Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-05-15

City ownership and company opera
don OF transit lines under lower fare,
as suggested by Thomas +. Mittcn.
pfesld3ht of the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company. meets the approval
Of members of Council and others who
4xpfessed themselves on the matter to-
day. .g.o-
In statement issued yesterday. Mr.
Mitten pointed out benefits to the pco.
pie. which, he contended, would result
from o city owned system. and sug.
gested thnt property benefited by transit
EXCURSIONS be taxed proportionn ely.
Mr.. Mitten put special stress on the
end the operating company through
aaOptton of lower fare. He compared
The receipts of the T. Il. r. under the
former fivc-ccnt and IN" present GA
cent fare and showed that the company
Jared better financially under the former
nts;
by way of driving home his conten-
tion that the tive-cent fare is a mutual
Benefit to rider and company. he com
pared the receipts of transit lines in
other cities during the last few years
under low and increased fare and his
figures show that the lower fare COM
panies earned more profits.
Wcgleln Favors Idea
Serious consilcrato ion ot Mr. Mttcn s
suggestion will be given py Council be-
fOre the city launches any new transit
projects. Richard Wegicin, president Of
Council, said today.
1--WE need good transit service in the
city, said Mr.. Weglcin, ''and we are
working toward that end. But anything
that we do In that regard must be meas
ured, first Of ALL by the service that the
people will get ont of il. Any transit
plan that will improve urban transpor.
fation will help the worker and will aid
u the progress of the city through the
psoeress Of industry merits the sup
pstt Of all.
sTherc can be no doubt that such a
line as the Frankford elevated will
greatly increase the valuation OF prop
efty in the northeastern section he
cdtitinued. Land values will SO UP
) through the Introduction of industries
and through the settlement Of residents
IN the unoccupicd space of the north :
eastern section.
.rrom this valuation there could be
return that would easily pay for the
0rection of the elevated line. 1t is no
more than right that those who receive
the benefits of the improvement In
transit lines should help In the payment
~ these benefits
Twil,ing Delays Comment
William s. Twin!ug, Director Of City
Transit, said he would have to make a
study Of the Mitten proposal before
- would comment upon It.
That some such plan -as suggested by
Mr.. Mitten may be necessary to free
me city from the evil consequences OF
t6e 1907 agreement WAS the assertion OF
Councilman James a. Develin. AL
1k0ufh unwilling to commit himself on
She plan because he had not read II
Thoroughly, the Councilman said some
Si8fne has to bc done to relieve condi
tiOns In the transit field.
"There should be some way out OF
that 1907 agreement" ee continued
s.aJsd maybe here is AN. opportunity
Hresented to the city to fee Itself. Here
my be something to counteract the evi
eonreauences of the old agreement.
While Councilman Francis F. Burcl
did not comment directly on the MitteI
platl, he did assert that some form o
SNInicipal ownership, although no
necessarily municipal operation. wa
necessary il proper extensions OF tn
transit system were 10 be obtained.