Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-02

Of correction, and only one Of which was
vital.
THE Mayor had known Of the ncgotia-
tlons going on between the company
,and Mr.. Taylor He had not been antag'
onistic to them. Suddenly, however from
the chrysalis Of passivity emerged a full
armed giant. who announced himself in
loud language to he a champion Of the
people. who would smite this fellow Tay-
Ior who had become spokesman Of spe-
clal interest in opposition TO the public
veal. This attitude was ridiculous to
citizens who knew Mr. Taylor and stopped
to think Of the herculean and devoted
service he had given the people. His
lease might be bad in spots but 1t was
not a r. r. r. lease, or a trick lease, and
it's text was clear as crystal. But 1t was
obviously to the interest both of the COM
pany and Of the politicians that Tay.
lor's influence he undermined and he
himself discredited. SO campaign with
that end in view was launched. They
even baited the former Director by urging
a lot of drastic legislation, knowing that
Mr.. Taylor would have to oppose IL and
he put in false position, because he had
given his word OF honor that if the com
pany made certain vital concessions he
would support the lease with all his
power and oppose any measures Of a re-
taliatory nature proposed. The Mayor
and his advisers did, indeed, succeed in
temporarily undermining the real cham
pion Of transit. They had something to
shoot at and they did not intend to miss
the target.
All well and good, perhaps; but while
they were spending their time discredit-
ing Mr.. Taylor, the transit situation was
getting more and more muddled, They
were succeeding in arousing old preju-
dices and destroying the good will the
company had built up during several
years of improved service under Mr..
stotesbury. They were giving out the
impression that fair and square lease
was impossible, which was not true, and
they were talking Of independent opera
ton and a new transit company to COM
plicate still further the situation and give
gang POLITICS a new lease on life in this
city. rhey began to have visions Of
curing the transit crimes Of past genera
tions, and they built up an imaginary
structure OF their own which involved
the expenditure of millions and millions
of dollars more than Is now contemplated
or than the city has any hope of having
available They got so close to absolute
demagogy that II their hair was not
singed it was by the mercy Of Providence.
WE HAVE no disposition in the present
w exigency TO harass or embarrass the
Mayor and his advisers in any practical
scheme they may have for untangling
| the intricate knot into which they have
managed TO tie the transit program. Mr.
Taylor had provided a Chestnut street
subway in case terms with the company
became absolutely impossible The as
sumption that a lease is impossible, how
ever, Is purely gratuitous. There Is little
probability OF an agreement 1t Is true, II
Director Twining and Mr.. Lewis write
into the lease they are to get ready many
OF the visionary proposals which they
| have at different times brought forward
II they are willing to write David
Harum lease, in which the other fellow
also gets something, they can quickly
bring order out OF chaos But they viii
never help transit development by throw
ing transit funds into politics and a gen.
eral jackpot in the expectation that by SC
doing they will gather few millions fol
a pet hobby.
What we are after is a transit sys.
TEN in operation. What delay does is I,
strengthen the financial position Of tn,
company, permit II TO capitalize the mu
nicipal growth which was depended OF
to finance the new lines and enfeeble tn,
municipality little by little Mr.. Lewis
we understand advocates going righ
ahead with the construction program
That is impossible. Nobody but a mad
man would award large contracts a
present prices Il would simply mear
alllng ths contraotors' pockets Doub,
LIES tho Plibl.e seryiee Commission nal