Evening journal., 1903-08-31
HARTMAN MAY NOT
DEFEND CONTRACT
He States If 1t Is Not a
Proper One He Win Re
fuse to Uphold 1t
SMITH CALLS ON CITY SOLICITOR

city Solicitor Robert O. Hlrman. who
returned from an extended European trip
ON Saturday evening. was at his law Of
fees early this morning. lie was kept
busy during the entire morning receiving
callers aud among others who called 20
see him. was cN-COuncllman Henry r.
Smith, who it is claimed by many poll
tlciana. is slated TO become Clerk OF the
city Court
When asked by q reporter for the Even
ing Journal II he ever saw the contract
entered into by the Water Department
with the United States Sand and Filtra-
tion Company Mr.. Harman said: 81
never saw the contract and did not know
there was one until / read some papers
sent me Ia Germany From what I read
the contract was made six months ago
whica was before ] was elected city so-
icltor"
"Mr. Harman will you represent the
city Ia the case which grew out Of che
Water Department being roslrained from
paying the $4,000 90 the Filtration Com
pany2' the city solicitor was asked.
~ do not know what arrangements
have been made but suppose that ! will
represent the city. ] know nothing of the
case and cannot discuss st at this time
but II / hnd the contract Is not a proper
one ! will not defend H."
Further than this Mr. Harman stated
that he had nothing to say ia regard to
the Water Department case.
Denied Deal.
In regard to the rumor Of deal be-
tween himself and Judge Cochran over
the oler1ship mater. Mr.. Harman had
the following to say:
when Judge Cochran was ousied from
the Municipal Court, he came 70 me, and
I volunteered my services. This was done
entirely because of personal friendship.
and 1 never asked for a fee. never thought
Of a fee, ana / would not have accepted
one Under any conditions for my services
were those OF a friend. The case was
fought and won and that ended the mat
ter with me. But some OF my friends
called on me and requested me TO see the
judge I'm their behalf for the clerxship. I
did this IN the interest Of Baldwin
Springer ard no one else, and 10 show
how false these reports are / wish to say
that Mr.. Smith never spoke to me IN re-
gard TO the matter. for he knew / fav-
orcd Mr.. Springer. Mr.. Neary was APP
pointed and / dismissed the matter from
my mind.
About a year afterwards j heard Mr.
Smith was 20 be appointed 10 the office.
A snort time after this Mr. Smith asked
me 10 see the Judge IN his behalf. / solt
him ! would do SO. and / stated 10 tn,
judge that his appointment would be very
agreeable to me"
81 sincerely hope that he will get the
appointment"
The city solicitor said the reason 50
many politicians were up against Mr
smith was because he IS a fighter. He
declared he would have ignored the sills
report but for justice TO Judge Cochran
He refused 10 discuss the Board of Edu.
cation matter but expressed considerabl,
surprise that there should be any doubt
relative 10 his stand IN the matter II
view of the fact that when City Solicitor
Reinhardt gave his public opinion before
the board he informed the members tha
ne concurred I'm the opinion Of the city so
lioitor
Mr.. Harman was accompanied on thl
trip by William r. Kurtz. Frederick ID
Kurtz and Professor Hartman, Of IN,
Delaware Saengerbund