Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-22
SALUS BILL SHOULD PASS

| II
sidered at the transit hearing in Har-
risburg today.
The Cans bill. providing for through
routing OF Darby and Frankford trains
! over the present Market street subway
tracks, is covered by the salus bill,
which provides the same thing and, in
addition, gives the Public Service Com.
mission the right to compel the issuing
OF transfers between the proposed transit
! system and the existing system under
such terms as the commission may direct
The Hecht measures are: First to give
the city the right Of eminent domain
over the franchises Of the r. r. r. and
its underlying companies; second, con.
stitutional amendment that will put the
city in a financial position to take ad.
vantage Of this right OF eminent domain.
The Cans bill was suggested originally
by Mr. Taylor and there is no public op.
position to IT, Mr. Taylor objects to the
Salus bill. however, as too radical and
feels that It is vicious legislation. There
is some suspicion that there are sinister
purposes back Of II. We find no proof
of such purposes, however.
The bill would strengthen vastly the
citys position, and would not be unfair
TO the company for the following reasons:
First Every public franchise carries
with II the risk Of changes In public
policy and the likelihood Of being sub
jected to such a servitude as through
routing Of competitive cars. Such
throughrouting Is an established prin-
ciple in railroad operation. Public neces-
sty. which may demand transfer privi'
leges, is a contingency written by the
very nature OF events into every fran
chise held by public carrier.
Second The conditions Of such trans
fer arrangements must necessarily be
Just allowing the existing company 20
earn fair dividends, or virtual conflsca-
ton would result and confiscation Is never
permitted by the courts.
The Saus bill, therefore, ought to pass.
The arguments against 1t are not con.
vincing and the city is unquestionably
entitled to have the authority proposed.
The Hecht bills are not Of such imme.
date Importance The city is not likely,
in spite of constitutional amendments, to
be in a position to finance a 5000 900 900
enterprise for many years to come, nor
is there any particular reason why it
-I,n fra pcfa In
The real purpose of the Hecht measures,
in fact, is ultimately TO finance the huge
property Of the p. r. T. on a per cent
basis thus saving per cent annually,
more or less, in interest. They contem-
for the entire street railway system OF
Philadelphia, which may be feasible
money markets are again normal 1t is
doubtful, however, If the city can Dor.
row much money at per cent now.
In case of the exercise by the city Of
the right OF eminent domain there would
D6 no lHJuSliCe W Nllt tOInpdnys as lne
amount of payment would be decided by
fair arbitration. Nor is the plan
lacking in ultimate feasibility, as is
shown by the fact that many railroad
men anticipate Government ownership Of
their property, and there is no great pro-
test against it. The cases are analogous.
Mr.. Taylor. having borne the burden
and the heat of the day in bringing any.
thing resembling order out of the chaos
existing in transit affairs, and having
forced and driven the company into
great number Of vital concessions, which
careful study OF the proposed lease re.
veals, doubtless feels that the lash has
been applied with sufficient severity to
the company's shoulders. His judgment
is entitled to, and should receive, the most
serious attention. But he grievously errs,
we believe, in regard to the legislation
now under discussion, particularly the
Salus bill. 1t ought to be passed, and 1t
must be passed without delay.