The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-13
Philadelphia cib EInploIcs Are
 Fired by Scores
NOTORIOUS SAlTER IS OUT
Mayor Now Has Another Contest In His Effort to Prevent Giving Away of Street Railway
 Franchises.

Philadelphia, Pa, June 12.-The princi- pal developments in the local political situation today was the resignation of Samuel Salter as assistant to the chief clerk In the office of the county commits sioners and the issuance of an order for the dismissal on Wednesday of sixty-five employees in the bureau of the city and twenty-four in the electrical bureau.
 Probably the most interesting develop ment was the resignation of Salter, who some years ago after being fugitive from justice for about a year, returned to this city and was acquitted of the charge of stuffing a ballot box In his resignation, which came as a surprise to the citizens of the city, Salter stated that he intended to go into business.
 Was Sensational Case.
 The election fraud case with which Salter's name was linked was one of the most sensational in the annals of ballot box crimes in this city. Salter, who had been a member of the legislature and who was serving as deputy coroner, was arrested in November, 1899, along with six or seven others. some of whom lived in Washington, D. C., charged with conspiracy in placing 215 fraudulent votes in a ballot box. They entered bail and then fled. The bail was forfeited after a long fight in the courts and when ex- ecution for the bail was about to be issued Salter and some of the accused men returned. Mayor Weaver was at that time district attorney and he promptly brought Salter to trial The jury rendered a verdict of acquittal. A curious feature of the case was that one of the defendants subsequently, indicted with Salter give himself up pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to one year. He was freed before the other fugitives returned but could not be found when wanted as a witness.
 Position Created for SaIter.
 After salters acquittal the city council created the position of assistant chief clerk of the county commissioners, and salter was appointed to the place at salary of s2,0O0 a year. One of the du- ties of the county commissioners Is to prepare the election paraphernalia of the city. After the uprising against the gas lease subsded some of the Philadelphia papers asked the county commissioners to remove Salter, but they took no action Salters resignation today the eommis- sioners say, came to them voluntarily.
 The order for the dismissal of sixty five men from the bureau of city property was not unexpected. The mayor has is- sued an order that all employees not need ed should be dismissed. Their dismissal will mean a saving to the city of more than s41,OOO year.
 Another Contest in Councils.
 Mayor Weaver has another contest within the council This time 1t Is over the granting to the Philadelphia Rapid Transit company of franchises to operate surface cars on an additional no miles of streets without the city receiving any oompensation. The bills granting the franchises were passed and vetoed by the mayor.
 On the day the lease passed the coun- ell the bills were passed over the mayor s veto. After winning the gas lease fight the mayor had bills introduced in the councils repeating the franchise bills. These will be considered by councils com udttee on street railways tomorrow. The street railway company Is making light against the repealers.
 The director of public safety has pro- hibited a church from holding raffe. In an effort to raise funds the Roman Catholic church of the Ascension intended rafaing house valued at $2.500. A com pIaint was made to the public safety de- nartment on the ground that a rafie was gambling proposition and today the Rev. D. J. Brougham. the rector of the church, was informed that the raffe could not take place.