Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-21
CITY TRANSIT HEADS
MEET P. R. T. OFFICIALS
Conference in Director Twining's
Office Takes Up New Lease
for Final Adjustment

city transit officials and officers of the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company went
into a conference late this afternoon IN
Director Twinine's office In the Bourse to
discuss the proposed amendments 10 tne
transit lease which Is to have the SIKH
and probably the last hearing before the
Joint Committee of Finance and street
Railways of Councils within the next week
There are several points In the amend
ments on which the city and company dls-
agree and the city and company represent
tatives will attempt to come to an undei-
standing on these points.
II is rumored that the Transit Company
is disposed to agree to the lease which is
now under discussion, and have 1t acted
on hy the present body of Councils, con-
troled by the Smith-Vare combination
new lease would face more serious op-
position i'm the next councilmanc pody
which takes it's seat after the first OF the
year. transit observers pointed out ana VIII
be almost equally divided in strength pc
tween the Smith-Nare combination and the
Independently -Penrose organization
Those attending the conference this after
noon in addition to the Director. were VII
| liam Draper Lewis, the Mayors transit an
visor Thomas Il. Mitten, president and A.
T.. Drum chief engineer of the Philadelphla
| Rapid Transit Company Mayor Smith, VINO
| attended the transit conferences on FRIDAY
| and Saturday of last week, did not attend
| tOdaVS conference Owing 10 SiishI III
| disposition. He left his office shortly after
| 1 o'clock and went to his home.
| None of the participants In the meeting
| would divulge what done. The con-
| ference will continue tomorrow.
| Charles l.. F'lucli, president of the North
| west Business Mems Association, this after
| ioon said that he had been misquoted tc
the effect that he had assurance that the
| lease would contain an amendment abolish
| ing the eght-cent exchange ticket. Wha
| he did say. he explained, was that in 8
| speech before the meeting CT the business
| men last night he had suggested this
| change and that he hoped the city would
| find a way to eliminate the exchange ticke
! system.
"Of course. don't know what changes
| will be made" he said. But do know
| that the exchange-tcket question is BIZ
! one and that it forms the greatest OBJ
| lection to the present lease
Mayor Smith smiled when shown clip
ping containing the statement attributed t.
Mr.. Fluck. at is interesting he said whei
he had concluded reading it. but l don
care to comment
Asked il he would deny that there woul'
he a clause in the lease abolishing tn
Scent exchange ticket, he replied: Il won
discuss the matter at all"
Former Director Of Transit A. MERIT
Taylor also declined to make any comment
Public hearing on the proposed pact be
tween the company and city, tentatively Sc
for Friday, was postponed by Joseph +
! Gaffney. chairman of the Joint Councilman
| Committee on Finance and Street Railways
| Doctor Lewis would make every effort T.
have the amendments in shape for dis
cusson bS Monday, he said.