The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-06-15
SIXTY-HIVE DISMISSED
Mayor of Philadelphia Routing Out
Unnecessary Employees.
SAMUEL sALTER ALSO RESIGNS

Man Acquitted Of Ballot Box stuffng
Gives Up a $1,000 PositiOn-Mayor
Has Another Contest On With the
Machine.
Philadelphia. June 13.-The princi-
pal developments in the local political
situation was the resignation OF sam
ucl Saltcr az assistant To the chief
clerk in the office Of the county com
missioners. and the issuing Of an order
for the dismissal oil 30 employees IN
the bureau OF city property Probably
the most interesting development was
the resignation OF Salter, who some
years ago. after being fugitive from
Justice for about "A year, returned 10
this city and was acquitted OF the
charge of stuifng a ballot box. In his
resignation. which came as surprise
10 the citizens of the city. Salter stated
that ne intended to go into business.
The election fraud case with which
Salter's name was linked was one OF
the most sensational in the annals Oh
ballot box crimes i'm this city. Salter
who had been a member Of the leglsla-
turc. aud who was serving as deputy
coroner was arrested along with six
or seven others some Of whom lived
in Washington. ID. c., charged with
conspiracy i'm placing 2l5 fraudulent
votes in a ballot box in November.
1899 They entered bail and then fed
from this jurisdiction. The bail was
forfeited after long fight in the
courts. and when the execution for the
bail was about 20 be- issued Salter ana
some OF the other accused men re-
/ turned. Mayor Weaver was at that
time district attorney and he promptly
brought Salter to trial. The jury rem
dered verdict OF acQuittal.
After Saters acquittal city councils
created the position of assistant to the
chief clerk Of the county commission
ers. and Salter was appointed to the
/ Mace AT a salary Of $1,000 a year One
/ of the duties of the county commits
sioners is To prepare the election para
phernalia OF the city. After the upI1S-
ing against the gas lease subsidized
some of the Philadelphia newspapers
asked the county commissioners TO re-
move Salter. but they took no action.
Salter's resignation. the commissioners
/ say. came 10 them voluntarily. The
county commissioners are elected by
the people and have complete controi
OF the employees under them.
The order for the dismissal OF 90
men from the bureau of city property
was not unexpected. The mayor has
ISSUED an order that all employees not
needed should be dismissed. After an
Investigation OF his bureau. George
Pierre chief of the bureau. said that
the dismissal Of these men would not
cripple the bureau. They are not
needed. nor were they ever needed.
he said. The men to be dismissed are
foresters. carpenters. painters. brick
LAYERS. plumbers and laborers. Their
dismissal will mean a saving to the
city Of more than $4,000 year.
Mayor Weaver has another contest
on with councils. This time 1t Is over
the granting To the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit company OF franchises TO OPP
crate surface cars on 10 miles OF
streets without the city receiving any
compensation The bills granting the
franchises were passed and vetoed by
the mayor On the day the gas lease
passed councils the bills were passed
over the mayors veto. After winning
the gas lease fight the mayor had bills
introduced in councils repeating the
franchise bills The repealers will be
considered by councils committee on
street railways today The street rail-
way company is making fight against
] the rpDpalprs