Evening journal., 1901-06-14
BIG STEAL, SAYS
MIR. WANAMAKER
Offers $2,5OO,OOO for Street
Railway Franchises
WANTS THE PEOPLE TO BENEFIT
Urges Mayor TO Veto Ordinances in
Order That New Ones May be
Drafted

Philadelphia, June 1.-THE latest
move in the matter of the granting of
street railway franchises by city coun-
o.ls was made yesterday when ex-Post-
master General John Wanamaker sent
& letter to Mayor Ashbridge Offering to
pay to the city S2,5O0,000 for the pow
crs rights and franchises granted and
intended to be granted by IA ordi-
nances of council now awaiting the
mayors approval These IA ordinances
give to q number of capitalists who
are friendly to the dominant faction in
tho Republican party in this state the
right to construct underground and
cupied by surface railway companies
and to build surface roads on those
streets not occupied by other compan-
les. The speed with which the enabling
acts were passed by the legislature
and the passage by city councils in
three days of the IA city ordinances
has aroused opposition in certain quar-
ters.
It has been understood. but not Of
ficially announced, that the Union
Traction company, which occupies
most of the streets of the city. would
contest the granting of the privileges.
along with Albert Johnson, who de-
sires to construct street railways and
charge three cent fares. Up to this
time Mr.. Wanamaker had not figured
in the matter, but his participation
against the granting of the franchises
does not come with surprise.
Mr. Wanamaker, in his letter, says
ne believes the franchises granted by
these ordinances are of enormous
money value; that the people will get
nothing for these franchises; passen-
gers win have no cheaper transporta-
ton, and that the only gamers will be
those financially interested in the pro-
jects. He urges the mayor to veto the
ordinances before him in order that
new ordinances may be drafted confer
ring the franchises in question only
upon the payment of a sum of money
into the public treasury commensurate
with the value Of the grant. Mr.. Wana-
maker says he will cheerfully pay the
sum of S2,5O0,0O0, but suggests that If
the new ordinances required the fran
chises to be put up at auction and sold
to the highest bidder an amount large
ly in excess of that which ne has Of
fered could be readily secured. His
offer. he continues. is merely an indi-
cation in concrete form Of the magni-
tude of the gift conferred upon private
citizens without return to the people.
at seems to me-" he concludes, that
to give way such franchises for moth
ing. when others stand ready to pay
millions FOR the same rights, is little
short of public plunder"
In order that the offer might reach
the mayor before he signed the ordi-
nances Mr.. Wanamaker prepared two
letters. One was sent to the mayors
private residence and the other was
personally handed to the mayor by Mr..
Wanamaker's secretary during the ex-
ercises incident to the formal accept
ance of the new mint building by the
United States government. The in
stant the mayor recognized the hand
writing of Mr.. Wanamaker he threw
the letter into the crowd without read
ing it. This action is readily under
stood when it is remembered that tho
mayor and Mr.. Wanamaker are not on
friendly terms.
Mayor Ashbridge late last night sign
ed the ordinances. He refused to talk
with reporters about Mr.. Wanamaker's S
protest against lis signing the bills.