The Ladysmith news and Ingram news. [volume] (Ladysmith, Wis.) 1905-1906, 1905-10-21
DUST WEAVER FROM INQUIRY.
Philadelphia Mayor and His Directors
Ordered Out of the Room

Philadelphia, Oct. 10. - The special
committee of seven of select council,
appointed last August to investigate
the affairs of the various departments
of the city as conducted by Mayor
Weaver and his directors, began the
taking of testimony yesterday. The
meeting of the committee was not
without it's sensations, chief of which
were the request TO Mayor Weaver and
three of his directors to leave the
hearing room and the statement of
John B. Taylor, superintendent Of po-
lice, that David j. Smythe, former di-
rector Of public safety, had told him
not to modest election repeaters.
Supt. Taylors statement was made
c. Work, the chairman of the COM
mittee, to confine him to the questions
propounded by the committees at
torney.
Police Attend Club Meetings.
The committee brought out state
attended meeting of a political club
when they should have been on duty.
Unusual precautions had been taken
to exclude from the room where the
meeting was held all persons except a
limited number of newspaper men and
witnesses. Mayor Weaver sent a let
ter by messenger to the committee
asking permission for himself and his
directors to be present for the purpose
of hearing what may take place and
to give the committee such aid as he
could.
The committee did not make re-
ply, and on the minute of o'clock
Mayor Weaver, accompanied by three
of his directors, walked into the COM
mittee room before the committee had
assembled.
Mayor Told to Get Out.
A few minutes later the sergeant-at-
arms politely informed the mayor that
he and the directors would have to re-
tire Mr.. Weaver asked the sergeant
to notify the committee that the may
or of Philadelphia and three of his di-
rectors desired to remain during the
hearing. When Chairman Work ap-
peared he notified the mayor that the
committee would not change its rules
and that he and the directors must
leave the room.
When the excitement incident to the
ordering out of the mayor had sub
sided, the committee convened.
Supt Taylor, the first witness, was
pressed so hard by counsel regarding
police in politics that he became angry
and started to make statements that
startled the committeeman. He said
if the committee wanted
To Know the Whole Truth
about the police business he could tell
them how Former Director Smythe
told him to take care of repeaters,
and how he had to take from the
rogues' gallery the photographs of
men who were on the police force.
In vain the chairman tried to check
him and threatened to eject him, but
Supt. Taylor kept right on. One of the
attorneys said the committee did not
want to know anything about that, but
wanted to know how the homes of the
people were protected.
'"I'n tell YOU" exclaimed the wit
ness. by men who have spent three
and four years in the penitentiary,
and whose pictures were taken from
the rogues' gallery by Director
Smythe."
After the hearing Supt. Taylor, in
explanation of his statement on the
witness stand regarding repeaters,
said that Director Smythe, when in Of
fee, told him not to let the policemen
modest repeaters on election day.