Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-07
LET THE PUBLIC DEMAND A
.e. SQUARE DEAL

J. OdOk11SE DEAA
. WE LIVE in an era Of high prices.
Nv doubtless the highest prices tho
world as q whole has ever known. Nom
finally, prices were on a corresponding
level during some months Of tho Civil
war, but gold then was at q heavy
premium, whereas today tho yellow metal
= maintained at par.
Every family in the land feels tho pres
sure. Most Of all is It felt in tho cities.
There are men who refuse to claim exemp-
ton to which they have a right. They
are the individuals who willingly sac.
rifice themselves. and right gladly do their
families make the sacrifice with them.
readily surrendering part Of their income
In order that the record may be kept
clear and their descendants be able to
point proudly to what their ancestors did
in the days that tested mems souls and
freighted their moral fiber with un-
precedented burdens.
Not within the recollection of any living
man in Philadelphia has there been
greater need of. sobriety in the expendi-
ture Of public funds. economy in mu-
nicipal management and intelligent relief
to the masses whenever possible. The
man who can tighten the burden by even
one poor scruple and does not do It has
the heart Of traitor and the brain of
. snake. He who diverts one cent that
rightfully belongs to the public is guilty
Of as mean a theft as ever stained tho
hands Of human being.
1t happens. by ono of those miracles
which SO often in a republic occur for
the benefit Of the people. that the U. G. I.
IL under contract to reduce its price for
o gas from eighty cents to seventy five
cents the thousand cubic feet beginning
the first Of January next. The price now
charged the consumer is one dollar, of
which the city takes twenty cents. This
II the equivalent Of a rs per cent tax.
II the dollar rate is maintained after
January 1 the city will be putting into
its own pocket one-third Of all the money
paid for gas in this city.
II Ii common knowledge that the pres
snt tax on users of gas is an infamous
and outrageous tax. to be defended by no
theory Of municipal economics known.
II the fivecent reduction that by contract
must be made effective January 1 Is COW
cred into the city treasury and is not
passed on to the people. It will consti-
tuts q new outrage so glaring in char.
acter. SO contemplate in spirit, 30 unin-
tslligent in purpose that the public ought
10 nick out Of office every man concerned
in the proceeding. whether in positive or
. negative way. Already we are hearing
talk about the fiscal necessities of the
city. Some narrow-minded municipal
nnanciers cannot comprehend the fact
that increase in consumption under a
ninety-hve-cent rate would doubtless
sGualize the losses resulting from the re-
duction In the unit, price. All they can
see is an opportunity to take a half
million dollars that belongs to the people
and pass It along to the treasury, that
some contractor may later take it thence
for his personal enrichment
No man should be elected to Councils
this fall unless he pledges himself abso-
lutely to a maximum price Of ninety-fiye
cents for gas. The price ought to be far
lower than that. It would be II aggressive
leadership characterized the conduct Of
municipal affairs. since. in that case, the
hint Of the company that It desired lower
rates would have been met by proposals
from the city leading to an arrangement
Tor mutual concessions. But citizens have
grown % used to tho gas gouge that Dol.
f<icians are convinced the public will
stand for II forever. We urge that the
public do not what's the use being
robbed?
The public can get that nvs-cent reduc-
tion for itself Dy lighting for it. A little
s!udting Of autocraox At home win do NO
harm.
JAMAICA GINGER JAGs