Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-11-24


Decision on the petitions OF the Town
Meeting candidates to open the ballot.boxcs
probably will be G ven by the election court
on Monday. The court adjourned this aft.
ernoon after hearing lengthy arguments
from both the Town Meeting and Repub.
ucan party counsel
As December 8 is the last date on which
q contest of an election could be filed in
Quarter Sessions. according to the law,
Judge Finletter said he thought there might
not be time enough to go over all the bal
lots in the 1886 divisions throughout Phila-
delphia
Henry ]. Scott Of counsel for the Town
Meeting party suggested that sufficient
clerks and watchers for both sides be en-
gagged for this task He said that time
could be saved by submitting only the
questionable ballots to the court
Judge Finletter said he Thought II ,you,d
be a good thing to open the ballot boyes so
that the election officers couIa know that
thev were not so s,cred ,hot .tbny co,Id
lock IN corruntion
Mr.. Scott nointed out tb,t ,ba .r,,,
Meeting party had filed peti,iona to onon
boxes in 667 divisions and tbat ~. b.
publicans had 6led no, tinns 70 o,an H.
boxes in 1sl diyisIons making a total Of
a9s divisio,s ,,hioh aro ,,aa,G,a,,t NJ
asserted therefore ,ba, ~ would no i,s,
as well to omen aIl IN. bovas 'N'>
w. Horace Hepburn said there vas a
clause in the election law which stated th,t
all petitions for openinr boxas shnu Il ha
disposed of three days after the official
count was begun
If there were such q law Mr. Scott said.
was cer'ashiy unGonstltutionai.
IN many divisions so far it is contsndaI
snneraliv nv counseI for tho ,rn,,, NJao,ina
party that opening of the boxes win result
In electing the independent candidates
The petition to the court was filed by
Thomas F. Armstroni. candidate for Re-
af Taya
candidate for City Treasurer, and Walter
George Smith candidate for Register of
Wills A supplemental petition was filed
by Eugene C. Bonniweli. candidate for
Judge of Common Pleas Court of No 5 who
was opposed by William H. Stake Jr, and
John Monaghan
~ At the outset OF the proceedings Nj
Hepburn conterded that petitions for the
opening of all the balot-boxes should be
fied at one time Mr.. Scott said that
tiskms Os onIs,sd ,hn Sse se,dIer 1nr "i @ te @
only counted yesterday. and he had numer-
Gus petitions to prepare attacking these
turns. Mr. Scott showed. however, that he
had enough petitions ready to start proceed
ings Immediately
1t was finally agreed to let the action
start Henry j. Scott suggested that the
court take the vote of the twelfth division,
Forty.slxth Ward, and twenty-sixth divi-
sion, Fortyfourth ward, frst.
Congressman Scott Immediately Objected,
and sad he wanted to file answers to these
petitions Judges F.nletter and Martin
ruled tnat argument begin Immediately.
DENIES COURTS JURISDICTION
.wb., ,h,, nat,er h,d been settlea w.
Horace Hepburn sntd that the election
court did no. have the right to open the
ballot ballot boxes e declared - tnat na the ,eii,ne em,re
had eotten the better Of the law He said
that that the" the law wv % S1s.inctv stated that the
Quarter Sessions Court was the place for
Sa,,ot hoxas t 10 our, n.nsd wa 'hH NE p said tbe
osnot ooXe' 10 De opened. ne saiu lne
petllon wond deny the Quarter sessions
MR. 81 Scott gts"v viii N I Submit t'le large number
of affidavits covering alleged fraud charges
In zoo of the 1885 divisions Of the city.
Tbs IT. Toun s Hse,,nn mortv =, .nd oHe peHross
followers slid the evidence was so over
roynn s,s, thas they have every hope of
-
CANDIDATES SIGN PETITION
The petition, which was drawn up last
night. is signed by the three Town Meet
Rece;~ar oS Tsxss. TlsIs Waifer Canreo Smith
FOR Register of Wills and William r.
Nicholson. for city Treasurer. and also
,u,,sI Gus. , ,,,os r a.riror, or .ue e
,n SGu mD hrot ~1S for an tbe Wo ON
fiie a, separate petition for a recount.
The nettion follows:
To The Hoporabs j. Willis Martin T,nTa,tns and
Z the Honorioie InomaS ~. riii!e'te.'
judges OF the Common iLeas SouIt Su,
ting as the Eiection CourtMine petitioh
OF the undersgh-d Respectfully rHPresehts'
First. That az the nunicipaI e ec,lon,
duly held IL ahd Tor the CITY ana county
Of Philadelphia on the sixth day or No
vember, lsl7, your pettiohers were can.
didates Tor the onices hereinafter set
forth.
Second. That your petitioners are in
formed and believe, and therefore aver