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fill iJuniuu ...S3 Hue. Loulj le 6 rand
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Jlv rAlrlfti. Tlilt.T
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INTUID AT Till TitltADtLl Ht rOT0TrlC AS BtCOND
0LAB9 UAIta UATTEa.
rillLAlltU'lUA, WEDNESDAY, DFCtMBEI. .10, 1911.
A. man' appearance is circumstantial evidence
that coiivfcfa Mm of cfflcicncu
i or iiiCjfflcicncia
ftjfe"' Wc Stand llV Our f?niiiiimrn
IN ITS effort to starvo Germany Into sub
mission, England, through her control of
the seas, has gradually assumed and exercised
rights without warrant or established prec
edent in International law. Sho has to all
effects and purposes Inhibited commerco be
tween tho United States and Germany, al
though tho right of neutrals to contlnuo dur
ing war to trado with tho belligerents, sub
ject to tho law rotating to contraband and
blockade, Is universally admitted. It has
been notably denied in practice only during
tho Napoleonic wars, when British orders In
v'mr council. In tho lanKuniro of John BaBsett
Moore, "assumed to dictato tho trado In
which neutrals should bo permitted to en
gage or to prohibit them from trading with
belligerents altogether."
Tho controversy that raged then was dis
cussed at the Mmo In tho Edinburgh Rovlew:
It has long been tho anxious business of the
American Minister, as appears from the doc
uments beforo us, to procure by persuasion an
abandonment of the measures hostile to the
American trade. He urged his caBo on views of
Justice and of general policy; ho calmly com
bated tho pretexts by which ho was met; ho
boldly and pointedly asserted that tho claims
of this country must, sooner or late, be aban
doned; and he added what ought novcr to be
forgotten, that they were unjust, and that
time, therefore, could do nothing for them. His
representations were met by declarations of
"what his Majesty owed to the honor, dignity
and essential rights of his crown," and by all
tho other sounding commonplaces usual on
such occasions. These sentiments were after
wnrit explained at greater length, and pro
mulgated to tho world In tho deliberate record
of a State paper. But In spito of tho honor of
Majesty thus pledged to these obnoxious meas
ures, then were repealed. A laborious Investi
gation Into their merits ended In their unquali
fied reprobation nnd abandonment; their authors
were unable to look in tho face tho scenes of
beggary, disorder and wretchedness which their
policy had brought on the country; they were
borne down by tho cries' of suffering millions,
and they yielded at length to necessity what
they had formerly refused to Justice.
The orders In council aro practically In
effect today. Not only has our trade with
Germany practically been annihilated, with
out declaration of blockade, but tho trade of
ourselves, a neutral, with other neutrals, has
been harassed without warrant and seriously
Interfered with. The right of search, which
should bo tactfully and not wantonly exer
cised, has been carried to an absurd point.
Our vessels have been convoyed into British
porta and held there pending tedious pro
ceedings, at great financial loss. Ultimate
destination has been inquired Into In tho most
extravagant manner, and It Is safe to assert
that an American cargo consigned to any
port In all Europe is liable to such Interrup
tion of Its voyage by tho Allies' navies that
there IS no assurance whatever of when, If
ever. It will nrrlvo at Its destination, A
maritime hegemony has beon nssumed that
Is utterly unreasonable and cannot be bus
talneclaelther In argument or practice. Let
the Allies blockade Germany nnd Austria, If
they can, but they aro not Justified In waging
what is practlcnlly a commercial war on us
to achieve their purpose. By extending vastly
tho definition of contraband they may legally
kill most of our trade with their enemies,
but no Interference with our neutral trade
With neutrals Is; permissible.
Tho Administration assumedly has stated
the American position vigorously, although
.(! with the utmost friendliness. There need bo
, no menace In tho situation, and should be
too. one. But In this matter the Government
be ni must stand firmly by ItB principles, -without
jjjjj hesitation, or deviation, and put Itself solidly
for i behind what little merchant marine wo have.
ooo,o6.
in u Lord Northcliffo on tlie Wat
l Vr OUTSIDER knows better than Lord
XN Northcllffe that American opinion can
not be Influenced by mere brag and bhister.
And he knows also that nothing can be
gained by exaggeration and unfounded
charges. In the statement of his views,
printed exclusively ih yesterday's Evening;
Ledgeii, Lord Northcllffe sums up the war
Situation as he understands It, and It must
be remembered that with the unparalleled
news gathering organization he possesses
jan4 his personal closeness to the British and
French authorities his views are important.
According to, Lord Northcliffo, Great Britain
did not expect the war and was unprepared.
That statement has a bearing upon the ques
tion of responsibility for the outbreak of hos.
tlllties. The German military caste had made
the fullest preparations, but (hey already
realize that Germany Js beaten, although
they have not allowed that fact to be realized
fey the German people. The raping of Bel
fiium has been more terrible than reported,
find when all the facts are known it will be
seen how absolutely necessary It was to
break the power of tba militaristic m&abJne.
JgpSland has no hostility toward the German
ip Austrian people, but la fighting fpr Jnter
?mMo8,l honor and. the future peace and lib.
ty of Europe. The war Is likely to last
Jor yrs, an Germany is amply provided for
s. Urns strugsla. There is nothing Shavian
Nut these: two concisions. It is the Brit
Uh vlwjwlflt y.Kuh and through.
LjHNt Jh)rftflV pW8 rtMJar. it' rihif n
VBHXyq frtiDaER-PHIftADEIPglA? WEDNBBPA TTnajfinjj 30: lffl..
tho courage of the Qortunn soldiers and salt
ore, but thinks there Is as noticeable an nb
senee of the genius of leadership as there wis
of foreslghtcd diplomacy, lord Northcllffc's
calm nnd discriminating summary clears up
many questions that the American public
has been asking.
The Ilumnn Touch i n Lesson
THE ward boss Is Intensely human. Theory
docs not bother him, but charity Is his
handmaiden. Ho looks nut for his people.
There wns "Tim" Sullivan, with his shoes.
Tho fellow who got them did not caro If
"Tim" wns lax In government. Ho wns glad
of It, In fact; and thero was its much clmneo
of beating "Tim" In his own district ns thero
was of brushing back the tides nt Coney
Island. Tho mnn who puts coal In nn empty
cellar Is tho man who Is likely to get the voto
of tho owner of tho cellar.
Ten thousand children were tho guests of
Congressman Varo yesterday. They all had
n, good time, nnd they did not forgot to tell
their parents about It. Why should thoy?
Tho kiddles aro alwajs grateful nnd tomor
row they are men, Yes, tho ward boss douls In
pleasant charity. Ho bubbles over with hu
manity. Ho Is always ready to help tho men
who need help, and without asking too many
questions, Thnt Is how ho gets his power.
And tho paradox Is1 that In bucIi excellent
good works lies tho greatest monaco to good
government nnd American Institutions.
Put n llttlo of tho samo kind of humanity
Into reform nnd tho result would bo mar
velous. A cup of hot coffeo when ho needs
It means nioro to tho man of tho masses
than all tho nrgumonts for good government
that were over put together.
Belgium Is Still Belgium
THE United States Government docs not
recognize Belgium ns a conquered and an
nexed provlnco of Germany, henco tho United
States Government will not nsk Germany to
commission our Consuls. If acrmany will
not recognize tho American representatives
In their original status, then wo may with
draw them.
Belgium, according to International law,
hna not ceased to bo a sovereign Stnto bo
causo her land Is Invaded by a foreign foe
There Is still a Belgian army In tho field un
der tho Belgian King, and the Belgian Minis
ter still represents his country In AVashlng
ton. America Is far too fair nnd far too proud
of Its national Justice to acquiesce In any
such proposal ns that made by Germany.
Every right that belongs to a ncutial na
tion America will inilst upon In tho fnco of
nil the world. Our Consuls In Belgium will
continue to do their useful woik under their
original exequaturs or they will be recalled.
Make Way for n Friend
THU Governor itnnds by hla friends, nnd
Mr. Galther, being a friend, becomes n.
Public Service Commissioner. Ho Is not with
out ability or ho would not havo been privato
secretary to tho Governor, but something
moro than tho capacity to get rid of tiro
some visitors is required for conspicuous or
oven efficient service In a body , that holds
within Its Jurisdiction the prosperity of many
of tho most important Industries in tho Com
monwealth. Natuial ability, long experienco nnd tho
Judicial mind aio prerequisites to successful
work on tho commission, and tho public has
a right to expect that tho members be se
lected from tho most eminent and brilliant
men In the State. But to the Governor, ap
parently, this Is Just another Job to bo filled,
another sinecure for n faithful follower. Per
haps the Senate may take a more elevated
view of the matter nnd be backward In Its
confirmation, although it never does to ex
pect too much.
Only Dead Hands Turn Loose
THE charge that Mr.' Sllllman, President
Wilson's confidential rcprescntativo In
JIe.lco City, received a brlbo of $250,000,
although preferred by Zapata's confidential
representative in the Gutierrez Cabinet,
has all the earmarks of Irresponsible scan
dal. Thero may bo that much money In
Mexico, but the effervescent bandits who
control the destinies of the country would
never let go of It. They aro holders of public
securities on a vast scale, and their grip Is
as hard as steel.
Besides, thero was and Is nothing that Mr
Sllllman could do to earn the money. Ho is
merely an adviser, and Washington docs not
take advice. Ours is a Government of pure
reasoning. It Is not what things are, but
what thoy oughc to be, that determines our
policies, Mr. Sllllman might recommend
until ho was blue in the face or his stenog
rapher died of sheer exhaustion, but llttlo
good It would do him unless he recom
mended what the Administration wanted
him to recommend.
The only hands turning loose any money
In Mexico aro dead hands.
There Is scarcely moro left of the year than
thero is of the nations.
Having Austria for an ally la very much
like paying real money for a white elephant.
There are somo men who are always un
employed except at election.
Before they know it tho railroads will reach
the point where they will have the rates but
not the freight.
Even better than to drive the saloons out
of town is to drive tho people out of tho
saloons,
, ,;
Mexico has not been a Bepublla so long as
the United States, but it has had more
Presidents.
St. Louis has decided to havo a Parkway
also. May the children of those who voted
for it live to see it achieved.
Senator Owen wants a national referendum
on offensive war. Some one else will want
to apply the Initiative.
Director Porter's police can arrest people
who do wrong, but there are always Magis
trates "to make things right."
Premier Patchlt, of Servla, is now engaged
In filling vacancies In the Ministry caused by
resignations. Patching It up, as you might
say.
The horrors of war aro brought home to us
by the announcement of an eminent archi
tect, once reported dead, that h has not
had a bath In ftv weeks.
'' i
It Is comforting to know that Congress
supports the Administration' protest to
England, Confess is sp unaccustomed to
supporting the President.
The most significant thing about the pro
test to England Is the friendjlness of It As
in the caso of the canal tolls; argument gets
the- bettor of Jingoism This frlndllrjes
doM not detract in the slights from tho
Mremsjth of h American position
ASTROLOGY RAJSKED
AMOfljG THE SCIENCES
Kcmarkttblo Decision Handed Down 111
American 6oUrt Astrologers iNcit
Neccssnrily Charlatans One Predicts
Sudden Dcafh of Kaiser.
By VANCE THOMPSON
AIlEMAItKABfjB Judicial decision was
handed down tho other day. It was re
markable for Itsisanlty, Its scientific, clarity,
lis courago nnd lts modernity. V
It was handed down by Judge Present. In
the City Magistrates' Court, city of New
York, 1st Division, 7th District.
Hero Is what happened, A woman delec
tlvo, going obscurely about her business of
crime- hunting, ( arrested nnd brought Into
court a woman astrologer, charged with tho
definite irlino o"f fortuno telling, Tho caso
camo tipfbeforoiJudgo Presold. The prisoner
gavo tho name of Evnngcllno S. Adams;
calmly sho admitted that sho was a "pro
fessional astrologer.' Sho tmd studlod tho
"science of astrology" under Dr. Hebcr
Smith, of Boston. Another of her mnstcrs
had been Dr. hlchurd Garnet. And serenely
sho proclaimed that astrology was a mathe
matical and exact science, based upon ns
troStomy; a sclcnco describing the influence
of tho hcavdnly bodies upon mundane af
fairs and upon human life and destiny. It
Is, sho averred, a physical science, Just as
much ns geology, nnd, llko It, depending upon
ascertained .facts; and that It was grossly
misrepresented by being connected with for
tuno tclllngtind magic.
i An Unusual View
Tho usual Magistrate has probably listened
to all this wlth'a weary smile, and, when tho
lawyers haci finished squabbling, had yawned
nnd meted out as many months of prison or
so many dollars of fine. Judge Frcschl is not
that sort of a Magistrate. Ho thought It be
hooved him to Btudy this stranger caso as
ho would have studied a plainer caso of mur
der or arson. Ho thought that ono who pro
fessed to pa a. scientist deserved ns much
consideration as a potty larconlst. And ho
took the tjaso under long advisement. Tho
decision h( handed down is a masterly docu
mont. It will bo quoted for years to come.
And I want to quoto a scntenco or two here:
"Tho science of astrology seems to be tho
generalization of certain principles gathered
from tho poncrcto phenomena presented by
tho heavenly bodies and their application to
mundane nffnirs. Thoso who would work
with it hao a form of tables nnd a co-ordination
of instances upon which they act and
crento their axioms, and one must be led to
bollevo that thero Is considerable fores In
their arguments. In this, ns In all now
theories und discoveries, so In the field of en
deavor and thought, thero aro to bo found
those who hcsltato and doubt until a mastery
has fixed It In the minds of the majority as
a science. Whether minds are presupposed
or limited the sincerity of tho defendant's de
termination upon tho opinion of her work
from her owji perceptions and a study of au
thorities cannot bo questioned. Sho certainly
docs seem to havo a thorough knowledge of
tho subject. And In this she claims no fac
ulty of foretelling by supernatural or mag
ical means that which Is futuro or of discov
ering that which is hidden or obscure; but
sho docs claim that naturo is to bo inter
preted by the influences that surround it."
A Masterly Document
What was lacking In order to convict,
Judge Frcschl said, was the clement of fraud,
which is usually found accompanying tho
foituuo teller's case. So he acquitted the de
fendant. My Interest does notllle In that ac
quittal; It lies In Judgo Freschl's sound, clear
and Intelligent reasoning. And though I do
not llko to quoto since I greatly prefer my
own proso to that of other people I am go
ing to except Judgo Freschl's last paragraph.
It 1b a notable statement.
"It Is to be admitted that a certain class
of foitun$ tellers may bo honest In their pur
poses and honestly believe tho things they
say to bo true. Thero aro people In this
world who claim with earnestness that they
have superhuman powers and that their spe
cific means of reading the future aro reliable,
yet tho law is not concerned so much with
tho good faith of tho party pretending to
possess this ability as it is concerned with
dealing in a human way with tho things that
are within human knowledge only. Common
experienco teaches many things; In fact tho
sciences aro predicated upon the facts devel
oped In the affairs of the world as men have
experienced them. No doubt many years ago
for any one to have attempted to say that
the conformation of the head or that the
physiognomy of a creature determined tho
character of tho Individual, and that such
and such a typo would some day turn out
to bo a criminal would havo been guilty of
fortuno telling. But the history of specific
cases has furnished us with a working basis
for, these new theories that nowadays seem
to ,bo accepted by noted criminologists and
the public in general. So It is claimed hero
In behalf of the defendant that records prove
that certain personages of note classed under
certain planets In the ascendency at the time
of Ythelr birth have come to death In a certain
way, and that, therefore, all others born un
der similar conditions should meet the same
fate."
Julevno of Parts
I do not know whether Judge Freschl has
seen the decisions of the French Courts. They
are virtually on all fours with the decision
which ho has rendered, and they havo given
the astrologers of Paris a professional stand
ing which yields nothing n dignity to the
geologist, the geometrician, the astronomer
or the everyday mathematician. I mean
such men as Julevno, Barlet, Plobb, Jn fact
Julevno, who was for 30 years the librarian
of the Hotel de Vllle, in Paris, is very nearly
an'offlclal astrologer, I got to know him In
the days of the Dreyfus affair, At my re
quest he made, In 1898, a ''horoscope'' of
Dreyfus, and he predicted that Dreyfus would
be twice convicted and afterward set fee,
an amazing prediction at the time I printed
I found that the Piefeoture of Police sup
plied Julevno with complete details of the
I ;reat assassins and their victims who died
Jolent deaths. They gave him, that Is to say,
hft exact hour and minute of his birth, for
hesu aro always recorded In the malries
hroughout France, Julevno has data of this
ort running back a quarter of a century.
qiey have been studied by all 'the leading
;rjronojoglsts,of Europe. And unfailingly
liyjpKJth mathematical exactitude they show
hjf'thls man Is to stay, and that man Is
o be slain.
I saw him work out a score of cases. And
beforo the assassin was tried or convicted he
would say; "That Wan will be guUtotlned,
ar that man will g free,4 And he never was
wmntfi nit nnap He rnapfwl u th a'srn
A FRIMqF MINE, OLD
Kx n
AWi
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ISAAKiaagiiS
iianzty.uifa: '!.
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Jr-" .J'.j'" ' '.."
for tho moment of birth, nnd every time If
tho man was to dlo a violent death ho found
tho bloody sign of that death glaring at him
from tho map.
Explain It as you will; I don't explain It;
I nsscrt a fact. And he would go back
through history and point out that sign
that red Mars blazing In tho house of death
In tho stellar chart of Henri IV, of Charles I,
of Mary Stuart, of Louis XVI and Mario An
toinette, of Lincoln, Carnot, Garfield, McKIn
loy. It Is a purely mathematical calculation.
Julevno did tho same thing for tho anar
chists Ilavachol, Henry and Vnlllant, Ho
did It for tho "automobllo bandits" a few
years ago told mo tho destiny of each of
them before they had been brought to trial.
IIow Much Is Known?
Astrologers woro tho first to sco tho gtcat
truth that tho universe IS governed by Im
mutablo laws that certain circumstances
necessarily produco certain phenomena and
that If you know all that has happened In tho
past you can foretell tho future. The wholo
question at lssuo Is Just how much of tho
stellar causes and influences can the sclen
tlflc astrologer know.
Of course tho charlatanry of fortune-tolling
Is another thing. As Judgo Freschl wisely
said: "Every fortune-teller Is a violator of
tho law; but overy tstrologer is not a for-
tuno-toller."
And you aro still skiptlcal?
I can't help it.
Perhaps this may asilst you in making up
your mind; you havo only to wait a few
monthB possibly a yeairfor its fulfillment;
for '
So says an nstrologcr ofVondon: In tho
stellar destiny of the Kalier Wilholm II
thero hangs tho rod and evllslgn of sudden
death. And ho can't escape. Wou may wait
and see. I do not know the latrologer who
made that horoscope; I shoul llko to sco
Julovno's mathematical domonsVatlon of tho
Imperial catastrophe; but there Is merely
for what you think It worth.
THE ANTIDOTE FOR PESUMISM
5i;
Looking Forward at the Beginning f a Year
Longer Than MnthusalaU Ever KW.
By WILLIAM RADER
"VTKW YEAR'S Is tho station whe wo
JLN pause long enough to forget somethings
and gather fresh courago to pi ess foWard.
It is tho point on tho Journey where w un
load unnecessary baggage old troubletold
sins, old habits nnd old worries. A Japtieso
couplot contains a wlso Injunction
"My sleeve with tears Is always wet;
I have forgotten to forget."
What has been cannot bo recalled. Go'
is tho biting, stinging word, and It can
moro be recovered than tho bullet once
leaves tho gun, Gono forever Is the goldei
opportunity, and It can never ba brough
back. The petals of the flower cannot be
replaced once they aro scattered on the
ground. "Let the dead bury tho dead." The
old year Is going. Let it go. We may turn
back the hands of tho clock, but tho sun
moves on In Invincible progress. "Wo spend
our years as a tale that Is told."
The dawn of the new year should bo the
grave of old experiences which rob us of our
Joy, of old relationships which bind us to
yesterdayB.
On the contrary, there Is a power In the
past which contributes to next year's wealth
as last year's seeds carry In them the gold
of next summer's harvest. Retrospection
may yield sweetness or bitterness. It de
pends upon the way we have lived. Intro
spection Is one of the moods of the new
year, a mooo; of self-examination and meas.
urement. When Introspection rises to reso
lution then have we seen tho vision of to
morrow. Time sobers the mind. The rustle of its
flying wings settles us Into seriousness. A
20th century year is packed with duties, pos
sibilities, perils and responsibilities. We llvo
longer than Methusalah, for time is meas
ured not by years, but deeds,
Things that cannot be helped should be left
In 19H, and we should fret only about the
things which we have left undone. Growjng
old Is life's most beautiful experience. Bus
kin said Rembrandt was tha only artist who
could paint a wrinkle, and his wrinkles are
beautiful because he glorifies the common-,
place of age. If youth Is passing a better
season follows.
New Year's then should be the occasion of
the forward, upward, hopeful look. It should
be the hour of a new determination and a
desire for the lasting satisfactions. Each
year brings its own peculiar duties. It is
(bis that makes life vital and fresh.
There IS no dead lips for the hopeful and
no time limit for usefulness to thoe who
aspire.
Aspiration is the antidote; for pessimism.
Wo have not yet done our best.
A sensible idealism will fire every shadow
of the future with kindling' light.
"Ring out the grief that saps the mind,
For those that har me see. no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Rlnir In rdrria4for all mankind
Tor, MUST BE A FRIEND TO MINE
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THECITY QF THE HUNDRED TOLL GATES
The ToWoads Began in Necessity
Three Million Dollars JNo
By HENRY G. HODGES, A. M.
n.rrl.on Fftlmr In MUIm! Sdeneo, Unltfnltjr of Pln.j.Tnl
"WJ
ITH vkt an offcnslvo deliberation tho
melaneW tollkecper rubs his eyes
at night win he comes out to open tho
gate," Wltllsuch an expression a toll
haunted cell td of tho London Times, under
date of Octob 25, 1856, seeks to relieve tho
weariness oftJumns of practical argument
for toll abollton.
Tho comma law of England provided that
every parish nust repair tho roads within
Its boundary. By IOCS this prnvlolon of tho
law had bee so neglected that tho first
"turnplko gat was created by act of Par
liament. Thf new law was received with
tho trndltlonr EngllBh spirit. A commenta
tor, writing n 1856, states that "notwith
standing acf of Parliament, as turnpikes
were erecto they woro pulled down or
burnt, tho rllltary were called out ind tho
tax was exated by tho point of tho bayonet."
Stand and Deliver
Tho loopolo made by this act was rap
Idly wldend until, by tho middle of the 19th
century, "."ho First City of the World" be
came, In ommon parlance, "Tho City of tho
Hundred 3ates." "Stand and .Deliver" was
tho mott of tho traveler.
In tho United States early turnpike roads
woro bult at Government expense for Gov
ernment purposes. They wero succeeded by
tho platk roads, which woro built by cor
porntlois authorized by legislative enact
ment ;o charge tho users a toll for the
mainthance of tho highway and for the
Individual profit of tho owners of tho fran
chise.' That tho construction of theso roads
was far from perfect we may safely conclude
front tho versified complaint of an old critic:
I say It's not passable,
Not oven Jackassable;
And those who travel It,
Should turn out and gravel It.
The first turnplko toll road In tho United
States was made In Pennsylvania. A sec
tion of Old York road was ordered n3 early
as 1697, but not formally opened until 1711.
This precedent was not adhered to by the
fathers of tho good city of Philadelphia in
tho case of a road to the Indian country.
Tho Council of Philadelphia, dn August 31,
1732, under Thomas Penn, son of William
Penn, In renewing a treaty with the Six Na
tions, stipulated as follows: "And we now
desire there may be an open road between
Philadelphia and the towns of tho Six Na
tions, which we will, on our part, clear
from overy grub, stump and log, that It may
be straight, smoothe and freo for us and
you." The principle has long since been ac
cepted that the expense of roads used by
the public should bo chargeable to the State.
Toll Roads Once a Neceesity
Necessity formed the basic cause for the
arly development of toll roads. The people
t a local community had to endure a di
et tax In order to obtain better facilities.
company was organized for tho purpose
constructing a needed road, the stock was
subscribed almost entirely by the local
paitles Interested, who were generally satis
fied with little or no Interest on their lnvest
me!t. It was simply a case of tho people
taklW Into their own hands something
WhlcV the State was either unable or un
wllllit to handle.
Thelflrst toll road chartered by the State
of Pennsylvania was the Lancaster pike.
The pivllege waa granted for this road In
1790, aid the road thrown open to the pub
lic in S8S, Numerous others followed in
rapid succession, all with most liberal char
ters. Tba Increasing number of toll ronds
made necissary regulatory legislation, which
began In )&Z2. The number of corporations
operating Wds Increased annually, until In
1910 thereuWre 108. None haye been built
since, and U Is not likely that any more
charters will be granted In this State, The
tide has turted; the State has been awak
ened nt lastjto some sense of Us responsi
bility. Tl March of Progrei
Legislative enactment provided In 1905 for
the purchase nd release from tolls of a
large part of ha Cumberland road. Tho
freedom of the road waa further extended In
1907. This marked the beginning of recla.
matlon legislation. This reclamation agi
tation resulted la the resolution of April
7, 1909. approved ly Governor Stuart, which
provided:
"Whereas, It Is manifest that public, senti
ment demands that Jn the march pf progress
all roads and highways within the, Common,
wealth of Pennsylvania, be rnado free to all
the pepple. i
'Resolved. If the House concur, That a.
commlttefl pf five members of th General
Assembly Investigate and wport
the advisability of abolishing toll
reads Jn tha Mveral u&uatU and -
legislation wltb tW end la view."
Tho rr n.miTu3tr.ii nf tho ommlltpc
fix
ft;
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r&?i-'' jji:
ar..Jll.T'l.''. att0.r,X .wV.aW? m
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, uaiii'""""
How Will They End ? Capitalized
iunas lor staic rureuusc.
of which Hon. Thomas R. McDowell was sec
retary, provided that:
"Whereas, The demanding and exacting of
toll from tho traveling public la not In har
mony with the spirit of present day prog
ress. "Resolved, That wo unanimously recom
mend that tho 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 tho following bill."
State Purchase
Tho bill as presented by the committee
was modified in several particulars with the
object of making It easier of application.
It becamo known, under its final form, as
tho "Sproul Bill," and was approved by Gov
ernor Tener on May 31, 1911. This bill, after
outlining In detail tho establishment of tho
State Highway Department, provides In
Section 6:
"Prom and after tho adoption of this act,
all thoso certain existing public roads, high
ways, turnpikes and toll roads
being main traveled roads or routes be
tween county seats shall bo
known and maintained by and at
tho solo expense of tho Commonwealth," etc,
Tho bill then enumerates 296 routes, 30 of
which wero more clearly defined and added
to by tho act of July 22, 1913.
Hence It Is now provided that all toll
toads that fall within any part of theso 298
routes, which cover the entire State, may
bo purchased by tho State. In no case Is
the law mandatory. Thero Is an exception
to this power of purchase If tho 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 tho legislative di
rection and that purchase of such roads
would amount to tho purchase by tho State
of franchises which it has but lately given
away. The law further provides for con
demnation proceedings in caso tho road can
not bo purchased at a fair value. Deferred
purchases are, however, sanctioned In tho
language of the bill.
What has the Sproul bill accomplished
towards eliminating toll roads In the three
and a half years It has been In force? The
results havo been almost nil. Two or three
mountain toll roads have been taken over
In the western part of the S,tate. East of
Harrlsburg no roads have been bought un
der the provisions of the bill. The "State,
roads" were taken over to the extent of
about 8000 miles, and have since increased
to over 9000 miles. The main cause for this
increaso was not the buying of active toll
roads, but the assumption of authority over
abandoned toll roads.
Why the nold-up?
An Interesting fact regarding the "value"
of the toll roads was brought out in tha
report of the Toll Roads Committee. Tho
total outstanding capital stock of the 108
corporations In existence January 1, 1911,
was $3,199,635. The total "company's ap
praisement" value for taxation purposes was
11,584,813. The committee In Its report sug
gested the appropriation of J2.000.000 for
buying over theso corporations. Tentative
proposals to a number of tho companies
brought out the fact that $2,000,000, although
pralsement" of the value of their plants, was
not nearly enough to "swing tho deal."
Since the people havo expressed their de
sire In tho Sproul bill that the toll roads be
managed by tho State and made free to all,
It Is Interesting to know the cause of the
hold-up. Tho answer Is saldto be "lack of
funds," The appropriation to tha State
Highway Department for 1913-19J4 amounted
to $400,000. The automobile license money,
which was reserved to this purpose in 1914,
was the only thing that Baved the day. This
Item totaled approximately $1,200,000. It
Is estimated that this latter amount la about
tha reasonable requirement" for the proper
upkeep of the roads. The 4400,000 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.
':
VOX CLAMANTIS
How shall ws flniL. although wo sk-on
salth
The guidance of our fathers' slmpUe dayf
Not 1sj jour need, but pn our path io ray
Falls pf the shining sue thst tbsy callsd Faith.
Our fet r set In ds.rkuj3, and our breath
Ba4 saMt. pjptt.s when w would
iwray
Aleiwj w grup n4 itu,ll on our way
Tti Ah frat lawf fm4om tfest; Is mui
-f Pi I, e i i ('