Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-01
P. R. T. ULTIMATUM
DELIVERED TO MAYOR
Transit Company's Insistence on
Lease Terms Takes Fight
to Legislature

The outcome of the transit lease negota-
tons, judged by the results of the confer
ence between officials of the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit Company and of the city.
now rests entirely upon the success or fall
ure of the transit legislation pending at
Harrisburg.
officials of the transit company, confident
of their ability to defeat the four measures
in the Legislature, yesterday definitely re-
fused to entertain any suggestion or a
compromises lease which would eliminate
some of the features held Objectionable by
Transit Director Twining in his analysis
Of the companys proposal.
The company delivered an utimatum to
the city that the present lease could be
accepted or rejected as the city saw fit, but
that no better proposition from the city's
standpoint could be expected.
The defiant attitude of the company, sup
porters of the Harrisburg legislation de.
clare, was obviously due to the conviction
OF the company officials that the fight they
had inaugurated against these four meas
ures would succeed either by having them
killed entirely or by having them rendered
harmless through amendments.
The situation now is absolutely the same
as it was before the conference yesterday
and both sides will mark time until next
Tuesday, when the Judiciary General Com
mittee of the Senate will hold the public
hearing in Harrisburg. This hearing, which
was granted at the request of the Transit
Company, will be a real test of strength
and from its outcome can probably be de-
termined just what the city may expect in
the lease negotiations
The series of hearings on the lease, which
are to be held before the Joint Councilmanic
Committees on Finance and Street Rail-
ways. will not begin until after the hearing
in Harrisburg. Chairman Gaffney of the
Finance Committee, and Chairman Seger.
of the Street Railways Committee. agreed
Iata est arda that hA
first hearing would be about the middle of
May.
Director Twining this afternoon ex-
planned in detail his position on the lease to
the executive committee of the Chamber of
Commerce public utilities committee Last
Friday the executive committee heard A.
Merritt Taylor former Transit Director de-
fend the lease In order that II might be
fully informed on both sides of the contro-
versy it invited the Director to address them
today. The Chamber Of Commerce has
maintained a neutral position in the transit
matter for months and no action was taken
today after hearing the Director
Bids were opened this afternoon for the
Frankford 81" foundation between Unity
and Bridge streets, and also for the steel
appurtenance work on Huntington street
station. The contract for the foundation
was originally held by Senator Ware, but
was abrogated at his request because the
failure of the transit company to spread
the surface tracks delayed the beginning OF
the work for more than year. Mean
while prices greatly increased. Therefore
the bid received from Senator Ware today
was $39,750, or more than the amount OF
his bid for the work before. which was
$4,000. But he will receive the contract.
The Department of City Transit today
began advertising for bids for laying the
concrete base in the bed Of the Frankford
elevated line from Callowhill to Dyre street
The contract will be advertised In two sec
tions the first from Callowhil TO Indiana
avenue, and the second from Indiana ave-
aug TO- Dyre street. The entire bed 10 10000
1oet long 'hekWeen the extreme points. and
* Yilk qo0l1irp About too, 600 poxr4lp ok -