Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-22
CITY HALL UPSET
BY REFORM BILLS
Prospective Turmoil Disturbs
a Bureau Heads and Blocks
Progress
APPROPRIATIONS BEHIND
Harrisburg Holds Infant Fears
of Nervous City
athers
APPROPRIATIONS BEHIND

CITY and county departments arc
'marking time" awaiting action on the
mass of state legislation directly affect =
ing their powers and duties, which IS
now in course of preparation or con-
sideraton at Harrisburg.
Sessions of the Legislature usually
have an upscttiug influence ON city
Hall. but not since the Bullitt bill OF
the Shern Act went into effect has there
been such a general exhibition OF tlmld e
ity on the part Of the heads OF depart .
ments coming under the provisions "i
the many different kinds of municipal
legislation proposed.
Director Twining. department. "i
transit, expressed the thought upper
most in the minds of most offirialS whon
today. in reply to a question as to
whether he was going ahead to let
more transit work. he said: wv nat
can we do until We find out what th'F
do at Harrisburg? We want I" Know
where We stand before going ahead.
The department Of transit Is NltnIly
affected bv many bills proposed and
underway in committees ot the HOUSE
or Senate. One Of the most Important
is the referendum plan Of city Solicitor
I,onrellv. This measure. if passed.
would give the department n "hanr" !"
go before the voters and have them
unset the loans made in 1916 Tor any
one or more Of the lines provided tor IN
the Taylor plan, This proposition
might result in n general rcarrang'mch'
Of the progress plans mapped out ny
the transit department on any lines not
vet started. 1t hcing near IN" close
of the present administration, work Will
probably be confined to the further com
pletion of the Frankford elevated ana
the surface line TO Byberry
Subway Work DawdlcS
New contracts for subway work
might be let but there is not suttlri"nt
money provided in any of the loans
to complete any of the sections agreed
upon in 1916. For this reason more
money will be needed. Here the depart
ment meets face to face the legislation
giving the city the right to use the -
per cent of it's borrowing power. orlgl-
nally set aside for port and transit
purposes, for general municipal pur-
poses.
Legislation affecting the borrowing
capacity of the city is also being
agitatcd and plan is under way t"
divorce the finances of the Bureau of
. Water from general municipal funds,
on the grounds that the water system
is self supporting adjunct of tn" city
government that can care for itself and
its underlying bond payments.
Councils, fearful of charter bills and
their early legislation out of office, arc
tograsping at what little power remains
to them. Plans for ropaving streets by
the Department of Public Works have
been held up indefinitely by the action
of the highway committee in refusing to
approve the recommendations of the
department and authorize this badly
needed repair work.
Disappointed COunciImeu
The department recently decided tC
repave sections of Chestnut street and
a number OF other important thorough
fares in the central section Of the city,
1t also planned to rrpavc the streets
in the worst condition in the outlying
sections. The bill was prepared tc
lars available. but went down to defeat
when it was found that certain coun.
cilmen had got nothing for their wards
ii A rearrangemcnt of the rcpavinG
Z bills is now under way 50 that .thr
councilmcn with the greatest power ant
pull can make a good showing in thci
home wards before coming up for clcc
ton or before being legislatpd out o
Office. Just when the long delayed paw
ing plans will be completed and tn,
: work let is a question that time alon,
will answer. This is but single in
stance of the many delays rosultin,
from the 'ncrvous'' condition cxistin!
In City Hall while the Legislature i
wrangling over various improvement
measures.
Much time has been lost IN some de
partments over the preparation to figb
the charter bill. The city board o
surveyors is fearful of the loss of powc
that might be entaied under their pass
age and the same can be said for othp
departments directly affected bv th
proposed legislation.
Anxious Seat Crowded
The much discussed plan for changin.
the Board of Registration is having ;
similar effect upon this body and if
employees. as planned financial change
In the conduct of the department b,
: Controller Walton are also being mad
the subject of much discussion.
With Senator PenroSe favoring
police commission bill for PhiladeInbi
that would rob Director Wilson. De