Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-05
Tho Mayors Message
M NIavnr's meesn re fnllows ln

inc Mayor message
The Mayors message follows IN full :
THAT the city may be IN position to
operate the Frankford Elevated Rail =
way during the coming summer at II
rate Of fare consistent With the terms OF
tho 1907 agreement with tho philadcl-
rhia Rapid TRANSIT Company, I have
forwarded to your honorable body two
preparatory measures which are now
pending, one providing for the e1pendi- =
ture Of money already authorized by a
vote Of the people, 10 set up the neces
sary terminal facilities at Market street
and the other, forwarded December II
last, providing for the establishment Of
a Bureau of Operation IN the Depart.
ment of City Transit.
These two measures I am following
up today by the transmittal herewith OF
n third preparatory measure. drawn up
by the Director of City Transit, with
the approval of the City Solicitor. con-
templating a contract with the Phila-
delphia Electric Company to supply the
connections for power upon terms
| therein stated.
The failure Of the tentative agree
mcnt between the city and tho Rapid
| Transit Company, forwarded to your
| honorable body March 81, 1921. and Of
all subsequent negotiations with the
! company, except as certain negotiations
are now pending as conducted by your
honorable body, makes 1t urgent, If the
people entitled to the service of the new
high speed road are 70 secure it during
the coming summer. as expected. that
these measures be promptly passed
The total investment Of the city in
tho Frankford Elevated Railway, not
including the interest charges that have
been acCruing for more than seven years.
will, uron the completion Of the road
for operation. amount 10 $4,000. 900.
which with interest running against
the city az tho ratio OF per cent, ie
equivalent to $1,000 a day.
There is no question upon the part
Of tho city as TO the advIsahlity Of a
unified railway system throughout
Philadelphia. The Rapid Transit Com
pany, however. has control Of all exist
ing lines cxccnt the Frankford Elevated
Railway and its subsidiary lines. which
have been the subject Of such long time
negotiations.
Municipal Operation
"Thc city favors a unified system
with through routing 80 that the hest
and broadcst service can be obtained
for the car riders. but the point la,
been reached where it seems vital, Il
any service is 70 be secured looking
TO a unified system. that the Issue be
forced by municipal operation Of the
plant il owns and controls this
whether an agreement can be ultimately
reached with the Philadelphia RAPID
Transit Company or not.
This attitude Of the city stated.
desire TO advise you that the ordinance
which is sent TO you herewith is a nee
essary preliminary 20 the running o
the road, whether negotiations are con
cluded with the Philadclnhla RapiC
Transit Company, as contemplated b!
Council, or whether they IRE not 81
concluded, since, as stated in the frs
preamble, tho power must be secured
in the manner indicated in either event
municipal operatlon or operation b.
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com
pany,
1T seems appropriate also. IN view
NJ the December 81 proposal of Presi
don't Mittcn, Of the Rapid Transit Com
,pany, to the CouncilmaniC Committee T.
state some Of the views Of the Mayo
with regard thereto. Speaking broadly
TINS latest suggestion from Mr.. Mite
IS not sufficiently specific to satisfy tn
city, and, in the judgment OF the Mayor
docs not properly consider the city
interests. Because ~ further nPgOtIa
tons md delays due 10 Consideratio
or objections to tho new Mitten pro
posal, the importance Of the passage .
tho preparatory resolutions contPmplat
Ing municipal operation is emphasize
The Mayors Fourteen Points
I'm the limited time which the Mayo
and his associates have had to conside
the Mitten proposal Of December 81,
has occurred that these suggestion
should be made to the Council
First. The proposed two new Mite
amendments would be incorporated |
the present draft Of a leaSe-that @
March 3l-whiCh already contains th
provision that It shall terminate 81
months after the valuation Is concluded
There Is very little likelihood tha
this date would be moro than ono @
two years distant from the date {
signing tho agreement. Therefore, th
contemplated increase OF return TO IN
city of higher than ! per cent is who'll
tllusory, as before we reach the or
per cent period, the agreement woul
terminate. The proposition is there
fore virtually identical with the origins
plan TO operate the Frankford Il
without paying any rental Whatsoever
or at least very slight and insuf
ticient rental.
Second. The new proposition
based upon the continuation of tn
| present rate of fare For tho cIty 4