The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-10-18
Philadelphia Police Had Pictures
 in ROgue's Gallery
MAYOR WEAVER EXCLUDED
Investigating Committee Refuses to Allow Him to Be Present and
 Hear Examination of Witnesses.

Philadelphia, October 17.-The special committee of seven of the 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 testi- mony today. The meeting of the commit tee was not without it's sensations chief of which was the request to Mayor Weaver and those of his directors to leave the room during the hearing, and the statment of John Taylor. superinten- dent of police, that David c. Smythe, former director of public safety. had told him not to modest election repeaters. Superintendent Taylor's statement was made despite the vigorous efforts of Mill ton c. Work. the chairman of the com mttee, to confine him to the questions propounded by the committees attorney. The committee brought out statenlents from witnesses that policemen attended meeting of q political club when they should have been on duty. Mayor Weaver and the city party insist that the police are not in politics, while the lead CTS of the republican organization claim the policemen are as much in politics now as ever they were.
 Unusual Precautions Taken.
 Unusual precautions had been taken to exclude from councils in the finance com mittee room, where the meeting was held, all persons except limited number | of newspaper men and witnesses. Only one of the latter was admitted to the | chamber at a time. The meeting was called for o'clock Prior to that time Mayor Weaver sent letter by messenger to the committee asking permission for himself and his directors to be present at sne hearing. and render such gid as he could, The mayor in his letter said: 1 .1 am extremely anxious that eyeS act of wrong-doing committed by any person
 in any way connected with the adminis- tration may be fully and impartially dis closed I do not see how this can be done under the rules you have adopted, excluding the responsible heads of the de partments, as well as myself.
 'I have noticed that the counsel whom you have retained are the counsel for certain officials and contractors now un- | der criminal charges. and indictments | for frauds upon the city or inculpated In | such frauds It seems to me that 1t is | impossible for these counsel to occupy l the dual relationship of representing at l the same time those now under formal criminal accusations (whose acts I pre- | sume you will also investigator in the 1 courts of justice and mpaItially aiding ] you in an investigation touching tho integrity of the municipal administration.
 Mayor Weaver Appears.
 The committee did not make reply and on the minute of o'clock Mayor Weaver. accompanied by Col. Sheldon Potter. di- rector of public safety; A. Lincoln Acker. director of public works, and r. J. Shoy- CT. director of the department of supplies. walked into the committee room before the committee had assembled. The ser geant-at-arms politely informed the mayor that irssiauch as only witnesses and newspaper men would oc admitted to the room. he and tho directors would have to retire. Mir Weaver demurred and then Chairman Work rotihed tho mayor that the committee would not change It's rules. and that he and tho directors must leave the room
 The mayor and Director Potter again and again tried vainly to get more definite answer. the mayor and his d. rectors finally leaving.
 There was large crowd in the cor ridor but no demonstration was made.
 When the committee convened the first witness called was Superintendent Tay- Tor He testified that he was president of the Twenty fourth Ward Republican club, and that the greater number of po- licemen of the district in which the club is situated were members of the organ izaton. He said on the last meeting night of the club forty or fifty policemen attended the meeting. some of them leav- ing their beats to do so. He said the absent polcemens beats were covered. but he refused 10 answer in what man. ner The policemen attended the meet ing by permission of the lieutenant of the district, who had received orders from Former Director of Public Safety Smith that policemen were to be permitted to attend political meetings. This order, he said had not been rescinded by the pres ent director