Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-23
VISIONAL PACT
Urged BY TWINTNG
ants Transit Lease Clause
Ito Allow City to Abro-
gate Agreement
MOULD AVOID ROBBERY
lays Municipality Should Be
Free to Repudiate if "Jokers"
Are Ever Found

" The insertion of an '1ndeterminate time"
clause in the lease between the city and
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
that will give to the city the legal right
60 terminate the agreement at any time
In the future should 1t be found to contain
sjokers" working injury to the city. VIII
be one OF the recommendations in the re-
port of Transit Director Twinning 10 the
Mayor next week
This was learned today from an official
acurce in tine Department OF city TRANSIT.
Such n time clause would be radical de-
parture from the customary form OF agree
snent between a city and public service
fcorporation. The proposed lease OF the
Transit Company. " adopted, would hold
the city TO an iron bound contract for hf'y
years.
TwINING's PLAN
The recommendation of Director Twining,
n was said at the Transit Department.
would prevent the city from being tied hand
and foot to an unseverable bargain lot
long period of years. This condition, III
rector Twining has said. has resulted from
the operation of the 1907 agreement be-
tween the city and the company.
'-rhe 1907 agreement at the time 1t was
Approved Director Twining said, was
thought to be a fine arrangement. falr
Alike 10 the company and city. Yet IT took
the citizens only year TO see the unfair
ness the injustice of the agreement
with such an indeterminate time clause
In the 1917 agreement as the Director now
proposes, II was pointed out, the city would
not be legally bound to endure unfair
provisions. during the entire term OF the
pact but could, upon proving that II was
being robbed" terminate II at once and ar
range a new and more equitable one.
MUST PROTECT CITY
II is the desire to protect the city against
boxers in any lease which has prompted the
director to recommend this departure. II
II understood likewise that he Will favor the
Insertion of this time clause even in
ease he is successful in having the lease
amended to protect the city in the way he
feels In necessary.
The vital objection to the lease offered
by the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com
pany. Assistant Director Atkinson said to-
day. Is the enormous cost to the city which
will result from the operation OF the high
speed system over the long period OF years
The fact will form the basis for vir-
tually all of the objections raised in the
report of Director Twining to the Mayor"
Atkinson said The whole matter resolves
itself into this one question. The Director
feels that the city is not properly protected
BY the terms of this lease and 1t is his
Intention to show where this protection is
lacking and how the lease can be amended
no that the city's interests, will be secured" 4"
That tAs Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company will fight all efforts of Director
Twining to modify or amend the present
form of the contract is expected in finan-
efaI circles. The visit to the city this week
Of A. L. Drum. of A. l.. Drum & Co, con-
suIting engineers. of Chicago, II is said
was to plan what steps the transit com
pany would take to oppose Director Twin
ing's moves,
Former Transit Director A. Merritt Taw
lor Is expected to take up the cudgels m
1efense OF the present form of the lease
!. when he returns from Florida.