New-York tribune., 1901-06-15
THE PHILADELPHIA FRANCHISES.
AMAkER'S OFFER-INJUNCTION MAY
BE SECURED.
lay TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BuxE.l

y
Philadelphia, June l.-Although the private sec
retary OF Mayor Ashbridge last night announced
oIncaly mat the Mayor had not received the rapid
transit ordinances and might not sign them for
several days, to-day had barely been ushered in
when IT became known that the ordinances had
been signed by Mayor Ashbridge and had become
laws.
After the Mayor had thrown away the letter
written by John Wanamaker. which was handed to
him IN course OF the exercises which marked the
opening of the mint he evaded Mr. Wanna
makers second letter, taken to his house. by re-
manning away from home until after he had signed
the ordinances.
Mr.. Wanamaker to-day refused to express him
eq pTes ..lHes uBo leQM. uoTBnlIs eVl no Ues
Il have sent two letters the Mayor and have
received no answer TO either of them"
Mayor Ashbridge refused to discuss the merits of
the bills No comment. official or otherwise ac-
companied his signature the documents and
with their return the City Council there Will 20
nothing but the most formal message announcing
his official act. He made this announcement to-
day:
AS soon as the bills were approved by Directors
Haddock and English. my private secretary and
compared them. word for word and the last of the
oliis was signed at 1000 One or two further ordi-
nances kept me here until after IL o'clock. There
was absolutely no secrecy my part. / was work
and with my collar off There is no truth in The
statement that the telephone wire was dscon-
nected.
There no developments to-day which showed
on the surface although A. S. L. Shields admitted
that he had been retained by one Of the interests
in opposition to take the matter into court by a
petition for injunction. Mr.. Shields would NOT
name his client. but the general impression is
that he represents the Johnson three cent fare
syndicate
The Union Traction Company has not made any
fected by the surprising legislation. One Of the
directors In that company said this evening that
the whole matter being canvassed by their
attorneys but that his company probably would
DO nothing aggressive until some overt act
committed encroachng their franchise or an
attempt made to occupy Broad-st.
There be doubt In the mind Of any
one now that the benehciaries of the legis-
lation intend business. While their franchise
grant is a blanket and covers much territory
the operation OF either elevated surface roads
II is certain that Broad and Diamond will be
made the field Of immediate operations unless the
scheme shall be blocked by the courts.
The publication of John Wanamaker's offer of
S2 900 for the franchises. be paid after the
question of their validity had been carried a
final and favorable decision by the Supreme Court
brought out the statement to-day from a man W no
is intimately associated with the financial hackers
of the new franchise that bona fide offer from
representative New-York and Western capitalists
was made on Monday of this week just prior the
Introduction Of the bills into Select Councils, IL
being S5OeOOGO in cash for the transfer the
franchises them after the same had been
This offer refused"
Another member of the cOterie holding the fran
chises said Tonight Our franchises not to be
sold or leased any other parties syndicates
The men who are back of this movement are men
who can any amount of capital for their
enterprises and they all miliionaires them
selves and ready invest their money They
will build every road for which they have secured
a franchise"