Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-10
ner Director Says
sent Conditions
Are Abnormal
QTESTS AGAINST.
FARE INCREASES
69emns the Program
hieh Would Guarantee
Per Cent Dividend

&fIlorritt Taylor former Director OF
- Qepartment of City Transit. In a
"a 1tentnt issued today calls upon the
X1R riosrs of this city to take steps
I@9 prevent the adoption by City Coun-
Nh of the revised Smith-M transit
n Ho aid 1t would be unjustifiable for
~ city to enter into a contract under
!; l4oonG abnormal conditions. due to the
I14rse when the contract would empower
*<IostR. r. T. Company to increase Its
E1IFo6 to any extent necessary TO main-
3 z11n 8 per cent dividend on its capital
*&1po4 o. $30, 100000.
~ thil4 he urges that a contract be-
G{Foen the city and company be post
<D4nod until after the war. he suggests
= Temporary agreement be entered into
With the p. r. T. Company for the
operAtion of the Frankford IT, as an
5 ehtensipn of the Market street subway;
md that the exchange-ticket question
toIether with the =. r. r Companys
fare requirements be taken before the
Public Service Commission so that the
( commission can make an inquiry into
Qth6 facts and determine n method for
\ elllnfnating the exchange tickets in Sec
.flons Of the city where they are dis
{ cflminatory.
The former Director OF Transit criti-
2c1sed the retention of the board of SUI
0orvising engineers in the Smith -Mitten
1oaso. The board, he says, is clothed
with attocratic powers In the control OF
thA city's unified system; that their
movers will remove from City Councils
jurisdiction over important transit at
fnirs.
Mr.. Taylor denied any participation
n framing the revised Mitten
lease. This Is an answer. he said, TO
( Current impression that he participated
n revising the lease. and said that al
th0ughr DIR. William Draper Lewis had
pfomised to discuss the proposed amend
monts TO the original lease with Thomas
Raeburn White. chairman of the former
directors committee Of attorneys, he
ssfaf1ed to comply with his promise TO dis
souss them with us and failed to express
his views with relation to them"
MR.. rAYLoR's STATEMENT
Mr.. Taylor's statement. in full, is as
(, follows:
Representatives of the Philadelphia
rapid Transit Company and Of the city
Administration have submitted to city
Cnunciis, with their Endorsement, a re-
vlsed draft Of the proposed contract be-
<QYoen the city and the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit Company.
TX New and unanticipated conditions re-
oultant from the war which are con-
'6>Antly developing introduce new and
6offous factors which must be under
61ood and considered in connection with
'&1z1 proposed contract.
Aa0ong those which affect the COM
10y and its operations are the follow
a INIT Financial conditions. present
~ urospective, compel the company to
<o1khdraw its original proposition to pro-
49, the money required for the pur.
nss Of equipment for the city's high
I'D lines on a per cent basis or on
NJ other basis.
\ Uocond. New taxes have been imposed
<Don the company's income and upon
1oess profits Of its subsidiary COM
&nn1os which may subject the company
nporarily--until some time after the
nc1usion of the war-to an additional
1R6a charge, which may amount to a
<Hfliiou or a million and half dollars
~ year under existing legislation
Th>se taxes may be increased to an
rnknown extent to meet further require
monts of the Government.
Third. The increase in the cost of the
coppany's coal and other supplies. based
mon urices now current. may amount to
VsIl over one-half million dollars a year
Fourth. Other operating expenses Of
- company are likely 20 be increased
- an unknown extent during the period
of the war.
Amoux those factors which AFFECT the
o,fy'n transit development are the fol.
Iowfng.
8 Tirst. The city cannot build subways
"a elevated railways during the war,
&oenuse:
4, (a1sThe required material can not
~ secured.
(bls The required labor can not be
<noeured.
~ (cl. Prices Of labor and material
fn9o prohibitive.
n - = at least doubtful whether, aside |
&1fSu the foregoing factors, It would be
r1dfcnt and patriotic on the part of |
city to proceed with the construc. |
~, 81 its high-speed lines at this time.
1236 ali the Industrial and financial re-
1rrcos OF the country are required for
successful prosecution Of the war.
4 Tso best that tho city can hope for
x 0reaent Is the completion Of the
siford elevated and the continuance
n -crk on q small portion Of the Broad
~ subway, which is already under
x-er.of 40 long as the necessary ma.