Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-15
THE CITY MOVES WHILE ITS
OFFICIALS SLEEP

VI ASAhhO oLCEA
CNcD the EVENING LEDGER brought
forth the gas issue--although the pro-
posal that the five-cent reduction in the
price Per thousand feet should be passed
on 10 the people has been indorsed by
every Newspaper which has given the
subject attention--no expression of opinion
has been pried loose from tho Mayor or
any Of his advisers. Controller Walton.
who u interested chiefly in seeing that
there II enough money on hand to meet
demands, has enough backbone to declare
where he stands. but the Mayor does not
know. He is somewhat amazed, we sur
mise, TO discover that there Is to be a
five-cent reduction in the company's price.
Ordinarily, in view Of the fact that every
previous reduction has been greedily
swallowed by the city treasury, and since
the people voted In 1911 for eighty.cent
gas but were prevented by the Organiza-
Nou iroh settihB IL, IL Wouiu appeaf tHue
q public official would be In no doubt
whatever as to the proper course to pur.
sue In the instant case. But the issue
sprang into being too fas: There was no
time for gang conference on 1t, and how
Is gang politician going to know what to
do before he has an opportunity to find
out what the leaders want him to do?
We are not worried about the people
getting the nickel that belongs to them.
The Mayor and his advisers are not play
ing with buzz saws. In due time they will
be explaining that they never had any
idea other than to pass tho reduction
/. along to the public and will be patting
themselves on the back for their philan.
thropy. There is not nerve enough in City
Hail to back another gas grab. But what
every citizen should be worried about is
the stupid. dull inertia that characterizes
the conduct Of municipal affairs. There
hasn't been any reform or improvement
initiated in City Hall for SO long that the
moro birth of an idea would cause an ex.
plosion. To be sure. private individuals
now and then suggest an obvious pro.
csdurA ana City Hall grabs It II there is
. taoit understanding that the administra.
ton will be given the credit, but the pow.
srty Of constructive statesmanship is so
acute that famine conditions prevail.
Months ago the U. @. I. let It be under
stood that q reduction in tho nnal price
Of gas 10 consumers would be gratifying
70 II sinoe . stimulation OF use was de.
sirabl& That constituted an invitation,
II otI ofloials had cared to see It that
way. for conferences looking toward
mutual concessions by the city and
the company. to the very great relief Of
every citissn who uses gas. and to the
greater ultimate profit, by q paradox of
economics. to both company and city. But
ala the Mayor initiate negotiations? He
did NOT In fact, no did nothing at all, as
usual. but pursued his accustomed policy
Of watchful waiting. Why should he
bother with gas7 Didn't everybody know
that reduction of rates for electricity
had come during his administration? In.
deed. the Organization has even permitted
tho city to reimburse Mr.. Cooke for his
expenses in winning that fight, after
Councils had refused to aid in its prosecu.
tion in any way. manner. shape or form.
A leadership vigilant in protecting the
peoples rights. earnest in looking for
opportunities to relieve the burden of the
poor. watchful to prevent extortion, sin.
cere in administration of municipal affairs
would have been fighting months ago for
eighty-csnt. not ninety.nve.cent gas. But
the administration has been too busy with
ether things. 1t Is not even sure of ninety.
dve-cent gaA We venture to assert.
nevertheless. that there will be few Coun-
cilmsn elected in November who have not
pledged themselves absolutely in favor of
giving the public the nickel that belongs
to It, II not two or three other nickels that
also belong to It.