Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-23
DdiX Denies Delay
to Transit COnlpaI,y
Continued from Page One

Continued from Pnge One
committee and passed before the Legsla-
ture adjourns"
Mr.. Gaffney summed up his opinion Of
the results Of the hearing in the follow
ing sentence:
"our position today is certainly far
stronger than It was before we attended
the hearing yesterday"
MAYORS VIEW
The Director and Mr.. Gaffncy both de-
clared that they agreed with the statement
Of Mayor Smith that without the present
legislation there Is no hope of a satisfactory
agreement. The Mayor made this state
ment In the course of the hearing yester-
day when Senator McNichol asked
Have you come TO the conclusion that
II is impossible under present conditions to
reach a satisfactory agreement between the
city and the =. II, T.?'
"If you had asked me that before Mr.
Stotesbury's statement of last Friday" re-
Piled the Mayor, referring TO the fnancer's
threat TO resign from the traction company
il there were any changes made in the COM
pany's leasing proposition to the city, Il
would have said NO In reply to that
question now, l will say YES
Irrespective of his frank declaration to
Senator McNcho that there seemed no pos
siblity Of satisfactory agreement with
the Rapid Transit Company, Mayor Smith
said today that the nearing Friday before
Councils Joint Committees on Finance and
Street Railways would be held according
to schedule.
Gaffney today gave a strong intima-
tion that il the legislation fails an indie
pendent operator was the likely result. and
that TINS might mean some changes in the
construction program.
When told what Mr.. Gaffney had said
Director Twning replied:
81 may have something definite TO give
out on that after the Friday hearing be-
fore Councils committees"
TWIN1NG QUESTIONED
In an effort TO learn more clearly the
Directors position three leading questions
were put to him today, The questions and
his replies follow:
Question: Are you In favor OF an in
dependent operator, municipal operation. or
an agreement with the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company"
Directors answer: 81 am I'm favor of
whichever one of these is for the hest in
terests of the city, and which one is for
the City's best interests will be determined
by what further hearings and negotiations
develop. Personally ] am not committed
to any one"
Questions: Have you any information
which tends to make you believe that polit-
ical leaders are planning an independent
company and that they will sell stock?"
Answer: 81 never heard such a thing
even hinted, and, viewing tho difficulties
of the case, l do not think the political
leaders would take up such a proposition"
Question: what is your next move
for the solution of the transit problem?"
Answer: THAT is hardly a fair question
at this time. The next move will be the
result of a conference between the Mayor.
Mr.. Gaffney, Doctor Lewis and myself later
this week and it will depend partly, too,
upon the results of the developments at
the hearing on Friday"
WILL DENoUNCE p. r..
William Hancock one Of the city's rem
resentatives on the p. r. T. directorate and
former president of the United Business
Mems Association, announced today that
resolutions WOULD be presented at the
monthly meeting OF the association to-
morrow night denounclng the Transit Com
pany for Its obstructive tactics yesterday
and calling upon the voters Of Philadelphia
to see just which political faction opposes
the transit bills
MANY SURPRISES
The sudden cropping out of the political
opposition TO the bills from McNichol and
his followers on the grounds that they
would increase the powers of the Public
Service Commission, a Vare-Brumbaugh
body, was one Of the surprises Of the hear
ing yesterday.
senator McNlchol senator Beidleman, of
this city, the McNichol leader of the Sem
ate, and Representative Boyer, floor leader
for the McNichol faction in the HOUSE.
Joined in firing questions at William Draper
Lewis. the leading speaker for the city ad-
ministration at the hearing, that proved
beyond doubt their objections to giving the
commission greater powers.
Whether or not this coterle will dare
permit politics TO defeat the measures upon
which the city Administrations hopes for a
fair and equitable transit lease are pinned
is the one thing causing the transit fol-
lowers worry.
Rintelen Denies Perjury Charge