The sun., 1901-06-14
STEAL, CRIES WANAMAKER:
OFFERS PHILADELPHIA ss.5oO.OOO FOR
STREET CAR FRANCHISES.
rells Mayor AshSrtdse That Councils Are Giving
Away 10 Promoters Fourteen Privileges
worth More Thaa That Sum II
Plnndsr Wants the People TO Beneh:

| PHrLADRLPHfA, Pa, June IS John Wana-
| maker to-day offered Mayor Ashbridge.
as the (chief executive OF Philadelphia.
., 500. 600 for the rights and privileges granted
by the Rapid Transit Street Railway bills
passed BY Councils. As guarantee Of good
faith Mr. wanamaker deposited in the Real
Estate Title and Trust Company e2SO.o00.
| 10 per cent OF the amount he offered. and
the letter In which the offer was made was
| taken to the Mayors ONCE by l.. II Meyers.
Mr.. wanamaker's private secretary.
Tho Mayor was not In his office. so Mr..
Meyers went up to the new Mint Building,
where the Mayor was and there delivered
the letter. After receiving II the Mayor
pushed It aside. Mr. Meyers said. saying;
This does not interest me"
A person standing nearby picked up the
envelope and opened 1t The Mayor was
told what II contained and said;
AN right, II there are any bonds In II you
may have them
A duplicate copy OF the letter was sent to
| the Mayors house and was receipted for.
Mr.. wanamakers letter accompanying G
JUNE IL. 1901.
To the Non. Somusi n. Ashbridoe:
DEAR SIR: You have now before you for
passed by the Councils comforting upon
surface roads. elevated road, and under.
highways Of this city. They were rushed
through the Councils with unprecedented
and reckless speed, Every effort 70 postpone
all amendments offered looking to the con-
servatism of the interests of the city and
he people and intended TO secure the
Citizens we're sa%mari Ssa voted do%n. 70 'n'
The State legislation. Intended 70 give
authority to these projects. was likewise
MED ali Opportunity Tor lnyestisation, and
that rejected every proposition or imitat ton
that had In view the benefit and profit Of the
With all these facts your Honor 4, no doubt
thoroughly familiar and II Il unnecessary
for me TO detail them. It may be said. how
cipd ordinances referred to represent a
most radlcal revolution In the railroad legisla-
ton Of the Commonwealth and OF the city
ston haf sv oesr and 1na1 T sSna
that seem to have had for their object the
prevention Of publicity and fun investlga-
tion and discussion
OF course your Honor. IN acting upon the
ordinances before you, will have primarily
In view the interests Of the people oi whose
Sy THIS s as n: Ss2.s9 & S"n w'h9 of Ss
y Your hands, il seems to me ne your Honor %
". @ pronPy tS,t OF
for your approval at all. and the franchises
should be conferred upon, any set OF men or
body Of corporations / should only be done
greatest return Of profit AMI benefit As a
mere business proposition this seems to me
should be no sentiment and no favorltism
in such a matter
1t is generally believed that the franchises
granted and secured by the ordinances before
ara nf pnnr ali
familiar with the subject consider them to
embrace the most valuable GIT of public
privileges ever confer ed at one time By
the Councils. SO thoroughly convinced am
/ OF their value and so anxious that they
should not be made "A free gift TO any one.
but that the people should derive zone com
handed over 70 the use of private enterprise
that desire 70 make business proposition
through your Honor TO the people Of whose
interests in thi, respect you are the chosen
guardian.
let me say that am not interested in
railroad enterprises OF any kind, that
road corporation. and have MT any / ter
est, present or prospective, IN any existing
or intended corporation do not desire
to embark in the business Of railroadipg,
and have no pecnniary interest Of any kind
TO serve in s%bmi,,tnE S,tS the ,pTopositon which
granted and Intended to be secured BY S"'1es tHe
fourteen ordinances referred 10 | will zive
to the city OF Philadelphia the sum Of
sSs nnd have b dny St sGnS tsi
the Real Estate Trust Company on account
OF this proposition, 10 per cent or $3.50, 900
sought to be conferred By tho ordin lnccs
In question will be made the subject OF legal
contest In the courts As TO what the re-
suits OF that litigation will be have no opin-
ion. but viii be glad to pay for such powers
the Councils have the lawful authority 20
grant thenl--the sum OF money have named
Your Honor Of course knows that eve.y
attempt in the Councils to require the cor
porations favored By the ordinances TO limit
the fare to three cents and to give free cx-
changes and other propositions having In view
down. As tho case stands to-day before
you. therefore, the people VIII get nothing
for these franchises their treasury VIII not
no cheaper. Transportation and the only
gamers Will bo those financially interested In
the projects to which your Honor j. asked
to give the sanction Of your approval
As have already said, II j. not my desire |
to embark In the business Of passenger rail |
roads, but ! do not feel like standing idly |
are made so rock kessy, rashly and hurricdly |
to predetermined corporations without any |
return To- the people whose property Is 10
be used for private speculation. and from |
,.,Ose pockets will come every dollar that |
goes into tle corporate TREASURES.
Ny Offer Of two million and II half dollars |
is made not because | conceive thai sum to |
be the measure OF tho value OF the franchises |
granted by these ordinances. for / believe !
them TO be much more valuable but merely |
a. an indication e your Honor IN concrete !
farm OF the magnitude Of the gift conferred (
upOn private citizens without return - the |
people II seems 10 me that 10 give away |
such franchises for nothing when Othors |
stand ready 10 pny millions for the samo
right. {. little short OF public plunder
I earnestly urge upon your Honor, there
fore that you will veto the ordinance now
before you and secure, A. you can so well |
do with your known influence In tho legisa-
tive BODY. the sustaining Of your veto IN |
order that now ordinances may be drafted |
comforting the franchise In question only |
uron the payment OF sum OF monet into |
the public treasury commensurate to the
value OF the grant
but / suggest % y6u that II the new ordinance |
REQUIRED the franchise u he put up M nuc-
tion and sold 70 tho highest bidder an amount
largely IN excess ~ TINT which ! have des x
means the city would acquire nsum Of money
which. as you well know. u -orely moods
and which could be exp ndsd In public i'm |
provem"nts Of an urgent character. without
increasing the public debt, ,ns Is now con
TEN plated. or the tax rate lcvicdllpon the
Cltlze,s
/ slncerely hope TINT Won viii lend your
nit TO III" prevcn' ION OF the selfish r1ii upon
tho clty's valuable pronorty Intended and
YOU My sole object l. ~ assist Won In tho
performance OF thi. public duty md there
lore have made the Offer herein set forth,
that by u veto Of the measure In question !
'OT the reason stated you may nave no a M
rnIty in occurring your friends In th" Crlncii,
IN sustain You In obtaining Tor the proplr
an adequate return for the valuable uubIic
-iyht1 conferred upon private citizens Very
respectfully yours, JunS W\SAMAKtR
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Arctic Explorer Baldwin ssII,.