Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-15
LANE is AGAINST
RENTALS REDUCTION

David II. Lane, sage of the Republi-
can party. suid today he did not view
the present transit situation with any
degree of alarm.
Mr.. Lane appeared Mt his Office in
the Land Title Building at IL O'Clock
this morning for the first time since his
illness Of several months. lie motored
from Atlantic City yesterday.
Aside from slight pallor on his
grizzled face and the fact that he walks
with the MD of cane. the nestor OF
the Republican organization showed
evidence of return of his old-ume
virility.
Mr.. Lane would not be inveiCled into
q discussion of the local political sit
uation or of the controversy over eX-
penses of operating the Municipal Court.
He commented at length on the tran
sit situation and the agitation for n
reduction in rentals paid by the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit Co. to under
lying companies.
at was folly for any one to suggest
such a course at this time. Mr.. Lane
said of the proposal to reduce rentals.
MANY of these companies were DUR
dened by great expense years ago when
the individual lines were started.
Financial Burden Heavy
'They had to pay for franchises
and they had to keep abreast of con-
slant improvements in transportation
methods. and in many cases their tinan-
cial burden was almost unbcarable.
"Now, when conditions improve,
there ore some persons who demand that
the contracts entered into between the
underlying companies and the L. H.
T.-be annulled.
L. hawai- ibat thn n
r. Il. is the tenant in this case. Where
would you find a landlord who would
redtfce the rent because one of his ten
ants is not making as much money now
as he was formerly.
at seems that as soon as public
utility like the transit company appears
TO be making progress financially there
is always n tremendous criticism from
substantial majority Of the people.
'It should be remembered that street
railways greatly increase the value OF
property
Mr.. Lane then pointed out that the
Market street elevated line had in
creased property values in West Phila =
delphia by approximately S2OO.OOO, 900.
This increase was due alone to the "x-
tension Of the elevated through that
section, he said.
y
owner takes such increases as a matter
of fact "end then sets up howl il
he thinks that the transportation com
pany happens to be making II little
profit.
II paid $50 share for stocks. and
there was period Of fourteen years in
which it cost me $50 a share without
counting the interest on the money
he said.
Is Not Alarmed
When it. was suggested there is a
possibility that the y. r. T. might be-
forced out of business unless given
financial relief, Mr.. Lane refused 10 rX-
press alarm.
Asked if he did not think such an
evcntuality might have serious offcrt
on the rentals paid the underlying com
panies, he said:
II think il somc Of the lines were ro-
turned to the original COMPANIES, os-
pecially tn" Thirteenth and Fifteenth
streets lines, they would make moro
money than they do now.
=. In declining 10 discuss the local 10
litical situation, Mr.. Luur made it plain
he will b. ION the firing line, and will
keep in close touch with every political
move from now ON.
He predicted an Overwhelming major
ity for the Republican national ticket in
philadelphia and throughout the c0un-
try. He said he mad pleasant chat
with Senator PruroSo, and insisted it
was only a chat aud not conference.
They exchanged greetings from their
wheel chairs, he said, expressing mutual
hope for their return - health.