Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-16
STIRRING THINGS UP
Weaver's Reform Crusade
Promises Sensations.
MORE ARRESTS LIKELY
STARTLING DISCLOSURES AT THE
CAVEN HEARING.
Many Are Expected to Be Implicated in
Municipal Misdoings and Phila-
delphians Are Aroused.

f1lLADELHftIA, June lo.-AQoltlonal
arrests are expected as a result of the
startling disclosures made yesterday at the
hearing in the case of Select Councilman
Frank H. Caven, who is under $3.50 bond
on charges of being unlawfully interested
in the city contracts.
Until an early hour today Mayor Weaver
was in conference with two Of his legal adj
visers, ex-Judge Gordon and Joseph A.
Auerbach of New York representing the
committee of seventy-a citizens reform
organization.
Attorney Gordon. speaking for Mayor
Weaver, authorized this statement:
"Other arrests will follow as the result
of the investigation. I cannot say just
what the nature Of the prosecutions will
be, but they will be of a most striking char
acter. Mr.. Auerbach will remain in this
in the legal proceedings. We discussed the
suspension of the filtration work, and the
arrests of others implicated in the munich
pal misdoings were considered"
Rumors in Circulation.
Persistent rumors are in circulation to
the effect that the men whose arrests are
being considered, If they have not already
been decided upon, are State Insurance
Commissioner l. w. Durham, State Sena-
tor James P. McNichol, former Director OF
Public Works Peter E. Costello, John W.
Hill, whose resignation as chief Of the fill
tration bureau was accepted yesterday by
Mayor Weaver, Immediately after the reve-
lations at the Caven hearing, and one or
two men who were employed as inspectors
on various portions Of the filtration work.
In some respects the arrest of former
Chief Hill would prove surprising as the
arrest of Durham himself, for 1t was only
a few weeks ago that the mayor had coun-
ellis increase his salary from ST., 600 to S17,-
600 per year, while his ability as an en-
gneer is recognized all over the country.
Mr.. Hill has thus far refused to make any
statement concerning his resignation or the
reasons that led up to it, beyond the bare
statement that the work had become un-
congenial and that he desired to engage in
a private business that would prove more
lucrative. .-. > =. -. -
Detective in Charge.
The detective who was last night placed
In charge Of the bureau Of filtration offices
in the City Hall today refused to admit
the clerical force Of the bureau until the
arrival of Thomas L. Hicks. assistant di-
rector of the department Of public works,
who reached the Office about o. clock ac-
companied by George 8. Webster, chief OF
the survey bureau. Mr. Webster has been
placed In temporary charge of the office
resigned by Chief HILL
Mr.. HICKS also SAID tnere was no Ikell-
hood that the change in the head of the
bureau would affect the positions held by
any OF the other employees. He told them
that the presence Of the detective was only
precautionary measure and had no other
significance. A few minutes later, however,
a second central office detective was placed
on duty and the two officers are still on
guard at the bureau.
Mr.. Durham and James P. McNichol
came up from Atlantic City today.
Mr.. Durham was questioned concerning
the statements made on the stand yester-
day by Daniel ]. McNichol the latter's
that was interested in the AIcNichol con-
tracing firm, and thought that fact was
generally recognized.
II have heard the rumors that warrants
are to be issued for me on a charge of con-
spiracy, but know nothing of the matter
beyond what l have seen in the papers and
the reports that are In circulation"
Filtration Contracts.
Senator McNichol said: up to the pres
ent time the total amount Of filtration con-
tracts have been awarded my firm aggre-
gate $13.660OOo. We are under bonds OF
100000 for the proper fulflllment Of the
specifications of those contracts This bond
of ours continues In force for f1ve years
after the completion Of our contracts. /
say again that the work speaks for itself
and that every detail connected with those
COntTdClS Is Opcl 70 the lulleSt l0VeS1lSa-
tion.
I'VE have been at work on these con-
tracts for about four years, and l defy any
one to accomplish In twice the time what
we have accomplished in those four wears
AS to the sand contracts, we were recon-
mended to take the sand from Norcross Il
Edmunds and we did this after careful in
vestigation Of the firm and the merits of
the sand controlled by it. 1t is a purely
business proposition, and one by which the
city was the gamer.
Everything at the Torresdale. and Bel
mont filter plants is open to the fullest
result Of such an inquiry will show that
the city has received full value for every
dollar spent by it,
When asked ABOUT the rumors of q war
rant for his arrest, Senator McNichol said:
II know nothing about such a warrant
beyond what / see in the papers More
over. shall be at my office every day at
tending to my business and II any one
wants me they will have no difficulty in
finding me-"
Root Conferred With Weaver.
Former Secretary of War Root, of coun-
sci for Mayor Weaver, arrived here this
afternoon from New York and went imme-
diately to the city hall, where he went into
conference with the mayor and the advisory
board Of fourteen citizens.
Oscar Noll, assistant commissioner Of
highways, rendered his resignation today
1t was accepted by the mayor. Noll has
been under suspension since the beginning
Of the gas lease fight.
nrNFnND MO ut A AOrr