Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-06-17
Factions to Clash
on Transit Measure

Continued From Page One
appear in Harrisburg tomorrow in the
interests Of the measure. Their pres
ence will be an inspiration for Repre-
sentative John r. K Scott to unfold
sundrey and divers political secrets con
cerning Senator Penrose and all of his
friends and followers in the House and
Senate. >
As Representative Scott is noted for
his forensic ability when attacking a
political opponent, halcyon and vocif-
erous time may be expected in the
House about the hour Of high noon to-
morrow. incidentally, about the same
time the ears of Senator Penrose should
burn like house afre.
Director Twinings letter to Governor
Sproul, in part, follows;
Owing to the changed financial.con-
ditions resulting from the war, refer
endum will be necessary in order that
| the people may decide upon a feasible
plan of expcnding the money now
available for rapid transit improve
ment.
Bill Provides Transfers
The Salus bill provides that money
! heretofore appropriated for that and
other purposes which have afterward
become impracticable. impossible or nn :
necessary by reason of such changed
conditions can by referendum be used
for purposes practicable under condl :
| tions then existing, with the distinct
provision, however, that no money here
tofore appropriated for transit shall be
used for any other purposes. AS over
| 500, 900 900 of the amount forming the
subject matter of the bill refers to tran
sit, the bill is virtually transit
measure.
1T can in no sense be termed po-
| Iitical bill. for it cannot inure to the
benefit of the present administration,
as the referendum cannot be held be-
fore the November election at the ear
lest and therefore no money could De
used until after the time and then only
in accordance with the result of the
referendum decided by the citizens OF
Philadelphia.
.Jf this bill is not passed the citizens
Of Philadelphia will be deprived of any
possibility of any large measure OF tran
sit Improvement until after the session
of the next Legislature, period OF over
two years. This will be an injustice
which YOU surely cannot permit under
YOUR administration, particularly since
the right desired by the citizens OF
Philadelphia has been granted by the
present Legislature to Harrisburg and
other municipalities of the state Of
PENNSYLVANIA as follows:
borrowing Capacity Reduced
To allow appropriated moneys not
feasible for the purposes for which they
were appropriated by reason of changed
economic or financial conditions to be
used for other purposes now practicable.
Besides the above injustice the borrow
ing capacity of the city will be reduced
by the amount appropriated and now
used. and the city thus further preju-
diced in its requirements for necessary
improvements.
ION the evening of period of reform
and improvement such as is contem-
plated by the revised charter of the city,
it would be a poor commentary indeed to
allow any faction to hamstring the
city in its necessary improvements by
the failure of this bill.
Such a failure would tend to dis
credit and undermine confidence in the
honesty of the entire charter revision,
because formal changes are valueless il
abuses now prevalent in the political
system are to be confirmed. 1t would be
a poor commentary indeed to change the
form of administration and let it start
out with an inability to carry out the
improvements which the people demand
II trust you will give this important
matter your immediate consideration
and deal with it in a manner, which to
your best judgment seems meet"