Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-10-22
CLEAR CHANNELS ARE MOORE'S
FORTE; WE NEED THEM HERE
AS a Canal Expert Our Prospective Mayor
Has a Stimulating Chance to Open oi-
rect Routes to Municipal Progress

velopment of the waterways. | believe
in them, and | shall work for them"
This is reassuring. 1t reveals the
future administrator Of Philadelphia,
who is all but Mayor-elect, as con-
sistent champion of clear channels and
direct routes. This city has long been in
sore need of them.
There have been locks here that were
hindrances, and no gates at all where a
polluted current flowed insidiously
swift. Our civic Cucuracha slides have
been in more than one sense damning.
Lighthouse keepers, negligent or corrupt,
have seriously imperiled navigation.
BY fortunate turn of events, or
rather fortunate turn of the Phlladel-
pha electorate, MIR. Moore will have an
exceptional opportunity to display his
expert knowledge here. How sound and
specific this is has been frequently
demonstrated in Congress when methods
of improving internal communications
were discussed.
Mr.. Moores persistent theme is canals.
He knows where they should be dug, how
they will best serve the needs of COM
merce, what their safeguards should be
and what to do about alleged obstruc-
tions.
If any citizen thinks that in taking up
the office of Mayor Mr.. Moore will have
to pigeonhole his stock of special infor
nation, that individual has thoroughly
imperfect notion of what is the matter
with the town. The place for the channel
openers steam shovel is right here.
The circuitous route to progress is
costly and oppressive. The difficulties of
the impending engineering job are, of
course, considerable, but the penalties of
stagnaton and congestion are still more
formidable.
As the boss of the undertaking, there
is every heartening reason for believing
that Mr.. Moore will install his new sys-
TEN on the level. This will particularly
benefit citizen patrons who have hereto
fore experienced much difficulty in dis
covering plane route to municipal ac-
complishment in accordance with condi-
tions on the back of the ticket.
Every four years Philadephians have
entered the election booth and subscribed
to what was advertised as an interesting
and attractive voyage to- square dealing
and fair recognition of their individual
rights. But the journey has been fear
fully bumpy.
Often there were no lighthouses to
mark the channel. The skipper was a
grasping ignoramus and the mules which
pulled his municipal craft were stupid
and selfish. Whenever the boat ran
aground, which was often, the officers in
command would invariably insist on ex-
cess charges. The tolls imposed on the
political passengers were terrific Hap
PLY, Mr.. Moore has already promised an
end of that illegitimate tax.
Navigation on the level is a very OBJ
vious remedy.
Naturally the organization Of a sys-
tenn so long delayed in this vicinity will
inspire opposition in those who have
profited by leakage in the municipal
canal, who have rejoiced in locks in the
wrong places and in stagnant waters
which they unconvincingly proclaimed as
pure.
In order to get his enterprise under
way Mr.. Moore will have to remove
many thousands of cubic yards of encum-
bering earth and deadwood which have
blocked communication with channels
that make for municipal efficiency.
First of all, he needs an honest and
competent group of overseers, in whose
ability he has confidence. In the days
before we were enlivened with the pros
pect of a canal-bulding Mayor we useo
to call these officials his cabinet members
Persons with a distaste for metaphor.
will, of course, cling to the old nomen
clature.
Conceding to them, what we mean Il
| emphasize is that Mr.. Moore's first duty
is to appoint as heads of department.
men Of probity and technical fitness.
John C. Groome has been mentioned
! for director of public safety. Regardless
of the specific personal. equation, it is
man of his type who can at once emanci
pate the police and protect the individua
| citizens. The impression sometimes en-
tertained in mossback circles that the re
moval of the police from politics necessi
tates the performance of miracle i
rubbish. The right man can accomplish
that feat the day he steps into City Hal
Reformation with regard to favoritisn
in contracts should offer few snags to tn
properly chosen director of public works
The Ware incubus has been removed, an
with its passing the chance to establis
new basis of decency, coupled with com
prehensiye vision, is extremely stimu
latingl