', ;&. EVENING iLEDGER-PHIUADELPHIA; SATURDAY, AUGUST 18, X91T . ' v- Sf I PLANT STRIKE i SAID TO BE AVERTED lent Reported to Have ccd Settlement Union l Leaders AUctro Isrnorancc .rj r- new ronK, Aug. i. ' Trtctdent Wilson li reported to have Mttlement of ths strike of 10,000 it worker In shipbuilding plants here. ' f'ABnouncoment has been made from an Mrthentlo source that at the direction of rreddent Wilson both employes and em- rr hare signed an ngreement ana mo r will be ordered to return to worn Ina the day. pjT' ueaaers 01 me uouermaKers una i- tnMMtr unions ciaim no Knowicage 01 mo rr amice sememem, oui persist in uircam ui f.vsi nation-wide strike unless tneir aemanas hither wages are met V. J. Deerlpg, - , 0t the Machinists'. Union, declared ho was K-' ..i.Hady today to call out members or me ;i'Wlon throughout the entire country, li,?' Bamuel Gompers, according to current 7ports, ba played an Important part In the reported settlement K 'Business Men Score fate: New Transit Lease P4. A3- framing of the new transit lease have cer tainly prepared a flno gold brick, but It Is another question whether Phlladelphlans are going to swallow the gold brick which Is embedded In the transit lease. If our old friends, Harnum and Ualley, could be resur rected nnd shown this leaso I mean the one that Mayor Smith had the audacity to present to Councils yesterday I guesr those two gentlemen would take oft their hats to certain gentlemen. "One of the chief characteristics of the population of this city Is that they are un concerned when Important measures come up. I hope that that characteristic will not bo In evidence now when this transit grab Is being flourished In our faces. We have had gnn strals and many other steals, but It is nn insult to Human intelligence to iinvo us bo satisfied with a lease tho kind that the Mayor proposes. I for one will never agree to be handed a gold brick. And there are others who feel that way. Wo have representatives In Councils who I trust will not forget their duty. Whether Philadel phia Is to be satisfied with this transit gold brick will be decided by Councils and, be llovo mo, tho eyes of thousands of voters and others will bo centered upon the gen tlemen who occupy seats In the council manlo chamber. I will bring this matter before our members. 1 am opposed to the present lease. m IWVWWI r ('redoes not believe various articles fair, let ff yiXi'thal nersona or Dcrsons write to me at the u a:v: " - . . . ... ; -.' w . ...&. hhiI BtfarA .nAi. v'jfsSsatbiBed from Tt One .jlfrj-uestion or questions In '.iM- clad to answer every one to 'A'' -. -M ..-,-. ...1.! If Eflnr. 01 wnicii i urn wvbujvi Li VaX: m writing. I will be the fullest ex- Even "Dave Lane, who Is a largo holder 'of Union Traction Company stock, con demned It. He was In Atlantic City today, und his attitude toward the proposed com pact bordered on disgust. Ho advocated .that the city operato the subways and ele vated lines Itself, and added that ho would not be at all aver so to selling his Union Traction holdings. The Mayor declined to add to tho formal 'tatement he read In Councils yesterday. He also spent the night at Atlantic City, and refused to be Interviewed further on 'the lease. In every section, prominent citizens voiced their disapproval of tho terms of the pro posed agreement. Tho proUslons requir ing an Increase, In tho rate of fare, and the creation of the. so-called "board of supervising engineers" to take over com plete charge of all transit questions were strenuously objected to by the heads of business organizations and others In all parts of Philadelphia. The entire lease, and what It really means to the citizens of Philadelphia, Is being reviewed In detail by ex-Director A. Mcr- tltt Taylor. The former Director of City Transit, In si statement Issued by him soon after the terms of the proposed agreement were made public, branded the lease as an agree ment that would Impose upon tho tax payers burdens that are "unnecessary, onerous nnd outrageous." Ho promised to give to tho citizens a careful digest of the new proposition, probably tho first of next week. There Is no sign of elation among the Organization week-enders at the shore .Over the proposed lease. Several Organl I cation leaders shrugged their shoulders In despair when nsked their views on various phases of It. One admitted that nn Increase Jn faro may be necessary to operato tho proposed high-speed system under tho now lease. Another prominent Organization leader flatly declared that section D of the lease, providing for the creation of a hand-picked board of engineers to bo hired And fired at the will of tho Mayor was illegal. The man who expressed this opinion fAriA, WKcu umi ins iiainu uo wiuuimu ui iiiu Ew"'j Present 'time. His views carry very con- tjdii weight In Organization circles. f'fii here regarding tho lease Is shown by the K w 'remarks of "Dave" I.ano, former chairman Tl'.ol tne Itcpubiicnn city committee, it was -Aftv-Jw'th much hesitancy that ho entered Into ijP ahy discussion of It as ho basked In tho Atlantic breezes on the porch of the Hotel , Strand. The "sage of the organization" said he had not had sufficient opportunity to thor oughly digest the terms of the proposed lease and did not like to pass Judgment on a whole fabric which should only be exam ined piecemeal. Nevertheless ho said: "I have always contended that tho Itnpld Transit Company should neer have any thing to do with tho whole new proposition. Why not let the city run Its own lines? "On reviewing the project generally I be lieve that when tho city builds Its roads and they become unified that an Increase In fare may be necessary to operato their enormous system, but I do not think that an Increase will bo required at tho outset of tho pro ceedings. "But there have been many things which have puzzled me In thla matter. While tho two contracting parties have had numerous conferences, the stockholders have t?eer been Invited to a single one. With his pay went of J50 a share and loss of fifteen years' Interest, which would amount to $75 a. share, I think he Is entitled to some llttlo consideration.' It WIS Suggested fit tht. nnln Ih.i ... .lease was very favorable to the stockhold ers. Mr. Lane looked at the questioner hopelessly, "If the lease Is regarded as being In the Interest of the stockholders," he said "I wquld be delighted to dispose of mine at $50 a share, which would mean the loss of 125 Interest." And the organization though he meant It "Without these aitfniira mhn..,. j l4J Lont Ievatea "ystems," he continued, "there Kg, have been Just two dividends declared by the Rapid Transit Comnanv In nrtA.n .-. W4.fi11 u". have a Iook at "ctual rac' In the VXfa ttT"7"""'"' rasl ' transportation, UK. -(" . ttvH Li s V . ,', K . IV $a Wt .J. L n . r a ir tiff fc' fi. m mw Ky ' . It R-- . V m ;Jyii frU.b-. sage looked as f vf. "The railroads aro obliged to ehari-n ii 'we"y"V8 cenls l0 cnestnut Hill on a cost t5 of J 100,000 per mile surface construction. inererore, one cannot help wond-rlng how a subway oostlng J2.000.000 per mile, and an overhead system costing JCOO.OOO per tnlle, can carry passengers the same dls Janca for five cents." Asked his views of that Bectlon of the leas which provides for the creation of a board of engineers under domlnminn .i.. WSZ" "aor al rancy "alarles, Mr. Lane asked ffif-f to be excused from making any comm-n. on tnis. ' m. i!Un,n have reaJ the proposition care fully and submitted it to those more f j miliar with conditions than I am, I wlll.not i 'express any opinion on that. I would a.sertlobnsS"my Plnln " flsUres lhan mer xVJCATOR AND CONNELLY ARE SILENT VLrt As Mayor Smith admitted that h i.... & T" n.ot,pefect ln dtal1' an effort was made V;, ijto obtain the vrai nf rn., on.,. Vtf PSV-B bu,nth? v'ews of Clty Solicitor John Wh J$V'Znn'lly l0 ,earn what the defects were ri Wh?.n ,een at h,s home In Ventnor Mr rMz V '.V4-,-.'T ITMCII BCCll ELL HIS nniTIM 1 tl Vant... !. 9k .fStr Connelly was asked If h. hrt Z" Y,"T-.""- I V'J51,'in opinion on the leaso h.fr. i7 .. ' "L. VnUiVmMt.A . n....-n .Z "." " " pre- .i , .' "V "-unney aked to be S?at n?.mt.m.CUB8lniir ? the li',.!leVl.nir l!'at May0r Smlth hlmselfmlght Bgc,wature his vlewe on the subject. . vi.iV i5-J ,14 to his palatial home on 13 Morris ave. . Aa Usual No. 12 nrov.rt tn IVl?.aY?. Berro buUer pressed a stubbv "CS'-V fl'-MiTicaded screen door and v Mkd the caller what he wanted On i.vi ft$tm that a chat with the Ma?w was di.irS" tf-tkm butler took m. oniit -K.0' e,lr.e,S' tT carried the message. ir r.iK.j i . 1" fft lijcmeeta with the information that the " (H?r Wl1 Tttin aiy to go out li2 u I WUh to 8 th Mayor rgTA. " ' ' ""-"i- uie cajier as- "Tvtr bo difference." said the butler. ; we TUltor suggested that he would s the Mayor n the porch. The nerro Urn raiHl"' , --r . . r.iatK uxtfy-' Samuel I). Wnrtlilngton, president of the East Oermantown Improvement Association: "There seems to bo too much politic In It and tho people aro noV going to get n squaro deal. It's absurd to attempt to sad dle a six or reven cent fare on us when It has been proed that the people of the city can rldo for less than flo cents with n handsomo balance still on tho side nf the traction company's ledger. Tho pen. plo of Oermantown havo thn most nt stalto nnd our association will take up the fight vigorously." John o. Hhvli, Ico president of the uverbrooK Improvement Association: "No lease should bo nllowed which would In nny way Increase carfare for tho citizens of Philadelphia, We hould not permit any body to nrlvanco the fare. When tho penplo oi i-nimueipnia voted for the transit loan they did br with thn dlMlnct understanding that the carfare ua not to bo increased and that exchange tickets nhould be abol ished Jf the people of Philadelphia had not had that understanding they would not havo voted for tho loan." I.ewU Jones, Jr., pecond vice president of tho wimo association: "A six-cent fnrn certainly will not bo tolerated In Philadelphia In thla era of high prices we should be thinking of putting the fare down rather than raising It. A lease providing for a six-cent fare certainly will not be acceptable." Mark I.!prhiiets, secretary of the Cen tral North Philadelphia Business Associa tion: "I am not In favor of fh rani i... as It stands, No business man would stand for anything like this after voting for a five-cent fare and a square deal. It Is exactly what I expected and I am not a bit surprised "I can't understand how, with the poli ticians supposed to bo with us and the sentiment In favor of real transit, this thing can go through. It's up to the busi ness men to got busy and tay something." Kobert T. Cnrson, 5011 Penn street, director of the Business Men's and Tax payers' Association of Frankford: "I am extremely opposed to an In crease of fare, as Bet forth In tho transit leaso Introduced In Councils yeitcrday by Mayor Smith. I hope that the earnings from tho Frankford c!eated win bo so largo that an Increase will not be ncce&sary. And as for tho proposition that P It T stockholders should bo guaranteed 4 per cent, nnd possibly G per cent, on their In vestment, It Is extremely doubtful to me that tho city shouuld mako any guarantee for a private corporation." l'red t. I.emnnt, a grain dealer at 4522 Lancaster avenuo and former president of the Westminster Belmont Improvement As soclntlon: "Thero goes five-cent fares for Phlladel phla! Thero Is no doubt about that. 1 can't say that I expected anything much different, however. I formed my opinion long ago. I knew tho Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company was oerloaded, burdened as It Is with heavy fixed charges to Its underlying companies. "Tho city gets off where It usually does. That Is at the end of tho plank, Tho Phila delphia Rapid Transit Company Is tho only one getting anything out of such a lease as that. I havo often wondered how they were going to get out of It. I might have known they'd get out all right, since they hae the politicians with them "In my mind there's only one way to settlo tho whole business, and that Is for tho Rapid Transit Company to go Into bankruptcy, have a fair valuation placed on tho underlying companies, nnd then start business after the water Is nil squeezed out of the stock. That would be tho way to get a fair senlco for a fair price." John A, Moore, a member of tho trans portation committee of tho United Business Men's Association: "I am not surprised nt the Jokers In the lease. I thought tho Rapid Transit Com pany could not pay Its own waj I have it on good authority that out of ovcry five cent fare collected three cents goes to pay fixed charges to underlying companies and the remaining two cents must take care of operating expenses, deterioration and so forth. The whole point of the Joker Is In the clause where It reads that 'If It Is found that a deficit will exist the city shall Join with the Rapid Transit Company In a petition to the Public Service Commit slon to raise the fares to such a rlgure as will guarantee the removal of the deficit' That's the point! There wilt be a deficit, nil right There Is no question but that the lease Is unfair to the city. I am In favor of not building the high-speed line now It that Is the best bargain wo can make." n Kmll I.tite, 5017 Larchwood avenue, sec retary of the Fifty-seventh Street Improve ment Association: 'The guaranteeing P. R. T. stockholders 4 nnd possibly 6 per V:ent on their Invest ment Is certainly not fair to the publlo of Philadelphia. I certainly am not In favor of tho proposed Increase of fare." J. II, fihumoker, 4S19 Frankford avenue, president of the JFrankford Board of Trade: "It Is nn Injustice to the nublla to increase the faro ns set forth In tho transit lease. I nm In faor of the original proposition of five-cent fares nnd universal frco transfers. I ccrtnlnly nm bitterly opposed to Increas ing tho fare to six and possibly soven cenuj." Frank I. Itelmner, one of the loading merchants of the cits' nnd former president of the Mnrket Street Merchants' Associa tion, said: "I am In favor of tho Taylor plan nnd no other. As I read tho now provisions as out lined by the Mayor, I am moro nnd more convinced that the old plan should bo ad hered to and that no changes Miould be, made." Harry flrhoenthnt, recording secretary of tho Kensington Board of Trade: "Tho public will never stand for that leaso which Mayor Smith submitted to Councils yesterday If Councils will be permitted to ratify tho leaso as It Btands Phlladelphlans who nre Interested In decent nnd honest government may as well throw up tho sponge, "This city should hno a universal trans fer system nnd a flc-cent fare, We should havo tho same transfer system that pre vails at the present tlmo ln Now York. A lease of the kind that has been presented to Councils will neer help to deolop the city. It Is laughable to read the different clauses. Thero Is something In Hie wood pile somewhere, and tho quicker mat some thing Is exposed tho better it will bo for the entire municipality, . "Thn Metropolitan Street Railway Com pany In New York Is giving trnnsfcrs away on a flve-cent fare As n matter nf fact, you can rldo about Manhattan Island all day for a Jitney, and the Metropolitan Street Railway Company can pay Its stockholders a, dividend of about 10 per cent "I nm going to hrlng the present leaso be fore the attention of our organization when It meets next September. Should some of our wIfo gents who think they nro our bosses try nnd put this grab over In quick fashion I think It Is tho duty of cery cUlo organisation to get busy and call mass meetings and make a protest "I sincerely hope that our member of Councils will use Intelligent Judgment when the lease comes up for a vote. We are represented In Common Councils by Com mon Councilman John B Reynolds, of the Nineteenth Ward I shall discuss this mntter with him, and ft ho wants to bo loyal tho thing for him tn do Is to voto against the lease as It stands now." (, A. Ivlon, member of the Sansom Street Business Men's Association: "It I? true that frequently when a person prepares to leavo for a vacation he Is tendered a llttlo surprise of some sort. I 'n Icndcied ono of thoso surprises en tho r-w nt going awny on my vacitl'ii wlun J read tho headlines In the newspapers relat ing to the tianslt lease. I didn't llnlsh read ing the entire lease. It was needless to do so. I: Just made me sick and disgusted "Wo muRt have a well-regulated transfer system ln this city. A well-regulated trans fer system means further development to the city, but apparently thero are some per sons In this city who have their own opin ions on this matter. The fullest publicity should be Cien to this Issue, because only through publicity can the public be ac quainted with the existing situation. I am ret In favor of the leaso as It Is drawn now " A. C, Keeley, of the Kensington Board of Trade: "The lease Is not clear In my mind. Thero Is no doubt that It means an addi tional Increase In fare. Tho people don't know where they are coming out on the proposition and tho Transit Company seems to havo them by the throat. This proposition Is only adding moro confusion nnd delay to rapid transit. If wo are not careful we will get no real rapid transit for 1 The roty cheekt, retilient ittp a and bright eye that greet the patter-by on the city ttreet it due to regular habiti. DrVON'S HEALTH BISCUITS For Constipation rankit regular habits. Nothing dead ma the will-power nnd senses quicker Mian "auto-lntoxlentlon" self-poison-Inif from constipation. Dr. Von's Health Illscults Contain No Medicine All cerenl, tasty, convenient. They create unit maintain normal regular Intestinal nctlon. ' "' "A trial It alwayt convincing" 25c a Package At nil drur and roin .i... B direct from Dr. Von's Health Biscuit Co. 2218-2220 Market St. Philadelphia, Pa. iiiii e Notice to Taxpayers TATTFflJ81 hnh& f?Sf day to VaV REAL ESTATE lAXbb without penalty. For payments made in Sevtcmber T.1Z Ce ? penalty wiU be " in October ILperZnt November three per cent, and in December four per cent five pfrfent PR0PERTY TAXE bear a penalty of WATER RENTS for 1917 now bear a penalty of five ver Co-operate with this Department and procure bills at once and make payments as early as possible to avoid the annoyance and inconvenience of the rush during the last few) days of the month. W. FREELAND KENDRICK, Receiver of Taxes. DOLLAR EXCURSIONS EVERY DAY 7:60 A. M. from Cheijtoutor South Street Ferry WILDWOOD CAPE MAY ATLANTIC CITY RRA isr.w riw OCEAN CITY STONE HARBOR ADDITIONAL Tliuc T At'?r0eA:,l5rUntaf '' "" "tttrt', Au.t nnd Ube, p T. WlUijt.-h.rd:o A, M.. . to Scnelllnxtr's IuuUn To Cap . Mar mtri i ! PUI m. &$.- the next five years, it Is discouraging, to say tho least, for those who have been fight ing so long for tho proper kind of transpor tation facilities In Philadelphia." Joseph W. Ilnlberstnilt, former secretary of the South Oak Iano Improvement Asso ciation beforo Its nfnllatlon with York Itoad Improvement Association: "It's n good thing the lease cannot bo rushed through Councils before tho business men's associations all over tho city get a chnnco to get a word to their Councllmcn about It If the rest of them feel the way I do. I certainly am going to make It my huslnoss to seo that the York Itoad Im provement Association membors thresh out tho matter thoroughly. Tho leaso doesn't lookat all good to me" W. It. Metcnlf. president of the City Uuslness Club: "Tho citizens of Philadelphia are entitled to rapid transit, and It seems to me that somo ono should be able to draft a lease that would gtvo us rapid transit on n fair basis. It does not seem to me, however, that tho citizens of Philadelphia who are entitled to rapid transit want to sell their birthright for a mess of pottage, ns wo would do under this lease. "There nre several points about tho pro posed lease, but every one of them Is to the ndvantngo of the traction company nnd not to the city," Theodore Conk, secretary of tho Passyunk Avenue Business Men's Association, und a member of tho transportation commlttoo of tho United Huslnoss Men's Association: "The leaso will not do at all J my associa tion Is thoroughly opposed to any lease which arranges for n fare-Increase gougo and ror tno maintenance or tne grossly un fair cxchango-tlckct gouge. Tho transpor tation commlttoo of the United Business Men's Association will como together nt a near date to probo Into this latest farce, It would seem that certain city nlllclals nnd tho traction Interests havo tho public by the throat. So long as outrageous Interest Is being paid on watered stock the peoplo of Philadelphia will not get a, square deal from any standpoint." McNICHOL THINKS LEASE "VERY FAIR" I)U a Staff Correspondent ATLANTIC CITY, Aug. 18. "Modern Ized equipment requires modernized prices." ... ..wi,.mt made this reply this afternoon when It was pointed out that the proposed transit lease would require n Increase In fare. In these days," he added, "when pro gressive people want speed, convenience a "genera, efficiency. It Is hardly fair lo . .v,ot tho same can be obtained with expect that tho same c out Increased "Jlaj Increase, but In view of 'gene a nKi U would not surprise meTfTwere necessary. I .m not a .trans- iSm U TgauToth' : faro proposition Just now "think that on tho whole the terms f WeneTskerd v.'ews regarding the plansto appoint a board of supervising en glncers, tho Senator said! "You must remember tho project Is a xerv elaborate ono. It would not bo fair o expect the Department of City Transit o iZ : alien the vast number of details. "'. 0ne has to watch tho equipment. nncratlon and extension details nnd I think "ho contemplated board will have plenty to Tho Senator did not seem to think tho transit subject would havo any bearing on the coming election. 20 KILLED WHEN BLASTS WRECK CANADIAN PLANT Ammunition Factory arid Surroundlne Homes at Dragon Destroyed by Scries of Explosions MONTREAL. Aug. 18. At least twenty persons were killed In a scries of terrific explosions which dostroyod the Curtis Har vey ammunition plant at Dragon, Quebec" today, according to latest estimates from tho scono of tho disaster. Scores of employe's of tho plant aro miss lng, but tho belief was expressed that many of them will bo found to bo safo, despite tho fear that tho known death ton may T be largoly Increased. Tho explosion wiped out forty homes" workmen employed In the plant and wt tho country for miles around, The mone . damago will run close to $1,000,000 r A passenger, arriving In Montrea'l , the sceno said tho plant was commit?!11 wrecked. Telegraph and telephone 11 y munlcatlon with the town Is cut off. Pllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll A Motor Car i . With "Second Wind HHriV9PV 4KiH ..V r .-..-A m ..vH iaB dfrWO POWER RANGE r "Eight In developing the two-power-range idea it was the Peerless aim to give the ideally soft, smooth Eight the added charm of rugged resistless power for rough hard work and greater speed. The result, now firmly estab lished, is the remarkably success ful Peerless Two-Power Range Eight with its "loafing" range for ordinary driving and its "sporting" range for great power and speed. & ', Loann .. I Ran6 fptii x? For all ordinary driv ing you will use its "loafing" range In this range it per forms all those feats of smoothness which dis tinguish the really fine from the ordinary oar in the every day ser vice of an exacting owner. And in this range it is on half rations, con suming fuel so sparing ly as to shame many a lesser powered six even many a four. 1 ts. dtf' I onqrtm 1 liMe Y t. i . ! W Among the finer cars of the day, there are a few which pre tend no compromise with the demand for the gentler virtues of soft,' smooth flexibility. Such cars are out and out exponents of the more rugged vir tues of brute power and speed. I I speed. I II In its "sporting" 1 jf K ready to vie with J? jr V own chosen yr M X sV tiA ' V 2090 Roadittj $2090 Seven Passenger Touring Coup S27S3 Sborfinn Pif. r..m O f a. ' '" 3U ocuan ( ,...; ., p Utntll increase becomes effective) m J:" b- Cl'"d-Subject to change without notice GIRARD AUTOMOBILE COMPANY 2314-16.18 CHESTNUT ST1,- w wi.Ur r company V'levciana, Uhio r-iS m ft! m h 1 11 $1 HI 1 ' r u&ntkazk. sii. "fJi- ki I S1 Jt Wt jiS ' ? . ut&Hmi'. H. ,nw - i ' Cleveland, Ohio ,-JSjC Ij irHHr ffMfCjk vi bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbhHHhBbbbhv jVBv 8 mmu"" "3mvt,imv""m lHljUnByTW1SS'lyiTWWTTTTTHts wiSSS -- fl t H '"FUtW HUJIWW J F T - . l .Bir.Ak... it,.ii. " TT- m li . "J i ""J1 '"TiBiiiiiiiiiii - ttJ-JlxHBSiKC&'J . !. a-,-. . '. .! i. ."-JRhh ' &V r tsAtit, --l.- Bi1r liiiiftiii iMfflittmii..M-- & &" tr-'.-j ''. ' ' 'H'SFJWi!
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers