Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-19
LOAN BILL SLATED
FOR PASSAGE TODAY
Common Council to Act on $14,-
10000 Measure-Caffney
Claims Victory for Ware
OPPOSITION TO BE MADE

The $l4,I50, 900 loan bill is schedul
ed for passage by Common Council to q.
day. Every organization member has
been ordered to be present and admin
iNtration leaders claim that the oppo e.
/ sition will poll no more than nineteen
votes and may even prove weaker than
that estimate
independent rouncilmen, following
, their secret conference on the loan last
evening, declined to make public their
plans for the cOuncilmanic fight. It is
understood. however, that many indie
pendent members and a number of the
followers of Senator Pcnrose will make
an effort 10 reduce the size of the loan
by dropping out or pairing down a
number OF items that do not directly
affect the street and housing situation
Prepare for Fight
While claiming victory. Chairman
Gaffney and other floor leaders for the
Ware Smith forces have left nothing to
chance and are prepared to fight for
the loan, as it is now constituted The
greatest antagonist of the loan. in its
present shape. is Common Councilman
Charles II. Won Tagcn, one of the In
dependent floor leaders.
The members who have come out in
open opposition to the loan declare
that its passage would tie up all funds
available for use by an incoming admin
istratiOn and that much of the money
cannot be put under contract between
now and the end of the year. The
builders of the city are back of the
items for street repairs, new paving,
sewers, etc. while the $4,000, 900 water
item has the support and approval of
IL number of civic bodies interested in
securing an additional water supply for
the city.
because Gf the manner in which the
highway and survey committees have
approved wholesale street and sewer
improvements no councilman can tell
just how much any one ward will bene-
fit. With a total of less than 81 ,OOO,-
600 in the loan for these various items
bills already approved and reported to
Councils today with favorable recon-
mendatiOn would require the expendi-
turc of not less than $4,000, 900. The
final decision as to what repair work is
to be done will be left up to Mayor
Smith and Director DateSman. of the
Department of Public Works.
Denial Is Made
The assertion has been made re-
peatcdly that members who oppose the
loan either in Common or Select Coun-
ell will fail to figure in the final dis
position of improvements. This is
denied by officials of the Department of
Public Works who declare the improve
ments will first be apportioned with
view to aiding building operations and
next with a view to the most urgent
needs of certain localities. Action along
these lines is promised by Chester Z.
Albright. chief of the Bureau of Sur
veys, in regard to main and branch
sewers.
The appropriation bills approved by
Councils finance committee total ap-
nroximatcly 81 900, 900 and no provi-
sion is made for the debt of the city
To the United States Government for
work done in various housing sections
and on number of roads. These were
favorably reported today despite tne
fact that it is admitted that barely
$500 600 can be raised by the transfer OF
;toms Pressure will be brought to bear
mnon the many bills providing scores
~ new Dlaces and salary increases ana
n,ony Of these are scheduled Tor pas
5000 before the summer recess
Loan to be First
An other legislation today VIII DC
sphordinated to action on the loan DILL
os upon it's fate rests the future ac-
t;yities of the present administration.
Its defeot means the slowing up OF work
along many municipal lines and the
nostnonement of all classes OF street
;n,nrovcments. Because of this fact,
no serious opposition to many OF its
items is looked for, although a division
On items such as those providing 5000
600 for new and improvements to police
stations: $3.50 900 for extensions to the
Electrical Bureau, and two items pro-
vidine additional hospital facilities at a
cost of $3.50, 900. Before the session
II was said that no concessions would
he made and that the bill would pass
nc whole or not at all. The attitude
of independent councilmcn may, how
ever. change this situation.
There are a number of bills in shape
for final passage, but none of them are
Of importance TO any but ward in
tnrnStS.