Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-01
FIGHf ON TRANSIT
LEASE ABANDONED
United Business Mems Asso-
citation Abolishes Committee
Which Fought Contract

Despite denials by some Of its officers
It was learned today that the United
Business Mems Association, which
fought the lease Of the city's hiEh-speed
lines to the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company. had abandoned Its opposition
when the lease. despite the opposition
Of the association and other organixa-
tions and individuals. was adopted by
Select and Common Councils and ap-
proved by the Mayor. tho association
announced that II was still against the
agreement and would fsht It before the
State Public Service Commission and In
the courts II necessary. Now 1t Is
learned that the association has decided
to give UP the fight. and efforts to find
out how true these reports are DISCLOSED
the following fact;
The special law committee appointed
to fight the transit pact was KILLED" or
abolished at the meeting of the asso-
citation last Thursday.
c. Oscar Beasley refused to say in 20
many words that the abolition Of that
committee means the abandonment of
the fght but he intimated quite clearly
that he thinks that is just what 1t
means.
On the other hand. Edward A. Noppel.
president of the association, denies that
there has been any change in the organi-
zation's attitude toward the agreement.
He says the conclusion Mr.. Beasley ap-
pears to have drawn is unwarranted.
Edwin Abbott. chairman of the regu-
lar law committee OF the association
also denies that the killing" of the COM
mIttee implies a change of attitude and
declares that foes as well as friends of
the transit agreement voted to abolish
the committee.
A month ago the association named
a special law committee, with Beasley
as chairman, to fight the transit lease
through to finish. Mr.. Abbott as
chairman of the regular law committee.
did not like this, taking the view that a
fight on the transit lease was part of
the business of his committee. The fact
that he was made member of the
Beasley committee did not reconcile him.
He wrote a letter declining to serve and
expressing his belief that the special
committee was entirely unnecessary. At
the last meeting Mr.. Abbott offered a
resolution abolishing the special COM
nittee.
Mr.. Beasley had this to say about |
abolishing his committee:
THE committee was simply abolished |
Il was a fighting committee, and you |
IAN draw your own conclusions as to |
Why 1t was abolished
DO you think 1t was abolished be-
'ause the association is no longer against
he lease?" he was asked
You can form your own opinion. If
here is a train going to Baltimore and
| man buys q ticket to Baltimore and |
,ets on that train you have a pretty
rood idea that he wants to go to Balti-
more. don't your"
Mr.. Beasley went on to say that all
he friends of the transit lease had voted
D abolish his committee and he inti-
inted that he considered this very good
violence that the whole proposition was
ne in favor of the lease.
There has been no change in the as.
ociation's attitude" said Mr.. Abbott. 'I
'as not present when the special com.
,ittee was authorized. At the last meet.
ig had it abolished"
What! You had 1t abolished?"
We'll. I offered the resolution abolish.
ig 1t and it was adopted almost unani-
lously."
Asked what he had to say In answer
the assertion that all the transit-lease
riends voted for his resolution, Mr.. Alb.
OFT said
Il guess they did So did the foes of
le lease There were only about three
nen who voted against 1t. Everybody
ou might say. was for II. The commit.
e was abolished because 1t was unnec.
ssary. That's ALL"
There is at this time no law commit.
y. the old ones term having expired.
ir. Noppel is about to name the COM
littee Tor this year, but he refused TO
~ whom he will annoipt