davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
Joseph T. Richards, Forty
Years With the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad, Con-
demns Curtailed Pro-
gram for Rapid Transit
Points to Difficulties Sur
mounted in B Buil Id IN g
Hudson River Tunnels as
Proof of Practicability of
the Taylor Project

Joseph II. Richards, who recently re-
tired after 80 years continuous service as
consulting engineer of maintenance of way
for the Pennsylvania Railroad, in the
course of an interview published today.
made a singing criticism of the proposed
Twining changes
Mr., Richards was the engineer in the
building of the Pennsylvania Railroad tun.
nels under the Hudson River. and was con
sultinE engineer for the construction Of
the tubes under the Waldorf.A Astoria, in
New York an engineering work many
times more difficult than The proposed
operation under city Hall.
Sixteen years ago he prepared the plans
for the Market street subway and elevated
in this city, and engineering monuments
to his skill are in active use today in
nearly every big city of the East. He
stated emphatically that it is perfectly
feasible to run a subway under city Hall
as provided by former Director Taylor
The agitation that is being shown now
at the plan of running the Broad street
subway lines under City Hall is not war
ranted," said Mr.. Richards The Penn
sylvania Railroad, in driving its tunnels
under New York city, contended with
greater obstacles than any which confront
Philadelphia in the subway under city
Hall. The Waldorf-Astoria, on 32d street
as AN example, had to be undermined
Huge structures were underpinned, and
yet there wasn't even the inkling of
danger.
Let the contractors here shore up
city Hall properly, as they have done
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24

with buildings in New York and Chicago,
and no difficulty will be encountered.
THE Taylor plan, besides providing for
great passenger station under City
Hall, should also take into consideration
an exchange on the North and South
Broad street subway lines and the East
and West Market street lines That
would be the ideal transit situation
THE TwininE plan is not complete and
would he disastrous to the development
of the city. The Taylor plan takes care
of the entire city, and in years will more
than repay the great trouble and expense
AS in other cities. Philadelphia compre-
hensively should take In every section of
the city In its transit plans.
Under the TwininG plan would char
acterize the rapid transit system as worth
30 cents, whereas under the Taylor plan
every dollar spent will bring ten in return
turn
A unique consideration enters into the
shortening of the subway on South Broad
street. Philadelphia desires to make
League Island the greatest Governmental
naval centre in the country 1t wants
Government aid for this project Yet 1t
Yard and the central sections of the city.
The officials at the island feel badly
this lack of interest on the part os Phlla-
delphia.
III we expect the Government to make
our navy yard the finest in the country we
should at least meet the Government half
way by giving those at League Island de-
cent transit facilities
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
MAYOR DECLARES WAR
ON FOES OF LOAN BILL
Continued from PAGE One

Continued from PAGE One
consider the action Of members of Finance
Committee of Councils yesterday afternoon
in attacking the loan political move"
Yet, ! do" he snapped There is
nothing but politics in it, It's the same
old Crowd-the same old crowd trying
to fool the people in the same old way /
consider il AN open attaClt on the Admin.
istration and mean to fight it to the
finish"
The Mayor paused for breath and he
threw back his shoulders and thrust out
his under Zip militantly,
ANY one he continued in the same
cold, even tone, who attacks the loan for
political purposes attacks my administra-
ton. and they have got to fight" The
Mayor brought out the word fight with
an emphasis which left no doubt as TO
his feelings.
81 am not afraid to go before the peo-
pie" continued the Mayor, and those
attacking the loan will have 10 fight me.
l don't care how strong you make this
statement. The opposition is purely pOliti-
cal and they have now come out into the
open
Il have not decided 10 take the floor
at the meeting of the Finance Committee
next Monday night. may be there. but
cannot say definitely az this time But !
want TO say this they can't play politics
with me and do it without "A fight
The opposition to the loan Is easily
understood now.
Immediately following his declaration Of
war on the McNichol.Penrose forces the
Mayor entered his office
The action of the Mayor in coming out
into the open now ends the preliminary
skiTmishing between the Ware and PenTOss-
McNichol forces. and places the struggle
between the two factions on a real war
basis,
Heretofore Mayor Smith has denied
knowledge Of any intention Of the Pen
Fose-AIcNichOl Councilman to retard or
defeat the loan bill Politicians this aft
ernoon was united in the opinion that
the Mayors declaration of war is a sig
nal for lineup of the forces of the
opposing factions for a struggle which Is
Inevitable
With honOTs resting in the Penrose-
McNichOl camp, the whole fight over the
$50 500, goo loan, its carrying charges and
the necessary increase In the city tax on
realty will be renewed u the Finance
Committee OF Councils on Monday, when
the question of including deficiency bills
totaling s24640Q in the loan and the de-
bate over the amount Of tax increase will
be continued
So far. the delaying tactics Of the Pen
rose followers in the committee have been
successful also their plan to give the
people some idea Of the tax burden they
win assume in the event Of the success
Of tae loan. Whether or not Mayor Smith
VIII take the floor on Monday IN dafsnas
OF the loan has not been determined but
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
MRS. WAITE SAYS DOCTOR
Is INNOCENT OF CRIME
Asserts He Was "Too Good" to Have
Poisoned Her Parents

GRAND RAPIDS. Mich. March "a
arthur would never have done anything
like that. He was too glad and too good
and too true, He loved mother and father
as | loved them"
This was the hysterical statement today
of Mrs. Arthur Warren Waite. wife of
the doctor who is being held in New York
in connection with the death of John t.
Peck, his father.in-law. and Mrs Peck
both Of whom died under mysterious cir
cumstances in Waite's Riverside Drive
apartments i'm New York. Mrs. Waite
the daughter of the Pecks. was still Sc.
riously i'll today. the result of the shock
that came with the sudden death of her
parents and the subsequent investigation
which resulted in her husband being taken
into custody by the New York District
Attorneys office
Miss Cozela Corbtt a Grand Rapids
girl. who is an art student in New York,
told investigators today that while i'm
New York recently she met Doctor Waite.
According to her statement. the dentist
said to her: 'I'll soon be spending the
Peck millions" s.'
Doctor Waite's father and mother. who
own small truck garden just outside of
Grand Rapids are planning to go to New
York tomorrow to cheer their son,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
NEIL BONNER CALLED
in BREWERY PROBE
Philadelphia Appears Before
u. S. Grand Jury-Bates
Excused Temporarily

ERIE Pa, March 24.--Nel Bonner. of
Philadelphia president of the National
Retail Liquor Dealers Association, and.
next to j. T. NIulvihill, of Pittsburgh,
leader of the State liquor forces. the man
most sought by the Government in its
probe of the alleged brewery-politics part
nership. went before the Federal Grand
Jury here this forenoon. the first witness
called by United States Attorney Il. Lowry
Humes.
Bonner carried an armful of subpoenaed
books and records but he was excused
temporarily from testifying while the
Grand Jury returned to the case of j. v.
Thompson, the UniontOwn banker accused
of violating the national banking laws
Dr. g. j. HcXamer. of Philadelphia,
president Of the National German-Ameri-
can Alliance Or. +. r. Fleming, Of Phila-
delphia, secretary of the Eastern Penn
sylvania Wholesale Liquor Dealers Asso-
citation, and Frank j. Keelan. of Pitts
hurgh, are on hand waiting to go before
the Grand Jury.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
J.V. THOMPSON FACES
ENLIGHTENMENT CHARGE
That Accusation and One of Abb
straction Included Among 30
Counts in New Presentment

ERIE. Pa, March 24.-Introducing tor
the first time embezzlement and abstraction
a new presentment against ], V. Thomp.
son, head of the defunct First National
Bank of Uniontown, was returned by the
Federal Grand Jury here at 12A5 o'clock
today. The jurors were directed to bring
in an indictment II will contain 30
counts.
United States Judge Charles T. Orr.
who. with United States Judge w II. 5.
Thomas, received the presentment TO the
surprise of the crowded courtroom de-
nounced the presentment from the bench
United states Attorney +. Lowry
Humes vigorously defended the Grand
Jufy's course.
81 doubt the validity OF this present
ment," said Judge Orr. after Clerk Wilbur
Harris took the presentment from the
hands of George u, Dawson. Of Union
town. foreman Of the Grand Jury
Judge Orr added at is similar to a
presentment made by the last Grand Jury
which at the time was authorized to pre-
sent bill. Now the same matters are
again brought before the Grand Jury and
without the knowledge or consent of the
court The court is of the opinion there
should have been an application for re-
submission of this matter before the Grand
Jury.
THE court will permit the Grand Jury
TO bring in a bill Uhe Indictment re-
serving, however the right to say whether
or not the indictments brought in shall
stand as a true bill against the defendant"
Humes was on his feet in an instant
The new presentment," he said Gov
ers matters Of embezzlement and abstrac-
tion, which were not covered In the pre-
vious presentment."
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
WILL OF CHARLES l.. BRAUN
AIDS GERMAN CHARITIES
Estate Left in Trust to Widow-Other
Wills Probated

An estate valued at S49.7OO is left in
trust to his widow by Charles l.. Braun.
who died recently at 99l North 7th street,
In his will admitted to probate TODAY
Upon the death of Mrs Braun, $4,000 of
the principal is TO revert to the German
p. F. Home for the Aged and $1,000 each
TO the Ssnitarium Association, Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and
the Society to Protec" Children from
Cruelty.
OF the remainder of the estate. one.half
is left to nephews and nieces, the issue of
a deceased sister. and the other half. In
equal shares, goes 10 the German Society
Of Philadelphia and the German Hospital.
Other wills probated today were those
of Edward II. Parry, which. in private be-
quests, disposes OF an estate valued at s65.
000i Henry r. Rittenhouse 2023 North
Carlisle street SIS 50O Albert r. Il.
Keyser 1888 North Park avenue, $4,000;
Mary Holzachuh, 1549 Thompson street
s42Oe, and Frank ". Plat, White Haven,
Pa. 5000.
The personality of the estate of Emma
X. LudeTs has been appraised at Sl99, ,629.-
AZ, and the personally left by William a
Lees and Lawrence j. Schmitt is appraised
at Sse4o.s4 and s5025,2l respectively.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
FlSKE WOULD CURB
SECRETARY OF NAVY
Admiral Urges Elimination ..
Interference in Practical
Naval Problems

WASHINGTON. March 24.--Tbo .,,.
nation of the Secretary of the Nav 1u'hl, ,
practical intentS, was the supvos,i W w all
ADMIRAL Bradley Fiske to the Housa ~. OIL oi
Committee today. The adr,iSa, NaVal
whose appearance Representative p.,,,er over
Of Illinois, and Chairman padcd,, t.en
fought for weeks. the Chairman a. nad
consenttng, startled the committee ui,h ,,,'ly lE
plan. win MS
He proposed the establishment, -,
manent chief of operations who ,, pe,,
have authority over the prenara,is. "oulu
the entire navy for war and who na,,,t y,
not be overruled by the Secretary ~ f0y.u ,na
Navy without authority of Congress ''s
"If we have a Secretary who conos T..
every four years and changes tho on,,a'
strategy of the navy we will nevsr W..
anywhere Admiral Fiske said "Ws
should have law that would mako I,
impossible for the Secretary to chsa'
conditions and the policies Of the navv
without appearing before Congress az
securing consent U
at would take five years to nut M.
navy on an effective basis" Fiske said
This opinion has been ndorsed by evar,,
naval officer | have talked to. Our na,,,.
will never be as effective as those of NM,
countries until the system is changsd
Since 1907 there has been an lncreasr,
realization of the importance Of con-
tinued strategy. 1t Is easy enough 70
have big navy but not so easy to hsvs
a good one"
Brtten said he feared Secretary could
come in and nullify all of the effective
things done by his predecessors.
II have no fear that any Secretary who
may he appointed will do any such thing"
Chairman Padgett retorted
"lt has been done" Britten replied.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24

time as an elevated train not handicapped
with surface traffic or restricted by ice
or snow in the winter time such as ties
up surface cars now.
"BREAD-AND-BCTTER" CANVASS.
"Ohicehoidcrs made determined bread
and-butter fights in the 18th, goth, esd,
24th and 3ith Wards and in various other
wards public of;iceholders offered to as
sure the residents that If they would get
back Of the administrations transit plan
and help push over the loan bill the adj
ministration would pass ordinances au-
thorizing local improvements. This is
notably SO in the 2lst Ward, where the
people are pledged the building Of the
Henry avenue bridge and told that until
this viaduct is completed no transit line
can or will he considered.
so that while the Mayor asks the peo-
ple to await announcement OF Mr.. Twin
ing's plan i'm detail. the campaign against
the Taylor plan is now in effect and being
made by men who pledge themselves to
be speaking for Mayor Smith. Let the
Mayor declare himself now
McNtCHoL HOLDS KEY.
Director Twining will await the report
of the special commission appointed by
the Mayor to study the type of construc-
ton best suited for the Broad street sub
way work under city Hall, it is under.
stood, hetOfe any steps VIII ne taken 10
modify the existing contract between the
city and the keystone State Construction
COMPANY
II was said at city Hall today that
this comm sson probably would not COM
plcte its investigation until early next
week This would make the publication
of the report of the commission simulta-
ucuus with the publication of Director
TwinlnEs modified report on the entire
transit project
Director Twining summoned the mem.
bers of the commission to his office this
and for nearly three hours the
five men discussed the plans. None would
state what had taken place at the confer
CnCc. however.
As a result of city Solicitor Connelly's
opinion suggesting that an amicable agree
ment between the city and the keystone
state Construction Company be made for
a modification of the present contract. the
key Of the situation is placed in the hands
of Senator McNichol. Unless the Senator
will agree TO the terms of the agreement
the work will be held up indefinitely
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
GUNNER'S MATE HIT
BY GAS EXPLOSION
Fixing Up Home for Bride
More Dangerous Than
War, He Says

Life on n United States warship and in
rebel-ravaged Mexico is far softer than
repairing house full of accumulated gas,
said Lewis PadulO. a gunner's mate on
the battleship Kearsarge today.
Padulo was hurled to the floor and
the front wall of house at 1909 East
Moyamensing avenue was blown into the
street last night soon after the gunner S
mate went into the building to do some
painting and to make other repairs.
Padulo escaped without a scratch, but he
had n bigger scare. than he ever had in
the service of Uncle Sam.
Padulo was married recently and had
rented the house for himself and his
bride, now living at 1915 East Moyamen-
sing avenue. Armed with a brush and a
candle, he had completed the repairs when
suddenly there was n loud detonation and
part of the house front was in the street
"A whole Mexican war Is a pipe com.
pared to this" murmured Padulo, as he
was picked up. He saw fighting at Vera
Cruz.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
LEARN WHERE
WAITE GOT POISON
Continued from rare One

Continued from PaEe One
and Waite would not be removed from
his apartment today. His condition is
good, the district attorney said, but he rs
still weak from the opiate he took Wed
nesdav night. Swami conferred today with
Miss Catherine Peck who expressed great
surprise at ;.le use to which the dentist
had put the $4,000 she gave him. ....
Dr. Waite has not yet retained an at
torney, though II is understood that John
H. Stanchfeld, formerly attorney for
Harry X. Thaw. may represent him
The druggist who sold Waite the arsenic
will appear before the Grand Jury this att
ernoon.
Overtures were made to the District
Attorneys office for the surrender of a
beautiful young woman who has become
involved in the case through her friend
ship with waite.
The woman. who Is described as being
"a years old and possessing extraordinary
beauty. lived at the Hotel Plaza as Mrs
Walters"
1t was not until early this morning that
Waite learned he was under arrest. Waite
made no answer when told of the charge
against him. but persistently asked for his
wife.
Raymond 6. SCHNEIDER. head Of the de-
tective agency which investigated the Peck
case, told today of trailing Waite.
our investigation proves that Waite's
expenses were very high" said the de-
teCtive. "He bought a handsome touring
car and his apartments rent for $500 a
month His stay at the Plaza Hotel with
a woman cost him $3.50 for room rent
alone and what he spent at restaurants
and In gifts for his companion must have
been very high
Waite and the woman registered as
DR. A. W. walters and wife. The Mrs
Walters is said to be an actress and we
have had her under surveillance as well
as Waite Since Waite got back from
Grand Rapids he has been good boy
on Sunday he went to church twice. Be
fore that time he frequented the Broad
way cafes with young women of the
chorus girl type. Whether he was drug
user or not we do not know"
1t has been learned that the young
woman friend Of Waite left the Plaza
suddenly on Saturday. after receiving a
telephone message from Waite to get
out at once" II was evidently then that
Waite learned that he and his companion
had been shadowed by detectives. on
Wednesday the girl returned to the hotel
and removed her belongings from the
apartment
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
PLOT
AGAINST TAYLOR PLAN

Continued rom Page One
Director Taylor. This is The line that
would enable all the residents Of the city
to reach all parts Of Fairmount Park for
scent fare, and when in operation
would prevent the packing Of street cars
at strawberry Mansion, Green street en-
trance and at the Ridge avenue entrance
Of the Wissahickon drive In addition to
enabling those living In remote sections
pf the city TO make the City's magnificent
playground easily available to the masses
and prevent the disEraCeful Crowding Of
cars on the slow-goinE surface lines.
Property owners along the route Of the
proposed Parkway line have been can.
Nassed to lodge objections to the building
of the line and asked to unite i'm opposi.
tton TO its construction, because of the fear
that the noise and unsightlN pillars and
overhead construction would deprecatc the
value Of their property. They have also
been appealed to to defeat the building Of
this line on the ground that the Construc-
tion Of the comprehensive Taylor plan
would SO raise the tax rate as to make
their properties nou.prOductive where held
for investment and undesirable when oc-
Cupied as homes
AGENTS IN WEST PHILADELPHIA.
"'ive men descended upon West PhH.
adclphia week ago last Tuesday and
campaigncd against the building Of tho
original Twining plan They laid great
stress Ipon the fact that here are - votes
in Common Council west Of the river and
urged the residents of West Philadelphia
to oppose any attempt to round up those
members Of Councils to vote i'm favor of an
ordinance to restore the original Taylor
plan so amended as to include for the i'm.
mediate building of the parSway.Rox.
borough line and the Woodland avenue.
Darby road
Arguments used in West Philadelphia
were chiefly that they would burden them
selves with a great tax rate for years
TO come for public Improvement which
would draw people away from the terri
tory west of the river and that the tax
payers in West Philadelphia would be
paying for the development Of property in
every section OF the city except their own.
II was also pointed out that there was
no real need for transit facilities such as
were advocated by former Director Taylor.
as the present surface lines were run at
great speed except In the central parts
of the city and able to make just as good
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
RECEPTION FOR DIR. CARRIER
School Superintendent at Southern
High Tonight

\ reception viii be given DR.. John p
CARRIER. superintendent OF schools, and
John Christopher district superintendent
Of the I'd School District, tonight at the
Southern High SCHOOL, Broad and Jack
son streets by the teachers and princi-
pals of the I'd District
At the Hamilton School, 57th and
Spruce streets, a lecture win be delv-
cred tonight on health and modern sani-
tation Lectures will also be delivered
at the Benson school, 27th and Wharton
streets, where Or. Joseph Clay will talk
on the care OF Eyes Ears, Nose and
Throat" The same lecture will be de-
liyered in the Mott School. Huntingdon
and Sepviya streets, by DR.. Gilbert j.
Palen. At the Marshall School, Sellers
and Franklin streets, Or. L. T. Ashcratt
will deliver a lecture on Exercise
Recreation and Rest" while DR.. Samuel
Leopold will deliver the same lecture at
the Nichols School 10th and Wharton
streets
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
RUNAWAY BOYS MESSAGE
TO HIS MOTHER TRAPS HIM
Cop Sees Him Write Postal and
Arrests Two Lads

HIS anxiety to send a parting word to
his mother caused the capture Of William
Smith, l3-year-old runaway Of this city
and his companion, Joseph Fox, II years
old, in Camden. last night, by Special
Policeman Archibald.
The boys were looking for adventure
and bought a ticket for Salem. y j. But
Smith. who lives at G2O6 Master street
could not resist the temptation TO send a
postal tn his mother While ne wrote
the message, Fox stood nearby nervously,
watching the clock
Archibald looked over the shoulder of
the Smith boy and read these words,
Dear Mother-SOTry TO give you so
much trouble. I'm going away; don't
worry. Your son, William Smith" The
boy had barely finished writing when
Archibald placed him and his companion
who lived at 5l55 Haverford avenue, un-
der arrest. Both boys We're claimed last
night by their parents and went home in
tears.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-24
GIRL FIGHTS MAN, GETS RAZOR
Wrenches It From Fathers Grasp
When He Attacks
His Wife

A sixtesn-year-old girl wrenched
razor from her fathers hands after he
had knocked her mother and brother un-
conscious, threatening to Clean up" the
house
Early this morning Edward Whitehoase
aa years old, came to his home 2llT
North 2sth street. from his lodge in
bad humor. lie had been drinking. ac-
cordins TO his wife. and started a quarrel
Whitehouse. seizing his razor. chased the
woman. Harry. a 2O-year-old son. inter
eaaed and sQught TO quiet the elder man.
sut was given blow that knocked him
down The father then struck the wife,
<noeking her unconscious.
The daughter Islcy. awakened by
sereama rushed 70 where her mother lay.
aId throwing her arms tightly about her
1afhar. knocked the Eazor from his grasp.
sac litn ald IL TIE son. Harry by that
had recovered and atacked his
er sith q steel. Knocking him down.
aH4|seezs 4as Asld under $500 hall 70
zszsa inz neace,