Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-10-04
HOW FACTlONALiSM is
ENDANCERlNG MANY LIVES
Tactics OF the Majority Of Council In
obstructina Loan Item for Bridge
Repairs an Example Of Dan.
aerous Petty Spite
By GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN
TT Is almost inconceivable that any body
Of men elected as the representatives Of
the people. no matter what their factional
alliance. should deliberately temporizc with
a matter Of public safety in which the lives
Of thousands of innocent citizens are daily
menaccd.
The people of Philadelphia for months past
have been alternately amused and outraged
by the cownsh verbal antics and puerile
squvocatons Of certain Of their representa-
tivPs in Council.
The mock heroics the declamatory protes-
tatons of fidelity to the interests of the
people the whang banging and clustering are
at times diverting and more frequently tire
some but always monotonous hv their mar
row repetition.
federation on the part of citizens will
sooner or later be transformed into indig-
nation and open disgust II few more ex.
hibitons Of negligence and studied indiffer-
ence such as have characterized Council : at
titude toward the rotten bridge problem are
presented
Personal hntreds ballyhoo politics. Un-
worthy schemes of revenge which involve the
innocent. the striving for a cheap advantage
are elements Of discord that should b" sh"IVed
by the majority in Council wien interests
paramount 70 the people ure presented.
On September 80 Director Of Puo.i"
Works Caven submitted It report on certain
city bridges They were shown {" be unsafe
for modern traihr.
So dangerous were conditions upon three
of the structures two of them Of mnlor I'M
portanco that he had found it necessary I"
close them TO vehicuINr traffic.
One Of these bridges had been condemned
by Nv" groups "f engineers hv" Years ag"
Another can be made saf" for vNhirnlNr traf-
fc for only three months more.
In view Of the urgency for immediate a..
ZION Director Caven earnestly recommended
that a loan item for s.. 80 900 be authorized
by Council at once for rebuilding tn" six
unsafe and dangerous structures mentioned IN
his report
This newspaper last Saturday not only
described in detail the dangerous conditions
that existed and threatened the traffic using
these arteriaI highways. but in Photographic
reproduction showed the temporary wooden
braces and supports that are required 10 keep
at least one Of III" structures from total
collapse
Thus far the appeal or the Director Of
Public Works has heen ignored bl Council
The Dirertor. il will b. recalled i, and
has been rur active factor in introducing
city, wide street cleaning to the di-advont0g"
Of the pOitiro contractor combination.
The longer action is postponed III" greater
the danger that is incurred by the propI" who
are compelled 70 use these bridges.
Il doubtless will he claimed by some on"
OF the artist, IN subtcrfugr il E"un'il tnat
money j. already available 10 the demand Of
the Director for rebuilding these structures
Controller EIadey who 50 handilv ne,ped
to defeat the 1000. 600 loan som" days
ago. will doubtless be called upon +" SUBJ
Stantiatp the artists assertion
To save Controller Iladcy even mi.
seeming trouble It can be said hat there Is
At present available for new bridges in the
Department of Public Works $ll7& 12o -,
Bur it should be noted that 500" .05l
of this sum cannot be touched.
II has been ""armark"d, ~ ,p"rIhcNll,
designated for certain work.
There are authorizations ot &"4H N5l
for rebuilding South Stree, Bru1ge. nov
closed TO lrafic. and &5O.0 from the loan
Of 1915 Tor rhc Poplar Street !irid,e
Thi. leaves $l72, 1859 s. u.ob'r for new
bridges. when almost 81. .0O0, 600. or. to U"
exact. 81 S25 600 j. actually required
r. will take at least six ~""k> 10 gN'
,ouncilmanc loan through ro complexion.
and after that rh"r" are III, aIw0y, complex
details Of securing 'oat. o''> ~ lur other
minutae Of big undrrjahlna,
Should a disaster occur b. ~ .H'rr.0 III
| he operation Of rh">" rn-af" nra roIrodr1
! bridges what then"
The majority mrmo"re Of connect .o.,.on -
sbe for rae d"ay viii br hrId olgr ah.c
not only bv the vast body OF he ,l,lzcn>nip
but by every honest man in the own faction
vino holds human life above III, c,Im> ~
partsanship.