Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-27

crty that we may know what increase
Of fare we can Justly allow. The com
ton. why should the Council Of the
city Of Philadelphia. without the
knowledge which the Public Service
Commission deemed necessary, grant sn
increase through an amendment Of the
contract between the company aud the
city,, !,
Philadelphia Is not how you can tenn
porarily carry along the transit COM
pany by concession Of greater fares un-
I'll something turns up to save II from
impending destruction, but how can tho
city Of Philadelphia, out Of the present
circumstances, rid itself Of the incubus
Of contract which binds It and pre-
vents Its development.
How can II look to It's future, 70
the convenience, the necessities OF Its
great industrial population, Its won
derfullly productive buslness2 IL has
done nothing TO hasten the downfall Of
the cOmpany---the company has done
that Itself. II submitted itsef 10 the
blood sucking process by the underly.
Ing companies which has dcvitallEed u
and prevented Its operation for the
benefit Of the people and Of the city.
Let 1t come before the commission
with its plant that It's vitality Ia being
sapped by the exorbitant charges for
facilities furnished by the underlying
companies, and the sympathy OF the peo-
pie In its cause would be manifest but
while crying to the people that Il must
have mears to serve them and to pay It's
employees, and seeking thus to enlist
public sympathy, it does not strike a
blow to rid itself of the shackles which
bind it to its maSters--the underlying
companies. .. '
For temporary relief, therefore, 1t
has the power Of abolition Of the trans
fer. For permanent relief II has the
power Of appeal to the Public Service
Commission to fix reasonable rates for
the furnishing Of the facilities by the
underlying companies--such rates be-
ing usually called rentals ..
If It should be that Il has injudi-
ciously bound itself TO the underlying
can well let Il suffer the natural pen :.
atty. Transit will still 70 on as Il has
In every city where utilities have failed
In their ability by reason Of their i'm
proyident contracts with underlying
companies. Sometimes the process has
been exceedingly beneficial. but In the
absence Of the power to rid the city from
the evil effects of the p. X. II. con-
tracts with its constituents It would be
better that the ties between the city aud
the p. X. Il. Co. we're automatically dis
solved by the process which the presi-
dent of the company has stated to you
he fears.
"FOr the reasons above stated, I be.
lieve 1t best for the city Of Philadelphia
that the matter Of increased fares should
fake Its orderly course, and not be aided
or abetted BY an action OF the Council
for. which there is no warrant in law,
and no benefit to the CITY,"
Colonel Potter's Postscript" . .
Colonel Potter here added post
script" to his address;
Since preparing this address, he
said, "a vigorous propaganda, such as
attended the making of the contract of
1907-so quickly entered into and 50
long remembered--has suggested that
the clamor Of the minority often seems
the demands of the majority, and while
no public propaganda, no covert
threats, no official suggestions of the
use of force Of popular upheayals or
whatever may have been intended by the
cryptic utterance, could sway my mdg-
ment respecting the matter Of which
I have treated, yet in the multitude Of
counsellors there is wisdom and should
that wisdom conclude that there wns an
actual public demand for self. taxation
to pay $4,000 900 to the employees OF
the transit company. ] would suggest
that such concessions should not be
made without consideration. 8,
II would call attention to the third
paragraph OF the agreement of 1907
which binds the city hand and foot, SO
that il can never negotiate with any
other than the concern whose back is
now against the wall, which cannot pay
its wage bill. but which sticks to the
sacred right of contract to pay its con-
stituent companies.
"Why not in this the company s
period Of stress rid the city by bargain
of this third provision, so that the city
would be enabled to contract hereafter
with any company which will develop by
transit It's unoccupied territory? Again,
why not strike out the limitations Of
the amounts to be paid for paving OF
streets to be occupied in the future by
the transit company--such prices being
entirely inadequate for present needs,
or to do the work in the future without
loss to the city. Why not further
change the eleventh section of the agree
ment so that the city shall not have to
wait until 1867 to purchase or redeem
the franchises granted to the company,
but may do 20 at any time upon just
compensation?
Modification Needed
This is the time to get rid of the
inequalities of the jug handled contract
of 1907. and such notifications as l
have suggested would not impose any
payment upon the company except for
the paving. 1t would, however, i'm
pose a condition upon any grant which
the Council may think it has n right
to make, namely that the company
should not merely be compelled to pay
for the replacement or repair of pave
ment removed or damaged by any con-
st.uction or repair work, but also that
which my operation of the road Is dam
aged"