The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1905-06-22
SENSATION In
PHILADELPHIA
Israel Durham a Partner in Filter
,Contracts With McNichol.
CONTRACTORS HAD AGREEMENT

Philadelphia, June 16.-There were
highly interesting developments In
Mayor Viewers crusade for good gov
eminent. The fight against the troll
ley franchise Is for the moment for
gotten in the light OF what developed
1t the hearing Of Select Councilman
Frank Fl. Caven. who Is charged with
violating his councilmanic oath by be-
Ing interested In city contracts. Dur
ing the hearing 1t was shown that In
surance Commissioner Israel w. Dur
ham, the leader OF the Republican or
ganization in this city, is a partner In
the McNichol firm of city con factors.
1t was also shown that while James r.
McNichol who is now state senator
and one OF the local Republican lead
ers, was in city councils the McNichol
firm consisted Of Durham, Mrs. James
P. McNichol, John M. Mack and Dan
ie1 j. McNichol, a brother Of James p.
McNichol 1t was also shown that
after James F. McNichol left councils
his wife withdrew from the firm and
that her place was taken by himself.
Other evidence of a sensational char
acter was to the effect that q secret
agreement existed between Council
man Caven and his father, trading as
James Caven & Son, and another firm
in which they agreed that no contract
shall be entered into by either of the
parties with the McNichOl firm or
other firm doing work on the city's fill
tration system without the written
consent of both parties.
AS a result OF what developed at the
hearing Mayor Weaver accepted the
resignation of John w. HILL chief en-
gineer of the bureau of filtration, and
also that OF his son. Henry w. Hill,
who was assistant to his father. The
RESERVATIONS were sent to the mayor to
take effect June 80. but they were ac-
cepted to take effect Immediately.
Chief Hill was the highest salaried Of
fetal in the city. his compensation be-
ing $1,000 a year. Simultaneous with
the acceptance of the res. nations all
work on the filtration system was Or
dered stopped. The Office of Chief
Hill was placed in charge of Assistant
Director of Public Works Hicks. and
the city's offices at the plants were put
in charge of detectives with instruc
lions to permit no one to remove any
records or other documents. While no
official expression could be obtained
as to the reasons for the designations
1t is learned from a high authority that
Mayor Weaver was not satisfied with
affairs connected VITA the construction
of the filtration plants.
The filtration system has cost the
city about $22 900 900 and it will take
upwards of s5.O0OOOG more to com.
plete the work. The McNichol firm
has had the contracts for about three
quarters of the work.
The hearing of Councilman Caven
attracted to Magistrate Eisenbrown's
court large throng of lawyers. poll
ticians and private citizens who were
drawn there by the expectation of hear
inging sensational testimony
After establishing the fact that Cav
en- was member of councils for seven
years Judge Gordon produced three
contracts made by the city with Dan.
lei J. McNichOl for sand. gravel and
other material. They aggregated
S!.355,000. The agreement entered in.
to by the Cavens and the hrm of Nor
cross & Edmunds. of New Jersey was
submitted in evidence The agree
ment. in substance, provided for un.
ion OF interests and the harmonious
action of the Cavens and Norcross &
Edmunds in the furnishing of sand and
gravel to McNichol or any other con.
tractor who would thereafter obtain
the contract for the construction of the
inter beds. 1t was an iron clad agree
mcnt and bound the parties to a faith.
Iul performance of all its provisions.
Chief Hill testified that on one con-
tract there was bid lower than Nc
Nichols and that it was not awarded
to that bidder. but instead bids were
again advertised for. This time Nc.
Nichol was the only bidder and he re.
ceived the contract.
Daniel ]. McNichol then sprung the
sensation of the hearing by giving. un.
der rigid examination. the personnel
of the McNichol firm. He said he re.
ceiyed one-tTe lfth of the profits of the
firm
Attorneys for the defense inquired
what difference 1t made whether Dur.