Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-07
BREAKING THE DEADLOCK
ON THE TRANSIT QUESTION
The Mayors Latest Proposal Opens the
Way for a Conference Of Men
Determine to Aaree

Determined to Agree
MAYOR MOORE'S transit message to the
AVA City Council will encourage all those
who have been hoping for a break in the
deadlock which has existed for some months.
II the different parties in interest can
get around table with a determination to
come to a reasonable agreement fair to both
the city and to the Rapid Transit Company
that agreement should not be long delayed.
The Mayor is asking for such confer
ence. 10 be attended by Mr.. Mitten. of the
transit company Mr.. wegleln. president of
the Council; the City Solicitor and the D-
rector Of Transit.
Mr.. Mitten was informed in advance Of
the submission Of the message to the Council
what propositions the Mayor had in mind.
He doubtless has been considering them and
will be prepared to say whether he can agree
to them or whether he will be compelled by
regard for the rights Of the shareholders to
submit alternative propositions in the hope
that q compromise may be reached.
The recognition by the Mayor Of the i'm
portance of unified operation of oil the
transit lines is fortunate. The operation Of
the Frankford line as an independent or
'bobtail' unit would be improbable, and
ii would also inconvenience the residents of
the district for whose benefit the line was
built Mr.. Mitten's latest proposition pro-
vided for the connection Of that line with the
Market street line and the operation of
through cars from one terminus to the other
1t also provided for free transfers from the
surface lines to the elevated line.
The difference between Mr.. Mittens offer
and the terms proposed by the Mayor are
chiefly in the matter of compensation. There
was TO be no rental for the first year under
the Mitten offer. and the rental was to be
per cent the second year and to increase
per cent each year until it amounted to
: per cent for the sixth year This would
give the city an average of 2la per cent
year.
Tho Mayor asks for > per cent the first
year. with an increase of per cent year
until 6 per cent is reached. And he would
have the lease continue for ten years. in the
hope that the profits made during the later
years might be great enough to compensate
for the losses in the earlier years.
The Mitten offer was for only six years.
with n provision that the lease might be
terminated within six months after the
valuation had been completed. Mr.. Mitten
insisted that it was as generous as he could
afford to make. 1t Is useless to speculate
about what his answer will be to the new
proposals. especially as the proposals are
without much doubt put forward as basis
for discussion.
Each side has made many propositions,
but so far as is known there has been no
general conference at which an attempt was
made to get together. The negotiations have
been at long range.
The importance OF an early agreement
seems to be recognized. If the Frankford
line is to be in operation before the close of
the year. the lease must be signed in the
near future and new cars must be ordered.
so that they can be ready for delivery when
the connection is made with Market street.
And, as the Mayor points out. the sooner
the Frankford elevated dispute is settled the
sooner can the city give attention to further
extensions of the transit system.
1t is hoped that agreement can be reached
and that at the same time a general policy
for extensions can be adopted, sogthat work
on the new lines can be started in time to
have complete and up-to- date transit
system serving all parts Of the city with
high speed lines in operation before the
opening of the fair in 1926.