Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-06-21
COUNCILS PROVIDE
FOR MOSQUITO WAR
Finance Committee Recon-
mends $4,000 Appropria-
tion for South Phila-
delphia Work
FUNDS FOR JOHNSON ART
Bill Authorizes Mayor to Re-
ceive Gift for City and to
Notify Executors

An appropriation Of $4,000 for use in
combating the mosquito evil in South Phil
adelpha received the recommendation Of
the Finance Committee Of Councils and was
reported upon favorably az this afternoons
session Of Councils. Councilmen are par
ticularly interested in this appropriation, as
they feel that It is one that Is especially
needed at this time, because of the great
number Of men quartered at the navy yard
which IL but a short distance away from the
breeding places of these pests.
Legislation appropriating sufficient funds
10 provide for the upkecp Of the John G.
Johnson home and the John G. johnson art
collection, as well as to meet any collateral
inheritance tax that may be imposed was
introduced this afternoon and viii be favor.
ably reported at special meeting Of the
Finance Committee before the close OF the
day. The exact Cost Of retaining the
famous collection for Philadelphia Is not
known.
The bill authorizes the Mayor TO accept
the gift and notifies the executors to that
effect II also directs the Mayor to execute
a contract I'm behalf Of the city before Octo-
Der 10 to carry out the intents and pur-
poses Of the will. The measure also appro-
PIRATES n blank sum Of money to pay the
collateral inheritance tax the succession
tax, legacy tax and for the iireprooiing OF
Joseph p. Gaffney, chairman of Councils
Finance Committee, and late today the
Finance Committee will decide the amount
Of money required to pay necessary cX-
penses.
This sum probably will exceed 100000.
Art lovers and patrons have urged
prompt action by the city so that there will
not be any danger OF exceeding the time
limit Of six months fiYe3 Dy Mr. johnson
in his will The latest date that the city
can accept the gift and make final provision
to comply with all of its demands is Octo-
ber H. and It is feared that II the legisla-
tion be left until the reconvening OF Councils
after the summer recess, some hitch might
occur TO prevent the City's carrying out, In
full its share of the bargain. In this event
the entire collection, valued at several mill
lions Of dollars, would automatically become
the property Of the Metropolitan Art Mu-
scum, of New York city.
Todays session of Councils Is In the ma
ture of n preliminary cleanup, az present
plans call for a final adjournment following
n special session to be held next Thursday.
This afternoon favorable reports were re-
ceived from tHe Finance Committee on ap-
prOpration and transfer bills tOtaling
$500, 900. These will all be finally passed
next week, They provide S36, S53 for salary
increases; 100000 for general repairs to
Streets S2O0 600 for the purchase Of water
front properties; $500 for sectional Cele-
brations Of the Fourth Of July; $4,000 for
the improvement of Palmer Park; $4,000
for additional city nurses; $4,000 for re-
paving insantary alleys; $4,000 to meet
increased cost Of labor in the parks and
many others.
In the list of measures finally passed to-
day were many providing for the opening
Of sections Of streets in the suburbs, others
for the revising of the lines and
grades of streets already oposJ..', and
still others for the vacation OF n DSmber Of
az TasuV, 10 ~ - AaA E0.,a =,
provides for the condemnation Of certain
plots OF ground for park and playground
purposes In the Sixteenth Ward. This
ward which Is one OF the largest in the
city. is badly in need OF this class of i'm
brovement Another measure approved ap-
propriates $3SS.OO0 out Of the S11,3OO, 900
loan of 1915 for rebuilding the powerhouse
at the Philadelphia General Hospital
MAYOR VEToEs BILL
The Mayor sent a message to Councils.
vetoing bill appropriating $500 to be used
by Councils Committee on Soldiers Monu-
ments for an inspection trip to Antietam
battlefield In vetOing the bill the Mayor
said the expenditure at this time would be
unnecessary.
Among the new bills introduced was one
providing for an appropriation of 316,250
needed for the remainder OF the year to pay
the increased salaries OF magistrates who
received a boost from $4,000 10 $4,000 per
year under recent act Of the Legislature
Another bill introduced appropriates $4,000
to the Municipal Court for refurnishings. A
third substitutes uniform regulations to gov.
ern municipal market houses
The "stone-pile law" providing that de-
serted wives receive siXty-five cents day
from the county for the labor Of their huS-
bands while in prison. will not become ef.
fectve for months, as Councils Finance
Committee has failed to provide the neces-
sary funds to carry the measure into effect
Governor Brumoaugh signed the meas
ure that had long been urged by the So
ciety for organizing Charity and by social
workers all over the State several weeks
ago, but this fact was not allowed by the
municipal financiers TO affect their decision
to leave the bill imperative until such time
as the city treasury is in more healthy con-