Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-15
Is THIS STAMPEDlNG?

n COME months ago Mayor Moore bravely
N ~ announced that he was not going to be
n stampeded into declaring the administra
N tion's policy with respect to the cleaning of
" streets for next year. And yesterday he
calmly added that the question of policy
would be answered in reasonable time.
n 1t can hardly be charged that there is
2 any undue or excited haste in asking for an
4 answer to the question now that the Mayor
! has been in Office for more than eight
months. In the first place, the new city
charter, for which Mr.. Moore as candi-
date was militant champion, plainly con-
templates the inauguration in 1921 Of the
modern system of municipal street cleaning
In his various statements and speeches as
candidate last year, and also in his plat
form, Mr.. Moore solemnly committed him =
self to the program of municipal street
cleaning Cannot the Mayor remember the
ringing perorations he delivered as n candi-
date, and even now hear the storm of ap-
plause which hailed his thunderngs against
{" the contract system?
The reasoned arguments which he gave in
support of his plans are surely as sound
today as they were when Mr.. Moore was a
candidate and when he took Office last Jan =
nary. Neither the Mayor nor any one else
has advanced anything to dispute the value
VI ouoiiNuIue lHt OIu tUulTuNl system. lllS
ebeing the situation. it is fair to say that the
burden of proof that the old system should
be continued rests indubitably with the
Mayor himself.
!, Mayor Moore cannot fail to sense the
I'rtrength of the general demand that he
state finally the administration policy. His
most enthusiastic supporters. those who
8 stood shoulder 70 shoulder with him in the
primary campaign against the Wares and
the contractor regime. are demanding an
answer. They are amazed at even the an
: pearance Of tempOrizing with what had been
regarded AZ a settled policy.
Advocates of the change in the system are
! not disposed to be critical of the fact that
no provision is made in the long term, per-
nanent improvement loan for the purchase
OF existing street cleaning equipment. The
matter of finding the money is a simnIo
problem and should not be allowed to OBJ =
scure the real issue. 1t is strategically un-
fortunate that the Mayor now proposes that
the purchase of this equipment be author
zed by counCilmaniC. short term loan As
student of the charter the Mayor and his
ADVISERS are OF course, aware that a two
thlrds vote would be required for the nas =
sage of such a loan ordinance.
y The Ware forces command a veto Dower
In the passage of loan ordinances and they
4 can prevent the passage of any ordinance
through Council which seeks to suDpIy funds
, Tor the conversion of the contractors eouin.
:, ment into equipment owned and managed
= by the city. 1t is especially unfortunate
: mat the Mayor should seem to be proceed
ing in manner most likely to doyqIon the
strongest and most concentrated onnosition
There have been insnuations that th,
Mayor is consciously providing himself wifi
an alibi; that he wants 10 be able to say thai
the Wares blocked the inauguration of III,
new system but that seems so petty as +,
be unworthy OF belief
The Mayor can readily obtain expert nd
vice for the financing Of the needed enuin
ment. He can learn that money NAV h
(, obtained without running the gantlct Of ,
productive two thirds vote Just for exam
PIE, there is the possibility Of transfeprn
money from items in the huge sinking fun
% OF the city. And only majority vote
which the Mayor can easily have, i, re
quired for a transfer of money. Aftor al,
the money is not the question. The noIic
OF the administration il the big npestio,
Up TO date, after more than eight months J.
oftice, the administration, according 10 oE
cial announcement, has no published poljrv