Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-04
RATE VOTERS ACT
FOR 56TH ST. LINE
West Philadelphia Business
Men Begin Drive for Cross
town Transit
AFTER MAYOR IN CHELSEA


promises of politicians have seized what
they term the psychological moment" e
reopen the fight for the Fifty-sjxth stree
cross town trolley line by forcing the con
| sderatlon OF their demands directly II
connection with the new transit lease be.
tween the city and the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company.
Details OF tho plan of action became
known here today when John n. McGarvey
chairman Of the transportation committee
of the Allied Business Mems Association of
West Philadelphia came here TO see Mayor
Smith at the latter's Chelsea home.
1t was learned that the leaders In the
fight for the construction Of this line have
held meetings every week for more than
two months. at which complete program
OF action has been mapped out.
The program, which has been ratified by
representatives of the twenty-five business
organizations which comprise the Allied
Association, will take the fight for the
Fifty-sixth street line directly into the fall
political fight and make 1t "A campaign issue
In the election of two Select and eighteen
Common Councilmcn from West Philadel-
phia.
In addition unless a definite pledge can
be secured from Mayor Smith that he will
personally promise the construction Of this
line in the immediate future an amendment
will be offered to the transit lease, when II
is presented at the special session of Coun-
ellis, making this line part OF the lease
and compelling the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company to construct 1t without
delay
Mr. McGarvey made known the details of
the campaign only after he had made a
trip to Atlantic City to see the Mayor Ia
vain As a matter Of courtesy, he said. he
had sought to lay the entire matter before
the Mayor before making It public But
after trying unsuccessfully every day this
week to secure an interview with him Mr.
McGarvey said he thought the time was
ripe for action
Early in July as chairman Of the trans
portation committee of the Allied Assoca
tlon. Mr.. McGarvey wrote to the Mayor,
setting forth the needs of West Philadel-
pha on July 90 the Mayor replied, in
viting him to call at City Hall. This Mr..
McGarvey did repeatedly, only to be told
that the Mayor was tied up in confer
ences." Yesterday he left a letter at the
Mayors office, stating that he would come
to Atlantic City this morning.
When he arrived at Q o'clock, however,
he learned that the Mayor, Director OF Pub
lie Safety Wilson and several others had
gone out automobiling and were not ex-
pccted back until late afternoon. Convinced
that the Mayor was trying to avoid him.
Mr.. McGarvey made known the plan of ac-
ton of the Allied Association.
THREATEN COUNCILS FIGHT
Should the Mayor refuse to yield to the
demands of the business men and give
definite pledge OF action for the Fifty-sixth
street line, bitter fight in Councils Is eX-
pected when the new lease is presented for
ratification. A canvass of tie West Phila-
delphia Councilmen has already been made,
and those who are running for reelection
have been told that unless they make
no tlpV
turned in November
Any motion to amend the lease to pro-
vide for the immediate construction ana
operation Of this line would probably upset
the entire transit situation again and pro-
woke a bitter political fight.
The West Philadelphia business men
realize that they are throwing themselves
open to criticism by adopting this means
to secure their end But in reply they
point out that for more than five years
they have waged n continuous though un-
successful fight for this line.
Before every election they wero promised
by the politicians that it would be attended
to at once and each time it has been for
gotten, they say, as soon as election day
was over. The public service commission
last month ruled that it had no jurisdic-
ton 70 compel the company to build the lne
although admitting that It was a much
needed public improvement
Last fall an ordinance was introduced
in Councils and passed giving the COM
pany ninety days to decide whether IL
would build the line or permit private capi-
tai to construct II. When the ordinance
came before the Mayor for his signature
II was discovered that in some mysterious
way II had been drawn TO take the line over
an unopened street, thereby making the
effect of the action of Councils null.
In 1914 Il. II. Stotesbury chairman OF the
board of directors of the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company, wrote letter TO irving
Dillon, then secretary OF the Allied Asso-
ciation in which he virtually promised to
have the line built as soon as the c)mpany's
made It possible.
In view of the surplus reported by the
In the annual report two weeks
ago the business men hold that the COM
pany is morally II not legally obligated to
construct the line at once.
BUSINESS MEMS STATEMENT
Following his unsuccessful attempt to
find the Mayor this morning, Mr.. McGarvey
Issued the following statement:
"In view of the timely agitation over the
proposed new lease between the Rapid Tran
bit Company and the city of Philadelphia
The citizens of West Philadelphia, speaking
through the transportation committee OF the
Allied Business Mems Association, feel that
hey should be given serious consideration
their rights and needs in this
matter.
while we are anxious to see a fair and
equitable lease made between the Philadel.
phia Rapid Transit Company and the city,
We also believe that some concessions should
be given to West Philadelphia In return for
long delays and broken promises" on the
Fifty-sixth street cross-town line.
AT no time have any of the officials of
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
advanced any argument against this line
except lack OF funds, which argument cam
not prevail at this time In view of the
enormous surplus Of more than $2,750,000
now held by the Rapid Transit Company,
I'm fact, West Philadelphia will demand
an accounting of the stewardship of repre-
sentatives in Councils and the Mayor him
self unless fair treatment Is given In this
matter. IT
Even at the present high prices of labor
and materials I believe this line can be
built for about 100000, which Is a paltry
sum when you look at the company's sur
plus. which is more than per cent on
the stock.
ANY public or corporate Official who
thinks he can trife with the rights and
needs of community Of 100000 persons
and $4,000 voters will reckon with his host.
Our patience Is nearly exhausted. The
moment has arrived. Actions.
not words. are the order of the day
I'VE are prepared to meet the officials of