Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-23
LEWIS COMING BACK;
HINT ACTION ON TRANSIT
Administration Legal Adviser
y Fastening From Maine
h for Conference
SERVICE BOARD TO MEET
Expected That Definite Action Will Be
Taken on City's Ap-
plications

william Draper Lewis, special transit ad.
wiser for the Smith administration. is on
his way back from Maine, where he Is
spending the summer for an important con-
ference tomorrow on the new draft OF the
transit lease being prepared by Director
Twining
The conference will be held In the Dl-
rector's office In the Bourse and It Is un-
uerstood that only the representatives Of
the city will be present. The fact that
Mr.. Lewis should come all the way IRON,
Maine at this time is taken az mt rcr
support of the rumors that the draft of
the lease Is virtually completed so far as
the main features are concerned.
The Transit Director and A. L. Drum.
consulting engineer for the Transit Com
pany, have held conferences almost every
day for the last three weeks. ironing out
the differences which caused the break over
the transit lease offered by the company
SERVICE BOARD TO MEET
In addition to the return of Mr.. Lewis
considerable interest attaches itself today
TO the executive session OF the Public Service
Commission in Harrisburg. The session be-
Gins at noon today and will continue until
tomorrow night and during this time definite
action Is expected from the board upon the
eity's applications for authority to proceed
with the construction of the various lines
Of the high-specd system
The commission now has under advise
ment applications for certificates OF public
convenience for the following lines Of the
system:
The Broad street subway, excepting the
section under City Hall, for which authority
vas granted two years ago.
The subway delivery loop
The Darby elevated.
The Parkway Northwest subway-eievated.
The Chestnut street subway.
The southern terminus of the Frankford
Il" from Callowhil 10 Arch street on
Front. and
The Thirty-nfth Ward surface line.
The applications for the Chestnut street
tube and the continuation of the Frankford
Il were argued before the commission last
week by Transit Director Twining and As
sistant City Solicitor Lowengrund. The per-
mits for all the other lines excepting the
Darby IL" were requested in December.
1915. The Darby IL" application was filed
early In February.
The main cause for the long delay by the
board was the contention first advanced by
Commissioner William A. Magee, of Pitts
bursh, that a dtfnite leasing program
should be worked out before the city was
given the authority to construct the entire
system. Upon this point the Commission
became deadocked. Commissioners Ryan
and Killing supporting Magee and Chair
man Ainey and Commissioners Alcorn and
Brecht favoring immediate action. With
harmony on the lease now assured, 1t Is
expected that the deadlock will be broken
and action taken today or tomorrow
Ne" LEASb ABOUT READY
Although all details OF the new lease
are being carefully guarded by the con-
ferees. II is freely predicted In both fnan-
cial ana political circles that unloss some
1nexpected obstacle is raised the new lease
orAt WIN De ready Tor the city and COM
.o'"e's 10 pass upon "ithin very
''~ ua'e
The reports that all important differences