Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-15
Conduit COuncilmen
Are Under Hot Fire
Continued from Page One

CHtlnueH from rage One
getting out of this?~ Did YOU ever see
politician do something for nothing:"
Mr.. Martin reminded his auditors Of
tn" old gas fight nearly twenty years
ago. lie said he sat in the gallery Of
Councils then when noOses were swung
down to the Councilmen. In the
nooses. he said, were loopcd MESA gcs
which stated: "If YOU vote for steal
ing tn" gas works we will hang you" "
'Thc trouble now is. he went on.
THAT we have not become sufficiently
aroused.
Fire Damage Stressed
Erskine NJ. Bains. of George r..
Bains & Son. said yesterday he saw
fire engine blocked on Chestnut street
near Fifteenth because of the conduit
opening and the crush of traffic.
f. S. Kroner. of the Bank of North
America. suggested that the. Chamber
of Commerce be called on to demand
revocation OF the conduit franchise.
All members Of the association were
asked TO urge special session Of
80 the Objectionable ordinance could be
, repealed.
Would Change Route
The use of SAMSON street from Broad
! to Tenth streets for its COnduits in :
| stead of Chestnut street was suggested
! to the Western Union Telegraph Com :
pany tGday by the Executive committee
of the Chamber of Commerce.
! Acting n mediator in the fight the
Chestnut Street Association is making
| against the proposed conduit under thar
thoroughfnre. the Executive Commit
| tee held closed session at noon in the
Bellevue -Strutford
| Elwood b. Chapman. president Of the
! Chestnut Street Association. and f.. T..
Iotman. chief engineer of the Western
! Union Company. presented their diver
gent views before the committee.
Doubts Feasibility
Mr.. T0tmam said he wanted time to
! think over the SAMSON street prOpoSal
but thar from an engineering stand :
| point h" did not think it feasible.
The opening of the north shoulder of
| chestnut street has been nearly com :
pleted from Fifteenth street to Broad.
! Council passed an ordinance giving the
telegraph company permission to law
the conduits.
Work on the Western Union Tcle.
graph Company's conduits under Chest
nut street will be finished. lin spite OF
obstacles, on or before Ortobrr TO-
according TO n letter received today by
Richard Wcglcin, president Of Council
from r. i. Totmun. district plant
superintendent for the company.
Mr.. Totman wrote under datc NJ
August II, but his letter was moi
opened by Mr.. WeGlCln. who was AVA,
over the week end. until today. ~
III" letter the superintendent declared
that the compuny'S promised letter OF
assurance that the work would be done
by S"pirmber II was prrdlcatrd ~oI
prompt signing OF the cuuncilmani,
ordnanr" BY Mayor Moore. The Mavo,
refused TO sign and the ordinance wa,
passed over his head
The prompt signing of the ordi
nance, wrote Mr.. Totman. "wo,Ilc
have placed the company in the sam,
position on Friday, July I, as it wa,
placed on July -, resulting in n los,
Of thirteen days when the work nigh,
have been in progress
Mr.. Totman complains that he collc,
at the office Of the Department of Publil
Works August for permit to oper
III" street after III" ordinance had brc,
passed over the Mayors refusal. anC
found thar the Chestnut Street Businc.,
Association had filed n complaint whicl
held up the permit until Angus, o,