Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-30

The To- NecessyHoW Will lhey End !-NaPzeo
Three Million Dolars-No Funds for State Purchase
By HENRY C. HODGES, AN.
on Fellow in Political Science, University of Pennsyyan

of which Hon. Thomas II. mcdowell was SEQ"
retary, provided that:
"Whereas, The demanding and exacting OF
toll from the travelling public is not in har-
mony with the spirit of present day prog
ress.
"Resolved That we unanimously recon-
mend that the Commonwealth acquire all
such toll roads and abolish the payment OF
toll thereon And in order that this may
be accomplished we offer and recommend
the passage of lthe following BILL"
State Purchase
The bill as presented by the COMMITTEES
was modified in several particulars with the
object of making it easier of application
1t became known, under its final form, as
the "Sproul Bill" and was approved by Gov
ernor Tener on May 81, 1911. This bill, after
outlining in detail the establishment OF the
State Highway Department, provides in
Section g.
From and after the adoption of this act.
all those certain existing public roads, high
ways turnpikes and toll roads
being main travelled roads or routes be-
tween county seats shall be
known and maintained by and at
the sole expense of the Commonwealth" etc.
The bill then enumerates 296 routes, 80 of
which were more clearly defined and added
to by the act of July %, 1918.
Hence it is now provided that all toll
roads that fall within any part of these 2s6
routes, which cover the entire State, may
be purchased by the State. In no case is
the law mandatory. There is exception
to this power of purchase If the toll road
concerned is owned by a steam or electric
railway company Mr.. Mcdowell explained
this exception by pointing out that the steam
and electric company are operating under
comparatively modern franchises, that they
are reasonably subject to the legislative d.
rection and that purchase of such roads
would amount to the purchase by the State
of franchises which it has but lately given
away. The law further provides for con-
demnaton proceedings in case the road can
not be purchased at a fair value Deferred
purchases are, however sanctioned in the
language of the bill.
What has the Sproul bill accomplished
towards eliminating toll roads in the three
and half years 1t has been in force? The
results have been almost nil. Two or three
mountain toll roads have been taken over
In the western part of the State East of
Harrisburg no roads have been bought un-
der the provisions of the bill. The "State
roads" were taken over to the extent of
about 5000 miles, and have since increased
to over 5000 miles. The main cause for this
increase was not the buying of active toll
roads, but the assumption of authority over
abandoned toll roads.
Why the Hold.up?
An interesting fact regarding the "value"
of the toll roads was brought out in the
report of the Toll Roads Committee. The
total outstanding capital stock of the 108
corporations In existence January 1, 1911,
was ss1SS,5s5. The total "company's ap-
praisement' value for taxation purposes was
$1,5s4,s1s. The committee in its report sug-
gested the appropriation OF $2.OOO,OOO for
buying over these corporations. Tentative
proposals to a number of the companies
brought out the fact that $4,000 900, although
considerably more than the Companies ap-
praisement" OF the value of their plants, was
not nearly enough to Swing the deal"
Since the people have expressed their de-
sire in the sproul bill that the toll roads be
managed by the State and made free to ALL
II is interesting to know the cause OF the
hold-up. The answer is said to be lack Of
funds" The appropriation to the State
Highway Department for ls13-1sl4 amounted
TO 100000. The automobile license money
which was reserved 10 this purpose In 1914
was the only thing that saved the day. This
item totaled approximately sl200000. Il
Is estimated that this latter amount Is about
the reasonable requirement for the proper
upkeep OF the roads. The 100000 will not
provide for the allowance granted by Law
to the townships and State aid roads, SO
there Is less than nothing left for the pur-
chase Of toll roads.