Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-22
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
AGAIN AT CITY'S PORTALS
Future. and They Will Win Unless
the People Bestir Themselves

T>liE schedule of legislation which members
= of Tho City Council ar" planning TO SUBJ
init 10 tho General Assembly in Harrisburg
This winter should be considered in ronnsc.
';on with tn" current activities Of the local
political leaders.
Those leaders arc said 70 have reached the
decision 70 postpone ali great public I'M.
provcments, save those which must be begun
az once. until tho term o! Mayor Moore
expires and until a Mayor in closer sym.
pathy with them is elected.
Not only are public improvements 70 be
held up, but III" settlement oi all possible
questions IS to hc delayed until the organi-
cation leaders can have their own wsy.
Now. If an extensive program of public
improvements involving the expenditure Of
millions is 10 begin in 1928. Legislative AT
thority must be secured this winter. This Is
why tho leaders are making up their seized.
ule now.
Most Of the things which they propose
are rommendablc in themselves.
IL is desirable that legislative authority
be secured for the iev"iormcn, Of a metro.
=
sources of water supply are at present not
equa, 10 tt" demands upon them. The
waters Of the Schuylkill are SO contaminated
that It has been found necessary 10 treat
them with chlorine 20 destroy the disease
breeding germs. The waters oi III" Della.
ware are bad and the pressure on :he
supply Is so great that the filtration plant
is or will soon I've too small to remove the
impurities.
II is proposed 10 seek supply OF water
far enough from the city to escape tho con-
tamination tha, affects the waters of the
Delaware and tho Schuylkill. and 20 get
authority 10 rccoup par' Of the COS, by sell
ing water L. III" communities along tie
line .! til" nqucdu"ts to.we"n th" great
reeervurs and the city line.
Tho proposed metropolitan sewer and
sewage disposal system is only little !"ss
imperative than tho metropolitan wat"r sys.
tenn 1t has been urged for years by The
State department OF Health and IS intors"d
by hsalth experts o; this city.
LEGISLATION is desirable also 70 enable the
City Council 10 control the salaries paid 70
all public employees out Of the funds raised
by .Nr.ll 'aEatbn. Wl'R l..' p0Ss.b" cA''P'
tIon ns the school teachers and the o'h",
c:.I,Iu, es "f the school board.
The limitations upon th" expenditure u
the rapid transit loan authorized by popular
vote Z lew years ago must be removed X
high speed lines are to be built according
20 plan devised IN tie Light of present
know edge OF the needs Of the city
Other chaMges IN the laws are suggested
., which there j. room for difference of
or.niou but on th"~r M"n""nAd th"rr IS
s':N.'au'.l agreement;
y ri.v are carried o.; they T'iU per ,..e
way tov .pend!ns ten: ot millions ot dollars
In the immediate future and between $50. =
600. 900 and Sl45.O0N 900 before they are
completed.
Unfortunately, the belief prevails that the
politicians urging the required legislation
are no. thinking Of the public good, bu, OF
the opportunities for power and proAt tha,
! y. in the contro! Of III" expenditure Of these
: vas; sums,
Pol,ica. rolt'rar;,!e wou.d 10 TIE work
Z and - ;"i.''r'ans would g"t their rake of
/ They ar" u"lI:.- .',ry "n":gr :" ire" ,hs
wnv 80 that il ticy sct rorap.e'" control -,
H.. CIV ,;oy.rnmpnt tho can do as ll"y
! peas"