The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-16
Mayor Weaver Causes More
Sensations in Philadelphia
WINS FRANCHISE CONTEST
Highest saIaried Official In the City
is SummarlIy Removed-Big
Scandal Exposed In Fill
tratlon Plant.

Philadelphia, June f5.-There were high
ly interesting developments today in
Mayor Weavers crusade for good gov
ernment. The fight against the trolley
franchise was for the moment forgotten
in the light of what developed at the
hearing of Select Councilman Frank II.
Craven, who is charged with violating
his councilmanic oath by being inter-
ested in city contracts.
During the hearing 1t was shown that
Insurance Commissioner l. ". Durham,
leader of the republican organization in
this city, Is a partner in the McNlchol
firm of city contractors. 1t was also
shown that while James p. McNichol,
who is now a state senator, and one of
the local republican leaders, was In city
councils, the McNichol firm consisted of
Durham, Mrs James II. McNichol, John
M. Mack, and d. ]. McNichol, a brother
OF James p. McNichol.
1t was also shown that after James P.
McNichol left the councils his wife with
drew from the firm and her place was
taken by himself.
Secret Agreement Unearthed.
Other evidence of a sensational charac-
ter was to the effect that a secret agree
ment existed between Councilman Craven
and his father, and anpther firm in
which they agreed no contract should
be entered into by either of the parties
without the written consent of both
parties. AS result of what developed
at the hearing, Mayor Weaver late to-
day accepted the resignation of John w.
Hill, chief engineer of the department
of filtration and also that of his son,
Henry w. HILL who was a assistant to
his father The designations were sent to
the Mayor to take effect June 30, but
they were accepted to take effect Inn
mediately. Chief Hill was the highest
salaried official In the city, his A., II,,,s
ton being $4,000 a year. NJ Du,s
simultaneously. with the acceptance q
the, designations all work on the city S
filtration system was ordered stopped. The
office of Chief Hin was placed in charge
of Assistant Director of Public Works
Hicks, and the city offices at the filtra-
tion plants were put in charge of de-
tectives with Instructions to permit no
one to remove any records or other docu-
ments While no official expression could
be obtained regarding the designations,
it is learned from high authority that
Mayor Weaver was not satisfied with
affairs connected with the construction
of the citys plant.
Has Cost City $22,ooo,ooo.
This has cost the city about $22.0 coo
and 1t will take upwards of $5.000,0OO more
to complete the work. The McNichol firm
has had contracts for about three-quar-
tiers of the work.
Contrary to expectations the meeting Of
the City Councils this afternoon was an
entirely harmonious affair. with Mayor
Weaver in undisputed control of the situ-
alton.
The committee on the street railways
decided to report fayorably the bills re-
pealing the ordinances giving the Phil
adelphia Rapid Transit company the
right to lay tracks on 10 miles of street
without compensation to the city, and
when the repealers were presented In
councils they were, under the rules laid
over for printing. A resolution adopted
at the last meeting of councils pro-
viding that the summer recess shall begin
after today's meeting was reconsdered,
SO that councils can act on the trolley re-
pealers at another meeting. No date was
fixed for the summer adjournment.
A reason given for the failure of the
republican organization to fight the Mayor
on the trolley franchises Is that the
traction company contemplates taking the
matter to the courts.