Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-14

ply the Commission with estimates as to
the revenue, the gross passenger receipts
and the operating expense Of all the lines,
including the Chestnut street elevated, on
the basis of an Independent operator
This the Director promised to have ready
in ten days.
He had already prepared and offered
figures to show that II the city were to
equip as well as build the system the total
cost would then be about i0S,00O,O O0O. OF
this $l4,O00.0OO would be needed for equip
ment alone and $4,000 900 for power plants
and sub-stations.
THOUSAND PROTEST
The first organized protest against the
financial terms Of the proposed agreement
between the city and the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit company for the equipment and
operation of the Taylor plan high-speed
system was revealed at the transit meeting
A petition bearing the names of 1000
owners OF two-story houses was presented
demanding that the lease provide for the
payment OF sinking fund and interest
charges on the cty's bonds used for transit
construction by the company leasing the
lines.
The paper was presented by George w.
Kelly. who represented himself as n mem
Der of the "Two-story Houseowners' Asso-
clation." an organization just formed to
explained that the small home owners fear
an increase in taxes under the present terms
of the proposed lease To fight this POSSIBLE
ity the purpose OF their organizing.
Later today he will have an oportunity to
state his case fully to the commission.
The specific purpose Of the hearing was TO
hear arguments for and against tine grant
ing of certificates of public convenience to
permit Director Twining to enter into con-
tracts at once.
Chairman William D. b. Ainey announced
at the opening of the hearing however, that
as the question of an operating lease Is so
closely allied with the question of construc-
ton, the matter Of the lease would be taken
up later today in so far II directly con-
cerned the applications for certificates Of
public convenience.
LEASE QUESTION RAISED
The question of lease was raised by T..
Clinton Rhoads, representing the Frank
ford business men
Let's get the slielt con out from under
cover" he said. Everybody is talking
about sleasing the transit system to the
p. r. r. That's what everybody expects
us to do"
Commissioner Ainey said:
We are getting information in order that
the commission may use its best judgment
in grave question relative to the good Of
Philadelphia. There is no lease before US.
II is a question for the future. Later ii will
have 10 be submitted TO this body for its
approval"
But the question of the lease seemed to be
uppermost in the mind of Attorney Rhoads
THE cty's operation of its own transit
SYSTEM" he said, would pay provided it's
not hampered by a lease II is designed
to benefit the p. Il. T. and should be care
fully looked into before receiving any ones
approval. | would ask that the commits
sion grant the Frankford extension of the
l. as all estimates show that this line
would pay"
Select Councilman Richard weglein. Of
the Twenty-nnth Ward, opposed the con-
struc,ion of an elevated line Twenty
ninth street from Pennsylvania to Alle-
gheny avenues.
Home owners bought their properties
expecting to have air and light unin-
numbered" he said. "and the line plan was
not designed to serve the people along
the line but those in the far northwest
Enormous loans would be necessary and if
approved the lines would further increas Sc
the tax rate that our foolish financiers
have boosted to si.25. | do not hesitate
to say that it would bring rate of $2.25
for future generations. Your Commission
should see how neglected our poorhouse is
All these new fancy ideas get support.
while necessities are lost sight Of The
whole plan is an infamous thing and a
bunco on the public"
Although the exact reason for the calling
of the hearing today after a previous hear
ing had been held in Harrisburg was not re-
vealed, the Importance of the session was
emphasized by the fact that the full board
of Public Service Commit ssioners was pres
ents.
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
Is represented by President Thomas +. Nit