Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-01-14
Logan N. Bullitt
Dies in Hospital
Continued from Page Ore

Continued from Page One
Maria Stockton Brown. daughter of
David Paul Brown. n prominent Phila-
dclphia attorney. They had four chill
drcn. Logan NJ. Jr.. Maria. Jean and
Richard StocktOn. Richard Stockton
Bullitt was killed in the military scrv-
ice in France.
Mr.. Bullitt took mp the practice of
his fathers profession and from the
first was extremely successful. a man
of independent means. he was able to
give much of his time and energy to
battling for clean government in this
city.
Chairman of Taxpayers Committee
Mr.. Bullitts most important work
was done as chairman of the city tax
payers committee. which came to be
known as the Bullitt committee. The
committee started four important suits
against city officials and contractors
charging mIsmanagement and in two
cases direct conspiracy to defraud the
city.
of his most strenuous campaigning. aRC
himself the target of much abuse. he
said of his work: Il am simply work
ing for better civic conditions. 1t ls
hard to make people understand that.
have no political or other motive than
TO improve the government of Philadcl-
phia. The city has been plundered BY
set of contractors who used their
plumber to maintain themselves in
power and obtain additional opportuni-
ties for plunder.'
1t was Logan BullittS tireess cam
paigning that started the movement of
public sentiment against contractor rule.
lie was always foremost in assisting
every organized effort that seemed to
promise a hcttermrnt of civic con-
ditiOns in Philadelphia.
Early in 1910 the Bullitt committee
started taxpayers suit to enJoin the
1 city treasurer from making furhcr pay
mcntS until heavy floating Indebtedness
alleged by the committee had been
cleared off. 1t was charged that the
city had obligated itself to pay huge
sums without legal justification. and in
| Another allegation was that bond issues
/ had been hoated illegally in 1907, 1908
| and 1909.
In March of the same year an equity
| suit was filed by Mr.. Bullitt as n tax
| payer attacking the legality of an
! s.. 900 900 loan recently approved by
. the people. Mayor Reyburn. Control
Ter Walton and the city corporation
| were named as defendants.
In connection with the suit, Mr.. Built
. was arrested by Mayor Reyburn's : body
I guard after he had tried three times to
serve Il subpoena on the Mayor. Mr..
! n,,l1 a
magistrate and appealed TO tn" courts.
| The arrest Of the reformer created 4
great stir at the time.
suit Against Paving Company
/ Late in the same year suit was
brought against the city and the Fill
bert Paving Co.. it being alleged, as
, Judge Sul2bcrgcr. who heard tn" case,
/ expressed it. that the paving contract
! was 50 twisted as to favor the success.
full contractor in n manner Indicated
before his bid was submitted.
/ During the Blankenburg admins
tratiou Mr.. Bullitt demanded that Di-
rector Cooke. of the Department Of
Public Works. investigate work done at
the Queen Ian" filter plant before pay
ing the contractor. In l9l2 Mr.. Bull
lit sued a Inorning newspaper for libel
4 b, cause it had called him common
Nauderer' for statements it alleged he
had made concerning Michael j. Ryan.
4 then city solicitor. Mr.. Bullitt caused
the arrest Of the editors of the news
/ rapcr. bur Judge German. then mag
/ I>tra:". dismissed the case.
Mr.. BulItt had come INTO prominence
even before his advent in city reform
politics for battle he fought in the
interest Of the coal consumer. llc
charged that the railroads practicec
Discrimination in cars and freight rates
and h" went before Congress in 1906
and persuaded the legislators TO en-
power III" Interstate Commerce Com
mission ~ take action.
In civil ,utS conducted by Mr., Bul-
Iirr and William A Glasgow it wa,
shown that many railroad officials Of
rwo lines had taken hribes and thai
discrimination had been practiceC
largely. TIN. suits broke up the worst
pha>osof the car and. rate discrimina'
ton evil