Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-23
THE FRANKFORD "Lr
(Reprinted from this mornings Public
Ledger.)

mi ALUM MOonE wOuu De ucrShNt ih
AVA his duty were he to be willing, as he
says. ito turn over $15,OOO.000 worth of
city property to n private corporation with.
out RETURN And he is to be commended
for his effort to get from the Rapid Transit
Company the very best possible terms for the
operation of the Frankford elevated line. But
the proposition before the people Of Frank.
ford and of the whole community IS not one
that can be stated in such simple terms.
There arc several factors to the problem to
be considered. several alternatives to be bal.
anced. before just decision can be reached
as to what ought to be done. It is doubly
unfortunate that the way to that just de-
cision Is complicated BY political influences
and factional strife: but these again are Gle.
mcnts which enter into the question.
The Mayor is frank in his appeal to the
Frankford business men and taxpayers In
stating that his plan for municipal operation
Of tho line to Arch street Is simply for the
purpose of cccrring the Rapid Transit Com.
pany into granting better terms than those
in the last Aritcn offer. now before the City
Council. 1t Is not n permanent solution or
the problem. Those terms. 1t will be rcncm-
bcrcd, contemplate unified operation with
the Market street subway and elevated at the
same fare charged on all other lines. full
transfer privileges to and from tho connect.
Ing surface lines and n graduated rental
reaching ) pcr cent in the sixth ycar--if tho
lease continues that long. The Mayors al
formative is possible hvc-ccnt fare. no con-
nertion with tho subway and no transfers.
And his predicate IS that the elevated Will
attract so many riders from the present sur
face cars serving tho northeast that Mr.. Nit
ten would be- forced to make n bargain more
favorable to the city.
But would he? Granting that the riders
on the city operated "L' would be drawn
from the surface cars. many of them would
be obliged TO pay further tribute to the l..
X. T.. 10 reach their destinations from the
Arch st rcct terminus: the withdrawal of cars
from the surface lines would reduce mate
rally operating expenses. and many short
riders would still use the surface lines be-
cause Of their greater accessibility. Hence
il is possible that the ''losses' suffered by
tho =. II. I. by reason Of an independently
operated Frankford service would he far less
than is now estimated. Moreover, fact
that should not be lost sight Of is that tho
contemplated lease is temporary one; aud
II the provision for its automatic tcrmtna
tion upon the completion Of the valuation is
restored, aS it ought TO bc, the public inter-
est will he protected so far as the future is
concerned.
In attempting 10 marshal "the 30 900 peo-
rlc Of Frankford against the 10000 men of
Milton" the Mayor confuscs two totally diff
%; Of bo
affairs of the +. r. r. and the humane
organization Of the relations of employer and
employees are ono thing; the financial ar
ransrmcnts between the company ana the
city for the operation of Cty-built facilities
are quite another. 1t is quite possible that
tho J.. r. T. could and should pay Il higher
rental than it now offers for the Frankford
line; but If an amcablc agreement is impos-
s!b,c, then the wise thing to do Is to adopt
tho program offering the greatest advantages
70 the greatest number. AS between n tenn.
porarv lease with slightly unfavorable terms
for the city. but with unified service and full
transfer privileges. and service that would
land passengers at Arch or Front and Mar
kct streets, no transfers. the PUBLIC Ledger
is inclined 10 believe that the former is pref
crab!r. even win the at'TactNc ohll OF II
five cent fare for the limited service TO the
present terminus Of the elevated structure.
Transit Commissioner Taylor's rosiest
forecasts always contemplated an initial
period when the high speed lines would have
10 be operated at a loss. II the operating
company cannot be compelled to absorb that
loss. then the city will have to pay it
in some f0yn, or another. Tho immediate
issue. therefore, is not whether the l.. Il. +.
shall he given "city property worth SD
600 900 for nothing hut whether, in order
to save greater loss from an inactive equip
mcnt in elevated structure and cars, and to
insure such a use of those facilities as will
serve the greatest number, il may not be
| hotter TO share the initial deficit with the
| r. II. r., as proposed in the Mittcn offer,
for limited period.
The fundamental mistake of beginning the
| high spced program prior to an operating
! agreement cannot now hc undone; but IL
! lease. the temporary character of which Is
| saf"guardod properly, docs not commit the
! city to an uniavorablr policy IN dealing with
| future construction Of high speed lines. there
| can be no valid objection to entering into
such n TEMPORARY agreement with the r. X.
! Y, Even the people Of Frankford, dazzed
! for tie moment by the promi." Of five cent
! fare, will on sober second thought see the
| wisdom of standing for unified operation
| instead OF bob tailed service advocated
| frankly rs an instrument Of coercion rather
! than as n practical public utlity.