Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-08-03
SAYS CITY DODCES
| REAL PR 7. ISSUE
|caffney Asserts Fare Fight
Misses Point of Underlying
Concerns Rentals
BUSINESS MEMS SUIT BEST

Councilman Joseph p. Gaffney de-
c,ared today In a report filed with the
clerk of Council that the trolley
fare situation In Philadelphia would
never be settled until the city solici-
tor directly attacked the annual S10.-
o0O, 900 rentals paid to the underlying
companies by the rapid transit COM
pany. r..
Mr.. Gaffnev made this statement in
explaining why he voted last Tuesday
TO have the city join with the United
business Mems Association in proceed
ings to reduce the rentals paid the un-
derlying companies.
He introduced resolution in Coun-
Gil last Tuesday to have the city solici-
tor and the Mayor join the business
mems association in the attack on the
rental system.
This resolution was defeated ~ to 0.
Says Resolution Didn't Interfere
"The resolution did not in any way
interfere. as IL charged. with the
city's pending protest against the abo-
lition of free transfers and exchange
tickets by the Philadelphia Rapid Tran
sit Co.
"On the contrary it particularly ap-
proved of the prosecution of that com :
plant and authorized and directed in
addition and not az a substitute fer
the Intervention by the city in another
pending proceeding. that of the United
Business Mems Association, directed
against the underlying companies and
having for its specific object the reduc
ton of their present rentals"
~ deem this intervention not only
proper, but imperative, for, like The
Imp in the Bottle, the torment of the
underlying leases has been with us. is
now. and will continue to be with us
until the highest court in our land has
finally declared whether or not the rent
ais therein provided can be reduced. -
"This contest, already too long de =
layed. must be positively and directly
waged to final conclusion. To side
step it is the work of an enemy. and
not of friend of the car riders of this
city.
Protests at Delay
mot only Is 1t unwise, but positively
unfortunate for city officials to attempt
to lull the people of Philadelphia and
their representatives in Council into q
state Of innocuous desuetude by decla
ratiors and opinions that the action OF
the city Is the same, so far as the bene
cerned, as that instituted by the United
Business Mems Association, when even
a cursory reading of the printed com
plants filed In these two cases demon :
strates the actions are essentially differ
ent."
Mr.. Gaffney contends the city's pres
ent legal fight does not directly attack
the underlying rentals system. He
says the/ United Business Mems Asso
cations fight does directly attack the
rental system.
The underlying companies are re.
ferred to only twice in the city's bill
of complaint. Even assuming that the
APublic Service Commission finds that
the rentals paid underlying companies
are too high he says, the commission
cannot in the city's suits reduce these
rentals.
On the other hand he SAYS, the com
plaint of the United Business Men's
Association meets the issue squarely
This complaint is not directed against
the p. II. T., he says, but against tn,
thirty underlying street railway com
panies.
Mr.. Gaffney points to the fact tha
the complaints Of the business mel
| specifically, definitely and unmistak
ably ask the commission to reduce w
rentals, dividends, profits or compen
sation received by the underlying com
panies from each other and from tn
p. r. t."
Upon the success of such proceed
ing and the granting of the praye
and child for a fair carfare in Phila
dolnbia ~ bo On III 1shnI - ic 70 hn ,-a