Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-07-29
GO AHEAD NOW, Mr.. MAYOR
MAYOR MOORE in his communica.

GO AHEAD NOW, Mr.. MAYOR
MAYOR MOORE in his communica :
1Nl ton to Council stating that 1t Is
advisable to make an inquiry into the
cost of purchase and TIE availability of
the necessary plant and equipment for
municipal street cleaning. and request
ing an appropriation Of $50. 900 to de-
frnv tho expenses of such work, added
that ian appraisal by citizens comre-
tent to Judge Of values. old or new,
should be undertaken Immediately under
the authority of the Mayor"
We heartily agree with the Mayor
and consider the proposal a very neces-
sary step in preparing for municipal
street cleaning in 1921. But if this
investigation is to wait upon the au-
thorization of the $4,000 fund re-
qucstcd. the practicability of municipal
work nav be determined too late in the
year to warrant its initiation in 1921.
The Mayors letter was received by
Council on Tuesday on the eve of its
adjournment until September Z, and
was referred to a committee to report
after the recess. Unless special atten-
ton by Council is accorded this request
several weeks will be required for the
necessary ordinance to be drafted and
approved. and the money will probably
not be available until late September or
early October.
If for some reason Council should be
more than ordinarily deliberate in taking
action upon this request. or should
actually refuse it. Council would be
thrown into false position and
plausible excuse might be furnished for
not having determined the practicability
of purchase of plant and equipment.
1t is earnestly hoped that such
situation will not arise. as it would
prove decidedly detrimental to the ini-
tiation of municipal street cleaning. 1t
would also place the Mayor in false
light before the public. who have no
fair basis now for thinking that he Is
seeking an excuse to delay municipal
work, even though he has not definitely
taken a stand in favor of municipal
street cleaning on general principle and
of its inauguration in. 1921.
The Mayor has asked for money and
authorization to appraise plant and
cquipment. He already has both. He
is able now. without waiting on Council
TO act upon his latest communication,
to appoint competent citizens to under
take this work.
In the ordinance passed by Council
on April % the director of public works
is authorized to make comprehensive
stpGics of the street cleaning problem
and estimates of cost, including the cost
OF purchase. construction or lease OF
such plant or plants as may be ncces-
sary. and to report the results to Coun-
ell and the Mayor. For this purpose
an appropriation of $2j, 900 was made,
and we are reliably informed that about
half Of this sum is still unused. Even
though the amount now remaining may
not be- sufficient entirely TO complete the
appraisal desired, it will ut least carry
this work during the recess of Council
and until additional funds, il needed,
can be appropriated. Delay in starting
this important work is. therefore. not
justitablc in view Of these facts.
1t is improbable that any trouble
would be experienced by the city in
acuuirng the contractors plant ana
equipment if the decision had already
been made by the administration TO
begin municinal work in 1921. Under
such conditions the contractors would
realize that without contracts their
e0ulDmcnt would be worth only its scrap
value unless the city were willing TO
purchase it. SO long as laid and com =
fort" is given to the contractors, such
aS is implied in the recent decision to
ask for bids for street cleaning in lo2l,
the contractors will be in a less recep-
tive mood for the discussion OF pur-
chase than they would be in case mu :
uicipal operatiOn we're definitely decided
upon. The possibility of continued con :
tracts naturally will be capitalized and
added to the prices asked for equip
meut, while the ability both to submit
bids for doing the work with the equip
n.rnt on hand and prices for the sale
of the equipment will present an excel
lent opportunity for the contractors te
close in on the city from two sides.
We agree with the Mayor that 1t Il
advisable Immediately to inquire into
the availability and purchase prices o.
plant and equipment, so that these es'
timatcs may be at hand at the earlies
possibIc date. We therefore urge th'
Mayor to use the authority and fund.-
which have been given to the director
Of public works in the ordinance of las
April and proceed at once to carry ou
his plan for completing the investigation
Of the practicability of municipal stree
cleaning in 1921.