Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-04-06
Transit Committee
Acts Tomorrow
Continued from rage One

Continued from Rage One
Dwyer In naming this representative
committee of experts and business men,
! my understanding is that they will serve
| voluntarily and without prejudice to
the right OF the city to proceed with all
contracts and existing work and with
such plans as 1T may determine upon,
Public Mind Confused
| "As there is much confusion in the
I public mind with regard to transit
| matters, I suggest the committee con
slider the effect Of all laws. ordinances
| and agreements made for or by the city
under which II obtains its authority
and By which IL is handicapped. It
would please me if the committee would
also inquire as TO all conditions exist
ing prior to my advent into Office. mar
ticularly with respect to agreements
made or contemplated which affect the
power Of the present administration to
enforce improved service or extension
Of lines.
"On coming into this Office I found
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. in
exclusive control of the various street
railway lines. with congestion exist
ing in the central part Of the city and
an outstanding dema ,d for extensions
in the suburbs. To relieve congestion
and to arrange extensions. the city, on
its own account, had undertaken the
construction of subway which has
stopped with work under the City Hall !:
Il has built the superstructure for an
elevated road to Frankford. beginning
at Front and Arch streets. which Is
under contract. or complete. according
to the director of city transit. to the ex-
tent of so per cent; il has built sur
face line from Frankford to Bustleton
stopping at a point four miles short of
the ultimate destination at Byperry,
for economic reasons.
City Lacks Equipment
The city has no equipment for oper.
ating the Frankford Elevated nor the
Bustleton Byberry route, nor has any
| provision been made therefor pending
determination Of the question whether
the Rapid Transit Co. or the city will
operate these lines. As to this the Pub
! lie Service Commission is on record as
! declaring for the operation Of the
Frankford Elevated as part of the
unified service under the direction OF
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co. Up
to date. the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
| Co. has declined to operate either OF
these roads, except as to the Frank
ford Elevated. on terms not acceptable
to the city.
II would be glad to have your com
mittee inquire into these matters. since
they involve the following important
! problems:
First. The right of the city to
compel the Rapid Transit Co. to make
extensions or to operate lines con
structed by the city.
Second. The advisability of the
city proceeding. without agreement
with the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Co. TO construct new and expensive
lines of extension at the cost Of the
taxpayers.
Third. The advisability of the
city engaging in the business of op-
Grating railroads which the Philadel-
phia Rapid Transit Co. declines to
operate on the ground il cannot be
done except at loss or of leasing
the same if Independent operators can
be induced TO submit proposals.
Investment of S1I .OOO. 900
Thus far. according to the report o
the director of transit, over Sl1 900.
900 has been spent or contracted fol
on these city owned extensions. TIL,
wisdom of proceeding to spend the re
mainder Of the S5T ZOO, 900 availabl,
for transit construction. without al
/, agreement with the Rapid Transit Go
or the power to compel it to operat
these new lines except at the city's ex
pense. is one which might be well con
sidered by your committee.
The Department of Transit is pro
Ceeding with the completion of tn
been much delay owing 10 war Condi
tions which still prevent the delivery o
rails for tracks needed for this work
and the work will be prosecuted a
speedily as these and other condition
permit.
Aud the administrG ton. when it ha
completed the work. if it cannot reaCl
!, an understanding with the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit CO.. will make known it
plans for the utilization of the ney
lines This is said so that whateve
progress may be made on construction
of work already authorized may not b
impeded in any way.
Committee Welcomed
The committee appointed al you
suggestion is welcomed TO the task o
better informing the public with regar
TO the things that have been done an
those that should be done. 1t will
helpful il after such hearings and dis
cussiOns as your committee may con
clude to be advisable, if they will ar
range to report their recommendation
within, thirty days.
1T is suggested that your ;nquir
might also include an investigation o
the effect OF carrying by the Philadcl
: phia Rapid Transit Co. of the under
lying corporations on terms which seel
at variance with public policy, an
which. if an adjustment could be had
might enable the Rapid Transit Co
on its own account, to make extension
and improve the service to the grea
relief OF the travelling public in tn
congcsteG center and the solution G
our housing problem in the ou:lyin
districts.
The people are entitled 10 the bCs
service the transit company with II
franchise can provide. but the city
largely bound by laws, ordinances an
agreements which neutraiize it's contrc
over the general transit situation as q
present operated.
"If you viii; invite before your com
n ittce the director Of transit. the off
cials Of the Philadelphia Rapid Trans
. Co. and citizens who desire to be heard
you may be able to materially assist IN
administration in helping to better con
ditions