Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-08-13
Lower merton BOARD
SUIT IS THREATENED
Commissioners Order 10000
New Debt Despite Protest
Of Taxpayers
OFFICIALS ARE ASSAlLED

There is talk today in Lower Merton
township Of an injunction suit against
the township commissioners to restrain
them from carrying out provisions Of
an ordinance passed last night over pro-
tests of delegations representing various
Main Line towns.
The ordinance provides for $780,
900 bond issue for purchase and i'm
provement of a seven acre tract in
Ardmcre for a new township building.
The vote was 10 to 3.
J, A resolution to postpone action on
= the ordinance for two weeks, until the
opponents of the measure were in better
position to show its undesirability. had
been previously defeated by vote of
Z nine to four.
Edgar Gardner, president of the
Bala -Cynwyd Neighborhood Club, who
headed the protesting delegations, said
after the meeting that the action of the
commissioners would be discussed at a
The desirability of seeking an injunc-
tion restraining the commissioners from
carrying out the ordinance is being
discussed. The Rev. Albert Holt. of
st. Andrews Chapel, and the Neigh
horhood House, of West Manayunk,
who was the first speaker, said that
the repair of roads was a greater need
than the new governmental buildings.
sH The clergyman described sections in
Belmont Heights and Ashland Heights
In which residents were compelled to
travel nearly a mile to obtain ice and
vegetables because wagons and other We
hicles could not pass the uneven
streets.
"In this section alone three horses
have been killed within a year and other
accidents which might have proved more
serious have repeatedly occurred" said
the clergyman. ''To my mind the rem
edying of this condition is more impor
tant than handsome buildings"
.s Mr.. Gardner, who followed, also said
that the need Of road repair was greater
than that Of the proposed township
property improvements.
Harry PEBBLES SAID the proposed pur-
|, chase was "unwise and too expensive"
Mr.. PEBBLES said the $15o,000 bond
issue would ultimately cost the citi.
zens of the township round sum of
S271 ,S12 at maturity, with interest and
other taxes.
The question Of the legality of the
project was raised by Frank H. Man
Gill, solicitor Of the Bala -Cynwyd
Neighborhood Club. Mr.. Mancill said
that the state law specifically said that
the township commissioners had power
only to erect suitable building" He
contended that the present site was
.tsuitable."
At the invitation of Mr.. Kerbaugh,
president of the commissioners, AL
fred NJ. Collins, president of the Main
Line Citizens Association, spoke in be-
half of the ordinance. Others who spoke
In. favor of the ordinance were Joseph
N. Knipe, president of the Ardmore
Improvement Association. and Major
John L. Evans, commissioner from
Haverford. 'n :.
"This project is an important one, -
kaid Mr.. Collins. ''1f the commission =
ers decided to improve the newStract
there would be several acres left-- for a
park. This would be n great improve
ment for Ardmore. Ardmore is devel
opine now and in years the desirabil-
lily of the purchase will be apparent"
AT this point Mr.. Gardner asked
II don't see why the commissioners