Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-12-26
NAVAL ANDP. R. I.
OFFICIALS IN CLASH
League Island Authorities to
Take Demand for Better Serv-
ice to State Board
APPEAL TO MOORE, TOO

Details of the controversy between
the Philadelphia navy yard officials and
the Rapid Transit Company are re-
vealed for the first time in letters on
the subject made public today by Cap
tain a. l.. Kaiser.
The navy yard authorities are max
ing ready to go before the Public Serv-
fee Commission on behalf of the 10000
workers and patrons of the yard and
demand more adequate service.
The government authorities asked
the CO. operation and support of Direc-
for Twining, of the city transit depart
ment, in the attempt to get better serv-
ice and will make the same request to
Mayor elect Moore and the incoming
director. Director Twining has COM
plete record of the situation ready for
their examination.
Government Tried in Vain
The correspondence between Captain
Kaiser and President Mitten shows
that the government has been trying in
vain for long time to induce the p. r.
T.. to run its cars over the loop which
the government built in wartime. Cap
tain Kaiser wrote:
side the yard in the national defense in
time of peace as well as in war. 1t
would be of advantage to the Z. Il. T.,
its passengers and the government.
Winter is upon us. The trolley
line is laid from the yard to the Z. r.
Il. lines. The shelter, passenger booths
and rooms for p. r. T. personnel in
side the yard are ready for use"
The p. r. T. built a $4,000 -ermi-
nal under compulsion of the govern
ment during the war, but since peace
came, the power to commander the p.
r. T. has been withdrawn. The P. r.
4. claimed that running over the loop
would be furnishing private facilities
which League Island navy yard should
pay for like any private manufacturer.
Terminal Great Service
Captain Kaisers reply on that score
was as follows:
.'The private terminal within the
navy yard may be considered as a
commercial venture in one sense, as
stated by President Mitten. However,
1t has greater service as public
utility, in that, under present condi
tions, If all persons entering the yard
used the trolley, it would serve to save
some 10000 people a third to half a
mile of walking each morning and eve
ming, and it's operation in this sense, it
is believed, should be required by the
Public Service Commission.
The government asked the co opera
tion of Director Twining, of the De-
psrtment of City Transit, and Director
Twining's comments on the Kaiser
Mitten correspondence are as follows: /:
"The P. r.. 7. Co. is trying to drive
q harder bargain with the government
In the matter of the League Island ex-
tension loop than with the city in the
matter of the Frankford elevated rail-
road. In the case of the Frankford L,
the p! II. 7. offers to pay 81 for rent
ofentire structure and equipment in
the case of the government navy yard
loop, it is not only unwilling to pay
rental for the property, but demands
that the company be paid the cost of
operating the extension.
Duty to Furnish Services
'sJpon what theory does it make
these demands Its duty is to furnish
service to meet public requirements.
When the company extended it's line
from Porter street to League Island
some years ago; there is not the slight
est doubt that the tracks would have
been extended to the center of the yard
had the government been willing to
grant the permission. The tracks were
laid as far as the navy yard gates, un-
doubtedly on the theory that it was the
company's duty to carry the passengers
as near their destination as conditions
permitted.
''There is no more reason why the
navy yard gate should be the final
terminus any more than Porter street