Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-26
Transit Ripper Passes
Senate Final Reading
Continued from Page One

Continued from Page One
to attend TO official business, but he an
nounced before going that he would return
to the Capitol tonight in order to be on
hand in case any unexpected opposition
should develop during the day
Representative Max Aron, who last week
carried the bill to Philadelphia, and who
last night attempted to prevent its passage
by reporting It negatively from the sub
committee of the House judiciary Special
Committee. was in his seat when the meas
ure passed second reading. He offered no
opposition, however Earlier today he had
admitted the defeat of his plans to kill the
measure.
Representative Smith, Of Bedford, who,
with Aron, voted on the subcommittee to re-
port the bill negatively today declared that
he was through with Philadelphia bills and
that he would offer no further obstacles to
the passage on final reading OF the Salus
bill
In spite of the assurance Of the followers
ii Mayor Smith that the success of the bill
is now certain, It is freely predicted that
n bitter fight will be waged when II comes
up tomorrow. The plans OF the opposition are
being well concealed, and unless they feel
certain Of being able to line up q consider
able following the fight may be abandoned.
PROVISIONS OF MEASURE
The Salus bill provides for through-rout-
ing of trains between the city's and the
companys systems and for joint rates Of
fare where the lines of the two systems in
tersect, the apportonment of the fares to be
determined by the Public Service Commits
sion. Under the bill the Frankford elevated
could be completed and operated at once.
the trains connecting with the Market
street high-speed line at Front and Market
streets.
The way was paved for the passage of
the Salus bill on first reading last night
by the introduction and passage of an ap-
parently innocent resolution offered by
Joseph e. Phillips, of Clearfeld County,
and seconded by Glass. of Philadelphia.
The Phillips resolution simply provided
that any bill reported from committee last
night or today should be read for the first
time Immediately.
The resolution passed apparently without
the opponents of the Salus bill realizing
what it meant. The result, however was
that when the Judiciary General Commit
tee finally did report the Salus bill, the
opportunity 70 postpone consideration of IT
by refusing to give unanimous consent-it
was upon this opportunity that the op-
ponents of the bill were resting-had been
taken away DY tn6 IdNOTdDle dCllOu Oh tne
House on the Phillips resolution.
HECHT MEASURES UP
The news Of victory for the Salus bill
had hardly been passed around the Capitol
when the two Hecht measures. passed last
night in the Senate on final reading, were
called up for concurrence in several minor
amendments.
The House without ripple of opposition
thA andr nnnNa md he
measures were sent along to the Governor
for his approval.
The Hecht bill gives the city the right
10 condemn and take over the franchises OF
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
and of It's underlying companies.
The Hecht constitutional amendment
makes the exercise Of this eminent domain
right financially possible
The constitutional amendment will have
TO come up for final action at the next ses-
sion of the Legislature and then will have
10 be submitted TO the voters OF the State.
Until this is done the city will not have the
financial ability to exercise the rights con-
ferred upon 1t under the eminent domain
hill. II will be at least two years and a
| half therefore, before the bill can be passed
| and power given under the measures can
| be tried out by the city.
| ON his return from Harrisburg this after
noon Mayor Smith expressed qualification
| az the progress OF the transit bills. He said
he would return to Harrisburg tomorrow to
| see the last stage OF the transit legislation
through