New-York tribune., 1901-06-22
WANAMAKER'S NEW OFFER
WILL GIVE PHILADELPHIA S2.5G0,O0O AND
CHISES RECENTLY GRANTED.
INK TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE. ]


PHILADELPHIA June 2i.-An offer of So 00) 0e0
cash was made to-day by John Wanamaker for
the stree, railway franchises recently given to
Congressman Robert Foerderer and his asso-
cates The offer was made in letters addressed
to both Mr Foerderer and Mayor Ashbridge.
Mr. Wauamaker stlpulates also that he will
charge only three cent fares during the hours of
the heavy morning and evening traffic.
His offer provides that S2!00O00 of the con-
sderatior shall go 10 the city and be used for
harbor improvements and the building Of public
cchooIs He proposes to give the franchise hold
ers a bonus of 500 GEO for the privileges,
(which" he says in the letter. cost You moth
ing-at least nothing that be avowed."
Mr. Wanamaker. in the beginning of his COM
munication, states that it is made TO prove false
the Congressmans recent allegations to the ef-
feet that his original offer to the Mayor was in
sincere and had "a string TO it," The vital feat
ures of the offer are follows
You say that had no charters and that the
Councils could not have made grants TO me.
Very we'll; for the sake of argument, be IL so.
But there is no legal or other objection to you
and your colleagues selling 10 me the franchises
of which you are now the donees and cwrers
without recompense to the city. | therefore re-
new the offer which / made TO the Mayor, 70
pay. therein stated. 10 the city of PhiIadel-
phla, $250oooo and in addition thereto will
add S50O.0O0 bonus 20 yourself and your
associates personally for the conveyance of the
grants and corporate privileges you now possess
There is surely no string to this proposition
When you and your associates assign 10 me
the capital stock, ownership and control of th'.
corporations you now possess, with the en'
gineers' plans L will pay TO you the sum OF
$:h0OOO. and l will pay to the city of Philadel-
in my letter to the Mayor and Sl,JGO.oOO OF
which amount. 1 should stipulate, should be
used for the deepening of the Delaware River
channel, and $l.OOOtIO be applied TO the build
ing of public schools and for the purposes Of
public education. In addition to this L viii
agree, the surface roads covered by your
fares only shall be charged between the hours
of a. m. and : a. m. and y and p. m, and
not five cents for the other hours; and
will further agree that any time within ten
years the city of Philadelphia may resume the
franchises upon the payment of the actual
money expended and invested in the various
enterprises covered by the charters and ordi-
nances as hereinafter set forth.
Now. Mr.. Foerderer. here is an admirable
chance for YOU and your colleagues TO turn
honest S50OOO0 for corporate privileges. which. it
is to be presumed. cost you nOthing-at least,
nothing that can De avoWed At the same tiIhe n
the Delaware River channel, for which the
ring" legislature has just now refused 10 make
appropriation. can be deepened 10 the sea,
and that commerce be invited 10 our Wharves
for lack of which the trade TO the city is Ian
gushing. Moreover. the inadequate school IA
cilites may be supplied by SI,Wn.eD for the
building and equipping of schoolhouses, where
the children of a portion of the citizens may re-
ceive the education they are now deEied for want
or schools and teachers. Ana, IN auultlOu JO All
this. a system OF three cent fares can he inau-
gurated which will be boon to the working
and travelling masses. which they will expert
ence every day through the years 10 come.
II the proposition have made TO you Is not
acceptable. / should be glad 70 know what sum
will tempt you and your associates 70 surren-
der the privileges you now own, and which were
obtained by methods unusual and defiant or
the public will TO have aroused the tndiSna-
tion of the people of the entire nation There
may he those who will raise ethical objection
to the payment OS any sum of money TO persons
obtaining valuable property by such methods
As q question Of Casuistry there may be some
force in such objection; but am advised that
the payment proposed in this letter. of SIOoWn
To YOU and your associates. would not be IN
dictabIe as the Compounding of felony, but
would be defensible bonus merely paid for
the restitution of public property wrongfuIy
nIt nirn rnnl