Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-25
CITY HALL PIGEONS
COO HAPPILY WHILE
DESTRUCTION PENDS
Handful of Determined Wo-
men All That Stands Be-
tween Birds and Official
Decree Of determination.

When Director Harte. Of the Depart
ment Of Health and Charities begins his
crusade against the pigeons of city Hall
square. if he docs shoot one, he will find
he must contend with Mrs. NJ. NJ. Halvey,
office manager Of the Womens Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
The crusade Was to have begun today,
but Mrs. Halyey headed a delegation OF
women who called upon the Director.
He listened to their rcmonstrance against
killing the pigeons and then stated he
would hold the matter under advisement.
Mrs Halvcy says there will be no
slaughter of the pigeons.
She is not threatening in attitude or
anything like that, nut her one aim Is to
save those birds.
Some people say that the City Hall
pigeons are nuisance Others say the
pigeons lend atmosphere to city Hall
square. They likan them to pigeons Of
st Marks Cathedral in Venice. Who
would ever hear Of Il. Alark'I If it were
not for the pigeons, they ask II ii were
not for st. Marks. il is argued. who
would ever hear OF Venice \ few people.
perhaps, might remember it because Of its
wet highways and because certain Bill
Shakespeare wrote a drama concerning a
mercant Of the place.
There are few friends OF the pigeons
even in city Han Sherin \. Lincoln
Ack@r says; Let the pigeons stay Drive
out the rats, 1 give those little pets Of the
public nearly lo1 pounds Of feed each
week. There are a number of rats in
the CliE Han that should be disposed off,
SAID the sheriff with a wise nod What
b" meant can only be guessed at.
When the city Hall was completed, and
before even the Ofiiceholders could select
comfortable chairs ana desks that were
not meant for hard usage, the pigeons
arrived. They looked that big pile of
stone over and decided that under the
caves was Just the place for them 1t
was and has been for years.
THE FIRE HOSE AGAIN.
Director Harte is contemplating aiming
h.sh-pressure fire hose al the caves and
drowning the pigeons. That was tried
once before during the Reyburn admin
.stration. While Constant readers" wrote
10 the newspapers protesting against the
cruelty, The wet pigeons, with cries Of
protest and anger, flew over to Broad
street station and lighted upon the train
shed There they dried off groorned
themselves and returned 10 the CITY Hall
a soon as the hose ceased to be a menace
When a fire hose did not discourage
those .ir's, Tim D'L.aFy, who then was
Assistant Director Of Public Safety. got
busy. He said he knew pigeons ali the
way from the homins variety TO stool
pigeons. He knew as much about them
as he did about race horses, and that
was considerable.
o.Leary is the man who devised the
wire-screen s'heme that is today seen
over all entrances 10 city Hall
The screens, all credit to O'LAarv. did
baIfe the pigeons for several days. some
birds fl"w home late in the evening. and
in not the hest mental condition bumped
against the screens
They became bruised and wiser birds.
Then tho pigeons got used 10 the device
and cleverly duCked under the scree ms 10
find their roOstjng places.
a jauit5r Of the CITY Hall came near
solving the pigeon question. He fed the
birds every morning and as they ate from
his hand on the City Hall roof he would
wiring the necks or a half dozen or so
lie did II quietly so as not 10 'frignten
the flock, 1t r said that ianitor ate
pigeon pot pie even for breakfast, He
died from appendicitis. The death certif-
cate did not state what effect a steady
diet Of pigeons had upon him.
John Eitchie, a former detective feeds
the pigeons every day He viii miss the
birds II they are eNteTmnated So Will
a tall, slender young man Who feeds the
pigeons every time they arc photo
Rrapred. II IS remarkable how he can
bob up at the psychological moment and
get INTO the cameras range,