Although the Mayor spent most OF his
time nshing along the Indian River, about
twenty miles from Port Sewall, where
former Transit Director A. Merritt Taylor
Is stopping. the Mayor said he did not see
nor hear from the former Director
BRYAN ON TRAIN
Former Secretary of State William Jen-
nings Bryan came north on the same train
win the Mayor as far as Washington Mr..
smith, however. said he had not talked with
Bryan.
Il did feel" he said "as though should
nave gone up, taken Mr.. Bryans hand and
thanked him for aiding in my election to
my present position"
Ihe city construction program on the
Mgh-speed system will be rushed forward
as rapidly as possible. the Mayor said,
irrespective of what action Is taken on
tne lease. The fact that the Public Service
commission is Withholding the certificates
OF public convenience for the construction
OF the various lines. Mr.. Smith made 1t
pain. met with his strong disapproyal
When I learned that the commission
mad taken no further action toward grant
,ng our certificates" he said, II wired DE-
ssctor Twining TO go ahead and advertise
tor bids as rapidly as he could get the
specincations ready That was the reason
.or the Directors announcement yesterday
vsnat be would advertise for bids on the
1roaG street tube next week Now. IL
ys can proceed no further, the RESPONSE
eIy rests with <he Public Service Com
's5lon ana certainly not with us,"
l1e Mayor declared that his vacation
|< n <. ~ y. "a. &. "a. a. VI. t. . 4 4. 4. III s