Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-28
COUNCILS CALL
FOR FOOD QUIZ
Resolution Asks Governor
to Convene City Heads
for Price Study
FACE FINANCIAL PROBLEM

Practical steps to get at the root Of the
food situation and cause Of the high cost
Of living in Pennsylvania was taken TINS
afternoon by both branches Of Councils,
which unanimously adopted resolution
requesting Governor Brumbaugh to call
Statewide conference of executives OF all
cities where there are food warehouses.
II is suggested that they advise ways
and means to overcome the high prices Of
marketable foods.
The resolution Joints out that tho pre-
sent high prices are Unprecedented and out
Of all proportion to the supply fo food on
hand and the reported estimate Of inCom.
ing crops. II also goes on to say that
while there may be a surplus Of food in
one community the conditions are after just
the opposite in an adjoining district.
Proper distribution and marketing is
suggested to alleviate suffering
II is also contended in the resolution
that present laws governing distribution
ard marketing are defective and that proper
control for distribution will go far to re-
duce the high cost of living.
How to provide out OF the 100000 un-
appropriated reserve fund more than
sl,000,000 needed to finance the city until
fall and to meet the requirements of the
Johnson art collection requests was the
financial problem that Councilmen faced
today at their closing session before the
summer recess. Makeshtt transfers TO
temporary loan Of Sl,2o0,000 can be hoated'
were resorted to.
The highways committee faVorahy re-
ported a bill to prevent the erection oi
stands, steps and sigh3 beyond the building
line on Walnut street between sixth street
and sixteenth, and the department OF pun
lie Works was instructed io notify H." prop
erty owners to remove the Chstructions
ninety days after the passage Of the =
\ proposal Of tine city OincreaSe the cost
Of laying water pipes from 81 TO SI5b a
foot was ElNen hearing Leforc the FinAnj"
T. nrl''ee. Tho city as been charging "
foot since 1866. The increase Is being op-
posed by the members of the Master 6ulld-
ers' EXChaLge and o'ner builders in The CITY
nn the grounds that the proposed 'hcteaS+ Is
excessive. The measure was transferred -
The Water Committee with inStructtons TO
invCsttFte it during The summer months
Financial legislation almost to the ex-
clusion of all other subjects, occupied the
attention of both branches and in order
to make some Iast-minute changes spe-
eial meeting OF the Finance Committee was
held an hour i'm ADVANCE of the special meet
ing Of Common Council which convened al
o'clock. At the same time Select Council
convened to pass on the measures as rapidly
as they we're disposed of by the lower
branch.
passed both branches. was the one pro-
Viding $4,000 collateral inheritance and
o'hVl taxes lnClueHl 10 lnt acquisition VI tH,
johnson home on South Broad street and
the valuable art objects that il houses.
chairman Gaffney. of the Finance Commit
Tee up until today was debating the ad-
visibility of letting this bill lie over on the
calendar until the first fall meeting, late IN
september The money must he approprl-
ated not later than October Il to meet the
provisions of the Johnson will
The more important financial measures
passed before the close Of the session were
the following:
10 pay bills In the Highway Bureau for
The The removal Of SNOW last winter and az oss
For incresshs' by 10 per cent salaries
- a year '."..e...,.s. 80 -, 80 $50
:, sane Fourth s.oS " .,......'' $500
Est seT@ilisf s.Ss4s r.psii: q streets: ScSS
'or sr,ia The seaqlrement q waterfront prop.
moneys ,"i' 200 900
= Eighteenth Ward ...tsia"i...s''', '' $4,000
+, south end Of city near 'S navy yard ~ " 4O,O 900
7, ,Rsby-savlns campaign | :.''".. 10000
= gested districts 10000
To meet increased cost Of labor in the O'oo ooo
To Park Commission for materials, etc s5,ooO
many important financial items were lost
sight OF in the closing session and will
nave to go over until next fall. In this
number was the one providing for a mu-
hleipal appropriation for the re-establish-
ment Of the Pennsylvania Nautical School
ana others providing for salary increases
tor the many classes OF mechanics who are
on the city payroll as per diem men. Both
measures have been promised prompt at
~ntion In September or october.
The failure to provide better pay for
skilled mechanics viii In the opinion OF
many members OF Councils cost the city
me services OF many Of It's best men, as the
present municipal scale Il much lower than
maj onored BY private corporations and
'nuattprf Already the municipal service
crippled h1 Feanon oi men quitting the