Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-04-15

as he nodded TO Cap. Digglesby, slcdge's
| pltterest and most relentless foe on the
floor of the House OF Representatives
! Yes, keep 1t fve-handed," urged
| Digglesby II want to stretch my legs n
Few minutes, and four-handed poker
! game is about as exciting as a prayer
meeting"
Dgglesby walked around the room two
| or three times, and looked at the patriotic
| pictures with which the walls were
| plentlfully decorated for the benefit of
| Buckleys earnest constituents. then he
sauntered into the hall, and stretched his
| legs INTO the next room whore the Sena-
tor, in deep thought, awaited him.
Digglesby returned to the poker game
by and by, and. as he sat down, smiled
cheerfully at Buckley. Buckley who had
been playing casino, seven-up and pnocle
| with his poker cards. and making a mad
havoc in Alerton's chips In consequence,
Immediately drew pair to his triplets,
and bet his head off" with Keen zest
Digglesby gave no sign or glance ut
Sledge. but. nevertheless, after another
deal Sledge arose stolidly from the table,
and, without making any bones about IT,
walked directly into the bedroom al err
ton was lounGing in a cushioned window
stu, smoking n cigarette, and with his
foot pushed the big leather rocker around
TO q more inviting position
The old veteran found way he
comfortably explained III we attempted
TO railroad a bill empowering the grant
ing of 5O-year franchises without re-
munerutlon. it would he showed under
so quickly that the teller couldn't keep
track of the votes. There aren't ten men
In the capitol building would dare go
home to their constituents if they sup
ported such measure"
Sure not" agreed Sledge
That's the idea" assented Alicrton
"RcstriCtivc legislation. The people are
strong for that just now, anyhow. Dig
gleshys idea is to call the act a Bill
for the Protection of municipalities
Against the Monopolistic perpetuity of
street Car Companies.
Great" approved sledse. "Gt sounds
fierce IL they get It. don't myself but
l Know it's against the monopolies"
ITS almost harsh with them" dryly
commented Mlerton "'rhc bill will re-
strict the car companies to a painful
degree. 1t will make 1t n penal oftouse
on the part of the officers to bond a
company for more than its capitIliaa-
ton"
Sledge chuckled.
THE bankers convention will ndorse
that" he said
"rhc bill will prevent street railway
companies from running open or sum
rcr cars when the thermometer is below
DO degrees Fahrenheit. 1t will prevent the
glass protection for the motormcn. 1t
will be made Illegal to have more than
one strap I'm every lS Inches of space.
1t will be made Illegal for a full car to
run by n signaling pedestrian; and It
will be made illegal although this viii
be scattered I'm three or four places in
the bill, and surrounded with n lot of
ambiguous language, for any franchise
to ho granted for as long II period as 50
years"
That's the talk" nodded Slodge. Re
atrirtivc lcEslutiOn."
IT thought you could get along with
~ Years and II MONTHS" stated Allerton.
Moreover, | think we can frame the
bill to protect the people"
can you slip It through?"
"Digglesby thinks so: although he
agrees with me that. about six months
after it's done. somebody will explain
it SO that the voters will understand 1t,
and the man who fathers 1t will have
his name chiseled alongside Benedict
Arnold's."
Hes dead" commented sledge, with
keen philosophy
CONTINUED TOMORROWJ