Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-21
Manor Cuts Court
Fund by S328,WO

Continued from psFc Ono
Gers. whereas the local court, with nine
judges. wanted more than 300 proba E
tion officers.
Throughout the Mayors noteworthy
message runs emphasis on tfe need OF
economy and efficiency In the conduct
Of the city's many -sided affairs. Th
pay as you 60" policy Of the new
charter, he states, demanded such econ :
omy and efficiency. ...
Travelling Fund Reduced
Included in the reduction made In
the Municipal Court budget Is total
Of s2S, 900 clipped from items covering
travelling expenses. furniture, printing
and stationery, supplies and repairs and
alterations.
The Mayor makes no reduction In
the number Of clerks and special clerks
provided for the Office Of the recorder
TO cut down the number, necessary as
IL might seem, was a temporary action
to see Z the recorders force could
catch up with the vast number Of docu
ments which still are to be recorded.
Park Force Is Pared
The item for labor, skilled and un-
skilled, for the commissioners of Fair
mount Park, was reduced from S40O, ,00O
TO $500, 900.
Two positions as children's agents
rrder the county commissioners al
$500 each were eliminated from total
provision Of twelve agents.
The remaining cut made affected the
inspectors of the bureau OF weights and
| measures. A total Of fifty three inspec
tors at $500 each was reduced tC
thirty FIVE inspectors. The Mayor SAID
analysis of the bureaus reports showed
that not more than three stores a day
The anti administration forces In
Council were convinced they had enough
votes to override the Mayors veto
Councilman Connell, regarded as ont
| Of the doubtful members on the ques
tion Of the veto, was closeted with the
Mayor early this afternoon, as were
Councilmen Develin and Patton.
Conferences Are Held
Hurried conferences were under way
prior to the meeting Of Council today
Judge Brown held n secret conferences
with Thomas w. Cunningham, presi :
dent Of the Republican Alliance, and
chief Penrose lieutenant In this citv
A movement got under way to post L.
"one conncilmanic action today on the
days in which to act on negation BY
the Mayor on legislative matters.
A spectacular feature to the hustle
and hustle in the Offices of Richard
Weg'ei president Of Council. and that
( Councilman Hal. Ware whip. was the
eleventh hour arrival from Chicago OF
Councilman Roper, one Of the Mayor 8
'taunchcst champions.
Roper returned from an inspection
nf the Chicago Municipal Court rein
forced with documents and figures,
which bore out the assertions OF ex =
travagance against Judge Browns
court here.
Three Votes Arc Needed
The loyal administration members
now have six votes assured to uphold
he Mayors veto on Municipal Court
extravaganza. Three more votes are
necessary to block any move to over
ride the Mayors move for economy.
The counci'men who will stand
shoulder to shoulder with the Mayor
are COunci'men Roper, Won Tagen, Pat =
ton, Horn, Buchhols and Develin.
The twelve members who are now in
'NVi vi Tic lutl uDUTU'TIulthn lot Vnp
Municipal Court are Weglein, Lime
burner and Montgomery, elected as ad
ministration supporters together with
the nine Ware members. Gaffney. Pom
mer, Cox, Hall, McCoach, Hetzell,
rankeniield. Waiter and Mckinley.
Three members are in the doubtful
c'ass, although they were elected on an
anti Ware platform. They are Chair
man Burch, Of the finance committee,
and Counciimen Connel' and Cans.
Councilman Weglein, rs head of the
Council, will play an important role in
the final vote. While he Is a friend of
Judge Brown and Is likely to oppose
any cuts In the court appropriation, yet
strong pressure Is being brought to
swing him to the opposite column.
II Wes'ein swings, II Is believed his
change Of mind will bring at least three
other counci'm men into fine to uphold
the Mayor 8 veto. Politicians believe
the situation to be one Of unusual
delicacy for Mr.. Weglein because of his
nnconcealed ambition TO be the next
Mayor Of Philadelphia.
, WIN Fight Msndamus Evil
In the background OF the entire Mu-
nic.pal Court budget situation is the
charter provision which expressly for
bids the payment Of municipal funds
unless the expenditure has been au
thorized by a previous appropriation of
council.
This charter provision undoubtedly
will be invoked II Judge Brown EN-.
p oys his power Of mandamus to pry
funds from the city treasury. Poll.
ticians believe Judge Brown will man
damus If the Mayors veto is upheld in
Council.
Several Of the councilmen were asked
today IL they would vote against any
motion to override the Mayor on the
Municipal Court appropriation.
II won't decide until vote in Coun-
cil," Mr.. Cans replied.
Councilman Won Tagen said:
~ have such confidence in the Mayor
that l will stand back Of him. II he ex
ercises his power of veto l know that he
has certain information which justifies
such action. and for that reason 1 will
vote TO sustain his Veto"
Councilman Burch:
II have nothing to say"
Councilman Horn:
''If the Mayor reduces the Mupicipal
Court item, hope to support him. NV
position all along has been that the re.
luctIOn should be made. OF course, he |
might cut out items / would not be in |
iavo" of. and again his ideas NAV be |
better than mine. Ordinarily. however.
favor supporting the Mayor"
Irish TOlUn Burned
k T.