Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-07-19

as possible and we want to get rid OF
the bolshevism which has reduced RUS
sia to ruin. / am in favor OF tiding
over the L. q. L."
"If you should find" asked the
Mayor, that there were twenty-five
good years for the U.' q. /. and one
bad year, would you feel like violating
the contract to make up for the lossesy'
Mr.. Earle replied that he would be
governed by present conditions and con-
ditions growing out OF the war.
q. II. Norris Wants Good Gas
G. Heide Norris was the next speaker
in favor of the ordinance. He said that
although his gas bill had increased 30
per cent he would be willing to pay more
to get good gas.
Mr.. Norris happened to say he under
stood that the Mayor was committed to
new lease. ,....
"T committed?' interjccted the
Mayor. I'm not committed to any
thing"
G. Stuart Patterson, well-known
financier. next spoke in favor of the
Hall ordinance.
"How long do you think II would
take to frame new leaseP' asked the
Mayor.
Mr.. Patterson said that long before
| the year was out the temporary Ordi-
nance could be superseded by the final
agreement. ..
'If you veto the ordinance" said
Mr.. Patterson. "then il will be thrown
back into Council and then who can
tell what Is going to happenT
Again addressing Mr.. Patterson the
Mayor asked:
'If the lease is broken and the city
takes over. the operation could not the
plant. under efficient management, be
operated by the city at a proftT'
| Mr.. Patterson said he didn't think
that could be done under political man :
agemcnt.
at is n hypothetical question: said
the Mayor, "and I am not stating a
preference.
John Hampton Barnes spoke briefly
end expressed the hope that the Mayor
would sign the ordinance.
Chambers Views Read
Hollinshead y. TAYLOR, vice chairman
Of the Public Utilities Committee of
the Chamber Of Commerce, read a state
inent in which the chamber favored TEN
porary relief for the U. G.. /. and
stated that negotiations should begin
, at once for permanent lease. The
statement follows:
| Inc CnHWDer OOUl1neTCe DtlleNts
, that the fundamental issue before the
city is not the protection of the inter-
ests of the present lessee or the relief
of that corporation from position In
which It finds itself a loser at present
1.-THE real issue Ia the future value
and efficiency Of the city's most valuable
, single asset. namely the gas works. ant
| the imperative necessity for .promp
, action to protect that asset and ut th'
, same time to provide sufficient suppl,
: Of gas of satisfactory quality at al
economical price.
New Lease Is Urged
1.-The Chamber of Commerce believe
therefore. that to attain these objects
negotiations should commenced imme
diately for the making Of new leas
: to take effect at the earliest practicabl
, date In order to give the city adequat
| gas service. Therefore. the negotiation
begun by the present gas commissio
should be continued, either by them Q
1 by some other similar body to negoti
ate q new agreement with the Unite
s Gas Improvement Co., to establis
{ proper standards, requirements an
o regulations. and, in general. to tax
care of the city's interests in the &c
service until the appointment Of per
{ manent regulatory body as recommends
in the commissions program.
1.-THE Chamber of Commerce believe
n that these are constructive recommend
ations. striking at the root Of the pres
y ent difficulty. Any plan that ignore
these obvious questions and aims onl
@ to furnish temporary relief to the lessc
/ is incomplete and inadequate.
Would Not Penalize Y. G. 1.
"Thc Chamber Of Commerce believe
that the lessee should not he penalize
by the delay necessary for tho negotia
tion of a new lease. The u. G. I. ha
earned the right to this consideratio
~ through the excellent service it ha