The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-16

appeal 10 the public say that IL this law had been
carried out in good faith there would have been
no necessity for further legislation, thus seeking
TO excuse and explain the bill which was intro
duced in the Senate last week, and which occa-
stoned the summary action of Councils in re-
moving the tracks.
The real facts of the case are that, by the deci-
sion of the Supreme Court the tracks between
Vine and Olive streets belonged to the city, and
the city had perfect right to order their re-
moval at any time. Permission was given to
various parties to make turnouts upon payment
of a fee of ten dollars, but the Commissioner of
Highways had full control over them, and could
cause them to be removed whenever he thought
that the public convenience required it. The
merchants between Vine and Olive streets had
no rights whatever on this highway except by
favor, and any attempt on the part of the
Legislature to enforce the continuance
of the tracks would have been
an usurpation of power which the citizens of
Philadelphia would have been quick to resist.
The Reading Railroad and the Baltimore Rail-
road have State franchises on Broad street and
they are protected by the provisions of the law
of 1866, which the irate merchants state was
framed by Councils and passed at their request
With regard to these companies all the require
ments of the law viii be carried out, and nego-
tations are now pending for the purchase of
their rights on Broad street by the city.
The merchants on Broad street are divided
into two parties-those who bound themselves to
ask for no further delay after July /, 1869 and
those who would not consent to any such ar
rangement. 1t is this last faction that now APP
peals to the citizens of Philadelphia for support
against Councils and the newspapers. These
gentlemen deny positively that one cent has been
t.nl a,,Hs BOD I
to influence either Councils or the Legislature.
In the face of this denial, we have the most reli-
able authority for stating that money was raised
to be expended at Harrisburg in securing the
passage of the bill which occasioned the action
of Councils last week, and some of the men
whose names are prominent among the signers
of the appeal have boasted of the fact, and now
boast that they will yet secure the passage of
law obliging Councils to relay the tracks.
The merchants who now seek to turn the
charge of bad faith upon Councils are particu-
larly pointed in their references to Mr.. Fran
ciscus, and imply that he equivocated with
them. There is nothing whatever to sustain
such an allegation this, and the Chairman of
the Committee on Railroads in the Select Coun-
Gil appears to have acted solely in the interests
of the city; and it is owing to his promptness
and vigilance that the Harrisburg scheme was
so effectually forestalled
The Broad street merchants may as well make
up their minds to submit to the inevitable. The
citizens Of Philadelphia are determined that the
street shall be cleared of its distractions, and |
now that the tracks have been removed it is |
very certain that they will not be put down |
again, anything that the Legislature may say to
the contrary Notwithstanding; and those who
have subscribed or who may subscribe money
towards buying up our venal representatives at
Harrisburg, had better devote any spare cash
they may have on hand towards the expenses of
a removal to some other locality.