Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-10-06

Leaving aside the merits ana equities
involved in the Taxicab Bill, Mayor
Moore's veto of that measure, politi-
cnlly speaking, has jockeyed the Com
bine majority in City Council to n
standstili or into what Councilman
Dcve|in would describe as 'eu' de
sac.'
Some of the more hardened observers
of Council have an idea that the Com
bine IL rapidly developing a serious
case of cold feet and Is getting ready
to nssunge the rufficd feelings OF the
1000 taxicab drivers who say the bill
would drive them out of business. These
men. in n great many instances, nrc
division politics.
In city HILL today the rumor per-
s,sts that for one reason or another the
Combine mny allow the Mayors veto
TO stand and then try to save its face
by ndopting some other taxicab rcgula.
tions.
Important to Combine
This situation is important to the
Combine. which has an eye single to
the mayornlty election OF next year. In
preparation for that event the Combine
Is always quick to pass bills over the
Mayors veto and to work out con-
dtion in which the Mayor would APP
near to he discrcditcd. Inc reason Is
thnt the Mayor may he factor OF con-
siderable weight In the 1913 mnyoralty
campaign.
,;,;hio Influence in that direction. But
the Combine. no matter now reu Sec'
n.hcn thinking Of the Chief Executive.
il romposcd Of very practical men. Its
leaders recall that Mayor Moore took
Tho stump in the State for Clifford I'M
chot IN the primary campaign. Ihcy
know that Mr.. Moore md Joseph IL:
Crundy nrc friends. They recall that
Mr, Grundy was n distinct political as
sct to tho Forester. And without reck.
oninr on what Mr.. Pinchot may think OF
tho matter. Combine leaders have
sickcning fear that II they don't watch
ont some kind Of Independent movement
will arise in the mnyoralty campaign
in which Mr.. Moore may figure. They
hate TO think Of that with Pinchot IN
the chair Mt Harrisburg.
Team Work Lacking
When the taxicab veto reached Coun
Gil. however, the Combine made no at =
tcmpt to pass the bill over the Mayors
| veto. In fact, the leaders, probably
hccnuse of the absence of Councilman
Hall. appeared to lack team work, or to
nut it more abruptly. were not quite
| sure what they ought to do about it
Councilman Iimehurncr moved to
have the bill laid over for one week. II
that motion had been adopted. the death
knell of the bill would have been
sounded, because the Limcburncr motion
made no provision for further consider
alton.
Thcrcnpon Councilman Gaffncy. one
of the quick thinkers in the Combine
stepped up with another motion to post.
ponc action for the present. Then plans
were laid which may result in n special
session of Council next Tuesday when
those interested will be heard in public
meeting.
Thus 1t will be possible for Council
| to pass tho bill over the Mayors veto
within the time limit of seven days.
But several obstacles arise. One is
that Councilman Hall is i'll: If Mr.. Hall
is not able TO attend next Tuesday. then
It Is quite likely Council will not take
action within the seven day limit and
the veto will stand. This is by nc
means an intimation that Council woul,
BE- glad to take advantage of that special
and personal condition.
Needctl-One Good Pilot
Further. the hearing planned for mex,
Tuesday. assuming the hearing is hclt
on that day. may develop points whicl
would lead the Combine to desire
changes in the bill ns now written. i
any changes are made. however slight
then the veto must stand and new
bill will have to be introduced
Combine leaders would like to sigl
articles with first class deep sea navi
gator. who could successfully steer then
between the Scylla of the taxi drivers
wrath and votes and the Charybdis o
overriding the Mayor. II they nlloy
the veto to stand. then the Mayor win
4 big victory and that would be gal
and wormwood to the combine. If the
override the Mayor. then they will b
busy dodging or at least appcasing tax
drivers. And to make matters worse
ii they fly against the veto. the comhin
strengthens the political position of tn
Mayor in relation to the coming May
orally primaries.
Communications from the Mayor hn
Council in n hole all around yesterday
One Of thcs" was a statement rccitin
the financial needs Of the Delawnr