Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-22
IDeUelin Plans Wa.
on City Loan Bill
[a1sxinue,i from Paae One

rsn4inaed from Paso One
section Of the city. But what, let me
ask, has the city TO do with that? II
~ purely a government function. II Is
the duty of the government, under the
spur OF congressional activity, to pro-
wide ample and adequate postal accom- :
ymodatfons. It Is not the duty OF the
FIFTY to spend its money for such pur-
;poses..
swhatever sentiment attaches TO the
,presept building will 90 with its 'neces
lssry demolition. a present investment
lnf say $40. 900 is made to draw sfter II
ten times that amount.
''Tbe main Objectionable feature OF
the proposition Is not. however. ex =
y pressed in the present proposed ffnan E
}cial expenditures. II Germantown. or
THE Twenty second ward. is entitled TO
such a building. why not West Phila .
tdelphis. Frankford. kensington or
South Philadelphia?
ut Is a dangerous precedent in mu =
tnicipal affairs, and to my mind is In =
idefensible apart from the fact that 1t
lie proposed to lannch this enterprise at
ia time when the cost of labor aud ma =
iterial is higher than ever before in
our history.
Could Revise Ropers Figures
There is presented what, on the
surface, appears to be an illuminating
array OF figures tending to prove that
the Germantown municipal building
lcould be maintained virtually with 4.
out cost to the city. ] have not looked
,closely into Councilman Roper's figures,
but I think they will bear revision.
1.-THE advocates Of the scheme esti-
mate a small difference of $4,000 be-
Tween the interest charges on the loan,
(which excludes the sinking fund charge,
land the rentals received or saved.
(which are estimated at S1S,300. But
ithe interest rate may be as high as 6
iper cent and. allowing . per cent ad :
Editional for the sinking fund. would
make the loan cost to the taxpayer
1886. 900.
"And this estimate takes no account
iof repairs and upkeep.
"The point of my objection to the
whole project is that no such amount
Of the taxpayers msoney should he
jspent for such a purpose, which might
be only one of a long series of similar
Expenditures once the start is made,
ESPECIALLY in this era Of high prices.
IT shall insist, as part OF my duty,
mot only to my immediate constituents,
but to the entire tsxpaying body of the
lcity, that no new building shall be done
inow except under pressing necessity,
which is probably the case with City
Hall annex.
Water Supply More Important
"The city today faces, and will face
flor months TO come, great danger il
ian inadequate water supply. The lives
land property of hundreds of thousands
fare endangered. Instead Of arranging
to spend money for the erection Of
buildings not Immediately necessary
land for other eXtravagances that might
be mentioned, why not devote our at
itention to matters of immediate and
vital interest?
"As servants of the people, we are
wasting valuable time. / am part
lof an administration that pledged 1t
iself to progress and reform. We are
mot making very much progress. The
;greatest reform that we can inaug
Iurate is to quit talking so much and
do the things that are vital for the
advancement Of the interests of the en-
tire city"