Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-22
Transit War Starts
fractional Fight
csnuuu,a from Pas. One

Ex-sherin Joseph Gihllan, counsel for
NE largest Union Tranction Company In
terests and a member OF the board Of d.
rectors, deplored what he termed the sharp
practice" in kidnapping" the original draft
Of the bill so that Il could not be acted
upon. by the House before Monday.
II am frankly against the salus bill and
have always been so" he said "1f Il were
enacted into law should probably institute
legal action. But l think that the fight
against II should be in the open, and am
opposed 60 sharp practices"
The challenge Of Mr.. Lane to the Admin
istration was picturesque He had hurried
up from Atlantic City upon hearing Of the
disappearance Of the bill
u don't know anything about IT," he
said when asked to comment on the spec
tacular case,
ATTACKS NEWSPAPERS
ado you want TO know what I thnk7
bossism on the part Of the newspapers that
have ever seen. l am not boss and
never was but the papers want 70 be. 1t Is
inconcelvable how they should want such
bill passed without consideration. | have
not seen Mr. Aron. but he is a very,intelll-
gent young man and he will do what is
right"
copy Of the Mayors statement was
handed Mr. Lane. He read II after care
fully adjusting his glasses in mock
dramatic manner.
"Tommyrot" he said. 1T is nothing but
case Of highway robbery. ] am not
member Of the traction company's voting
trust but l am stockholder."
Representative Max Aron, Of the Twen-
teth Ward is the man who carried away
street, today, Aron admits having the bill,
as chairman of n subcommittee, but denies
that he ran away with It," He Is protege
Of David II. Lane, boss" Of the Twentieth
Ward, heavy holder of Union Traction
Company stock and avowed foe Of the
Taylor transit plans.
Blame for the disappearance Of the bill
was laid by Representative Leopold G. Glass
at the door Of Representative Isadore Stern
chairman Of the House judiciary General
Committee, who yesterday made Aron chair
man Of subcommittee to compare the draft
OF the original bill with the printed copy.
ut is one Of Mr.. Stern's Fifth Ward
tricks" he said. THE Mayor and the peo
pie Of Philadelphia will not be deceived
by It,"
Aron, who promised TO make n formal
statement this afternoon, also blamed Stern.
"These fellows can't get out from under
and leave me to bear the brunt Of this
thing" he complained "Isadore Stern told
STERN MAKES DENIAL
Stern denied this. He declared he told
Aron TO report the bill yesterday afternoon.
The House. recessed until Monday can
not possibly act upon the bill until then,
when II may be reported out OF the COM
mittee. without unanimous consent II cam
not come up for first reading until Monday,
the second time Tuesday and the third time
Wednesday. Thursday at noon the House
is TO adjourn finally.
Aron said he would report the bill Mon
day
Pressed for a statement as to whether
or not he would oppose the passage of the
bill he replied that he very probably
shall"
Mayor Smith was both indignant and
hopeful when told OF the bills disappear
ance He declared that responsibility
should be fixed
This high-handed action demonstrates
the necessity of the transit measures to the
people Of Philadelphia and justhes the fight
that has been made in their behalf" he said.
1T was high-handed procedure. All
delay is now dangerous. ! am convinced
that II was a deliberate attempt to block
the bills passage.
THE whole matter should be thoroughly
Investigated and the responsibility fixed. |
The Philadelphians involved will be held re-
e7onSible by the people of Philadelphia.
Such actions on the part Of public office
holders d5 not enttle them to the support
OF .he voters and II Is a fact that the people
do not forget such things
There are numerous phases OF the af-
fair which need explanation and those ex-
plantations will have TO be satisfactory ones |
Such incidents cannot go unexplained"
TwINING NOT SURPRISED
Transit Director Twlning said that moth |
ing would surprise him.
The opposition to the bills is so bitter |
and desperate" he said, that anything |
might happen. It looks like a high-handed |
trick
"'What purpose the bill can serve in Phil |
Rdelphia cannot understand" he said. 81 |
do not know what the public will think OF |
h. II II is an attempt to defeat the bill. It |
is most unjust II the legislation were to |
have been defeated at all, II should have |
been by fair means. We were all hoping |
the bill would pass ana the transit situa-
tion proceed"
Political prophets asserted today that the |
Salus bill II In extreme peril II the General |
Assembly agrees to any one of the several
moves that are being contemplated by the |
factional leaders of Philadelphia.
Arousng OF the pubics wrath over the
Aarrying OF Of the measure may prevent
It's defeat, II was said
The disappearance Of Aron at the crucial
moment was regarded as almost conclusive
proof that invisible powers are fighting the
The intention of the legislative leaders
those OF both factions-all along has been
20 defeat the transit bills, 1t is held The
ware members Of the House are trying to
get out from under" The Penrose- Nc
Nichol members are doing the same thing
The certain fact is that both factions of
the organization apparently are aligned
against the transit measures and will fight
them until the Legislature adjourns sine
die on June 2S
LANE SERVED NOTICE
The Ware followers. led by Max Aron
who is political follower Of Uncle Dave
Lane, have been consistently opposing the
transit legislation from the start Lane.
who has been aligned politically with the
Vares and Governor Brumbaugh since the
present State Administration went into
power, served notice upon the Wares some
time ago that unless the transit bills were
defeated. he would sever all political con-
nections with them.
The Lane-Vare squabbe started at the
beginning Of the present session. Lane. a
big stockholder In the Union Traction Com
pany. by virtue OF his previous political
activities, served open notice upon the
wares The Wares refused to take up the
challenge. Lane, however, is credited with
having taken advantage Of the Wares yes
terday when the salus bill was held up.