Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-18
COUNCILS GAINS TIME
BY COURT DECISIONTN
WAR ON HOUSING CODE
Judge Martin Grants Ex.
tension Until April 5 for
Compliance With Order
to Appropriate Fundsin
Accordance With Law.

Philadelphias housing code, embodi.a
in law enacted by the Legislature y
1918. which would bring light and air ir,o
dingy, ill-ventiiated tenement housSs !.
deadlooked again. Judge Martin. In co.,,
OF Common Pleas No 5. today grar,.a
John II. Fow, representing both branob..
Of Councils, an extension Of time ur,Il
April 5 on the mandamus writ ISSUED hy
Judge Ralston a month ago orderno
Councils to appropriate funds for ths mao
Division OF Housing and Sanitation.
Judge Ralston gave Councils 20 days n
which TO appropriate the money undsr ,hs
order of the Legislature for better hh,ss.
ing conditions or face the possIbility og
prison sentences or fines for contempi of
court. The time limit expired today ana
proceedings were instituted by Mr. Fov
for an extension OF time.
Besides representing both branchea a,
Councils he also appeared for the Tens.
ment Owners' Association.
The Philadelphia Housing Commlssor
was represented by Frank u. Pritchard
and Arthur T. Hutchinson; Bernard
Newman. secretary, was also present
Opposing Mr. Fow's argument, Mr.
Prtchard said:
Commission, an organization formed 'to
bring about reforms In housing oondl.
tIons, and also TO eliminate housing evils
This organization assisted in having
the bill passed by the Legislature In 1872
which. II enforced by Councils. would
mean great benefit to Philadelphia. The
Supreme Court one year ago, declared IN
a decision that the provisions were lie.
gall
Fow had filed an appeal in the suprems
Court against the decision OF Judge RAJ.
ston ordering the appropriation OF tha
money by Councils. When Judge Martin
remarked that IL such were the casa
Jurisdiction lay only in the higher court.
Mr.. Fow excitedly explained that he had
placed the appeal with the deputy pro-
thonotary. but had instructed him not "a
f1le It until after today. Mr.. Pritchard
then demanded that 1t be fight for one
thing or the other-an appeal or an az
tension of time.
1t was definitely brought out today that
Select Councilman Charles Seger, Or.
ganizatlon leader OF the 7th Ward wpa
opposed to the housing code of 1918 In
answer to question by Mr.. Pritchard as
to who he represented, Mr. Fow replied.
81 represent Select Councilman Charles
Seger and other Councilmen.
In granting the extension Of time Until
April 8, Judge Martin cautioned Mr..
Fow not to make an appeal to the su-
preme Court, to which Mr.. Fow agreeds
Behind MIR. Fow's move those who
favor housing reform declared was an
Organization trick. There is pending be-
fore the Legislature repealer Of the
housing code of 1913 1t is intended 10
pass this bill. thus killing the old meas
ure by April 5, at which time, II the trick
works, there will be no more need Of
ilghtlng the case. If the repeater Is
passed by the Legislature, Governor
Brumbaugh will be asked to veto 1t by
every civic organization in Philadelphia,
on the other hand, political pressure will
be brought to bear upon the Governor tq
sign the repealer sI