Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-12-06
BAKER MAY LET
BOYSLAND HERE
War Secretary Gives Hope
but No Promises to
Mayors Party
PORT MUST BE CLEAN
Chairman Caffney Presents
Request That Pennsylvanians
Come Up the Delaware

Mavor Smith and the delegation OF
Philadelphans who went to WASHINGTON
today to ask that Pennsylvania troops be
returned from Europe through the Phlla-
delphia port received hope, but no
promises.
Secretary Of War Baker expressed to
the visitor his hope that It would be
possible to bring the Pennsylvanians
par icularly those from Philadelphia by
way of the Delaware.
But" he said. in a note of warning,
II am not going to have any man
landed where the conditions are not
wholesome and moral. When find
immoral or unwholesome conditions at
a por city, l will have the men kept
away from II.
through the ports nearest their homes
would like to have the Pennsylvania
men come in through Philadelphia, the
Massachusetts men through Boston, and
so on, and have directed that this plan
be carried out as far as practicable"
Delegates Delayed
The Philadelphia delegation, repre-
senting the camps and quarters com.
mittee of the joint special committee on
suStenance and relief. headed by Mayor
Smith, was delayed in arriving. Instead
Of keeping their appointment with Sec
retary Baker for IL O'Clock they arrived
half an hour later to find the Secretary
engaged.
In the delegation were Mayor Smith.
Joseph p. Gaffney, chairman of the com
nittee: James E. Lennon. Joseph S.
O'Brien, Joshua Evans. William J. Nc
Closkey Isaac D. Hetzell. Joseph H.
Hasskarl, assistant director Of the De-
partment of Wharves, Docks and Fer
ries, and Charles B. Hall, secretary OF
the committee.
The party then called first on Sec
retary Of the Navy Daniels, who re-
celved the delegation cordially, and
made them feel quite Welcome and at
home.
Ganney Makes Requests
Mr.. Gafney outlined the purpose OF
the visit.
There are about 100000 men from
PENNSYLVANIA and 10000 from Philadel-
phia in the army and navy" said Mr..
Gaffney Our city has set aside $780,
900 for sustenance of dependents OF
Philadelphia men in the service and
$500, 900 to be paid to families of the
navy to make up the difference between
their service pay and their regular peace
time salaries"
When Mr.. Gaffney asked early re
lease of city employees in service, Secre'
tary Daniels said
IF we should begin to discharge the
men in the public service from Phila'
delphia we would have to do the same
thing for other cities. I don't believe
the navy men can be discharged in tina
way. l have made provision that every
man who wishes a discharge can appl!
| for IL and the discharges will be ISSUED
according to the weight of the reasons,
Show Ports Merits
| Secretary Baker was much interested
! in a description of the facilities at th
Philadelphia municipal docks for hand
| ling the returning soldiers He seemed
| interested in the statement that Phil
adelphia has fine harbor facilities ant
is much nearer Europe than Baltimor
| by sea, and much nearer the west b.
rail than New York. He would look int
this matter and see about the embarka
tion of troops from western States a
Philadelphia, Mr.. Baker said.
Upon leaving Secretary Bakers Office
| MdgOT EolIlllU "tIlI W Cdll oI 'ItItId
Goethals to urge that the port Of Phil
adelphia be literally used by the Wa
Department for incoming and outgoin
vessels bearing army supplies.
Asked at the close of his intervle7
with the4 Philadelphians whether hi
statement about immoral or unwholt
some conditions at the ports had an
particular reference to Philadelphia, SeC
retary Baker said it did not, but RI
ferred to a general situation.
Mayor Smith said:
II did not think II had reference paI
ticularly to Philadelphia. About tw
weeks ago, Secretary Baker sent le
ter to the mayors of all the large citit
} giving his views on this subject an
urging that conditions be kept norall
clean for the returning boys. I wire
a reply to him withhin an hour assurin
him that everything necessary would /
done in Philadelphia TO make the cit
enjoyable and comfortable for the boz
and that every effort would be made 1
take good care of them
City Clean, Says Mills
: Acting Superintendent of Police Mi
{ was asked this afternoon II he thoug
the warning was applicable to Philad,
> phia.
Conditions here are exceptional
= good" he replied. Colonel Hatch and
are agreed the lid is on as tight as
: possible in city OF this size"
Il Colonel C. B. Hatch. OF the mari
corps, who was sent here months ago
> Secretary Daniels to "clean up" Phil
| delphia. also was asked II he bellev
Secretary Baker referred today to Phi
| adelphia.
| THAT Is a question the Secreta
should answer" said Colonel Hatch.
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