Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-16
Rssss bv Citv
4 Raped Il, Council

ekily -shailying about municipal opera
< f1Dn; that Is out of the question. Il
Z x1&lculous, and any one who makes tn,
y o6tgestion knows that its ridiculous.
n The Il situation now is deplorab'e
X 6eF1ble. Something should be done
- done quickly"
Hall Criticizes Moore
" Councilman Hall declared n 5 pc,
emit return was too childish TO talk
about.
II would like to help the Mayor gel
3 per cent return" said Mr.. Hail
''but I feel that the people would
rather pay one cent on the tax rate
than to get a bob tailed line.
"This Is no way to meet this ques-
bob tailed line"
The Mayors proposal was referred
- Councils committee of the whole.
38 Prior to the reading of the Mayor
message Councilman Montgomery in.
PRODUCED bill providing for an appro-
pfiAtion Of $4,000 to Department OF
City Transit for service of engineers
\ engaged on valuation proceedings. This
appropriation is in addition TO Sl20. .00O
previously appropriated for this work.
II was referred to the Committee on
Transportation.
Text Of Mayors Message
The Mayors message on the Frank
1ord al" follows:
' "Tailurc to reach satisfactory
agreement with the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company to operate the Frank =
ford elevated railway as n track of the
unified transit system and recent events
tending to confuse the Rapid Transit
situation generally induce me to ad-
dress your honorable body in support
ofNmy earlier proposals provided for
the municipal operation Of the city
owned road
"As I heretofore pointed out, 1t
would be better for the greater service
of the people to have an arrangement
. With the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company. But the finishing touches
are being put upon the Frankford L
railway. Twenty-Five Of the new cars
have been delivered and are now under
guard at the Bridge street terminus,
and delay in negotiations with the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company is
only adding to the uncertainty of. OPP
urations and will increase the cost, of
maintenance ana Of waste due to de-
terioration.
"What remains to enable the Depart
mcnt of City Transit to operate thc
road and to establish competitive
service, even though it be limited. is the
requested authority for an operating
bureau for the southern terminal eX-
tension to Front and Market streets
and for authorization to enter into q
contract with the Philadelphia Electric
Company to furnish power for operation
Of cars. cab'es for which have already
been authorized.
''Speedy action is therefore urgently
requested upon the operating bureau
ordinance which was forwarded Decein..
Der Is. and the Market street terminal
extension ordinance introduced October
-.
Negotiations with the Philadelphia
Electric Company are now pending, and
a. soOn as they are completed another
oe9inance will be submitted asking for
authority to enter into the necessary
csntract. This also should have early
approval: 49,, , , Il,
Director of City Transit to hasten all
other construction features with the
hope and expectation that il Council
grants the authority, the cars which
are now in the possession Of the city
BE- in operation before the summer
closes. They will be tried out expert
mentally before that time, unless legis-
Iatiye hindrances stand in the way.
being forced in measure to pre-
pare for municipal operation. it is the
Intention to get the best possible serv-
leo for the people out Of the road which
they built for themselves, and to suffer
tsmporarily, at least, such inconveni-
enccs as may result. until the rights of
the citizens to more extensive or uni
fed service can be obtained.
This limited service will extend from
Bridge street, .Frankford. to Front and
Market streets, If the necessary per-
mission for the Front and Market street
extension is granted, or to such parts
could be made available, subject to the
sanction Of the Public Service Commits
0en.
IA passenger terminal at Bridge
street Is contemplated. should the Front
and Market street terminal fail. III.
though II is urged that the construc-
tion Of the terminal extension to Mar
let street would be scrviceable in anv
Gsent as siding or turnout, II an
agreement should be reached ultimately
with the p. r. T. Company. l am i'm
PEELED, In view of the uncertainty which
now prevails with respect to transit
agreement. to suggest that 1t may be
better for the people to have such legis-
lation from Council now as will enable
them not only to operate their own
high. speed line to Frankford on thci.'
cwn account. but TO erect plant for
the generation OF power which will
provide for the Independent operation
Of the Frankford l. Railway, thus en-
abling the city to become real COM
,petit0r in the field which is now com
pletely absorbed by the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit Comppny.
II am having inquiries made as to
the cost Of utility of separate power
plant and will later address Council
On this subject.
.sThe municipal street cleaning ex.
pesiment has brought to the city an
clement OF independence and COMPETE
4 tion not heretofore enjoyed by the mu =
nicipality, and in view of the unwil-
nngness of the existing street car mo =
nopoly to increase its service and make
extensions unless subsidized by the city,
the municipal operation of the Frank
f0fd l. rs an entirely separate unit
might likewise prove satisfactory in de =
termining the rights of citizens to an
! adequate service at reasonable rate OF
fare. which, from information given,
Z ipduces me to believe should be less
thar the present rate of fare made by
~ r. II. 4. Company.
" HA,~~JS-, n. YT~~no C~J,~