Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-20
BROWN GAINS GROUND
IN CONTEST IN HOUSE
BU q star Correspondent

Harrisburg, April 2O.--Mayor Moore =
supporters in the House lost fight
last night to sidetrack the bill which
would open the way for appointment Of
another occupant for the proposed
palace of justice. which PHILADELPHIA
combine leaders are desirons Of build.
ing to house President Judge Browns
Municipal Court.
In the midst of a series of parlia Z.
mentary mancuvers. in which the
Moore supporters were outvotcd. Repre-.
sentative FRANKLIN Spencer Edmonds.
Germantown. independent. scored the
political activity of Judge Brown. who
has been frequent visitor to the Capi.
tol during the session and was here
today.
wide criticism has been aroused in
Philadelphia concerning the political
activity Of the president Judge" said
Mr.. Edmonds.
'In that I agree. It Is his duty to
divorce himself from politics.
"Thc criticism becomes stronger ms
the costs Of the court increase and
center in one man. The costs Of man.
damuscs issued ana used in building up
the administration Of the court add to
the expense.
People May Lose Faith
"If this piling up Of the costs of this
court continues; II It continues to ccn-
ter in one man, and II that man con
tinucs to remain active in factional
politics, the faith of the people in the
courts will be greatly undermined"
The constant attendance Of Judge
Brown in the Capitol TO lobby was at
tackled by Representative Isaac T.. s.
Smink. another supporter Of the Mayor.
Senator Daix introduced the bill to
permit tho election Of another judge OF
tho Municipal Court to take care e
the increased population Of Philadel.
phia and, opponents Of the measure de-
clare. to open the way for increasing
the salary Of the existing judges.
When tho bill came up for second
reading in the House. Representative
Harry Trainer offered a motion to post
ponc. which would have delayed action.
Representatives II BENJAMIN Il. Colder OBJ
jected to the postponemcnt. On the vote
the Mayors supporters were voted
down.
Representative Smink then offered
amendments to take the authority of
appointing the president judge from the
G0verOnor and lodge it with a board Of
judges of the court. which would be
created by the amendment.
Tho amendments also would make
work on the part Of the president judge
compulsory by requiring him to take
regular turn with other judges sitting
In court.
Ware men fairly lcapod to their feet
to attack the Smink amendments and
after u bitter debate succeeded in hav-
ing them defeated by vote of 100
against to Al for.
Colder characterized the amendments
as peanut politics and "a blow at
the president judge.
Senator Daix sat beside Colder dur
ing the debate.
Colder branded the affair as
"sniplng' contest and asked who
would want to take the appointivc
power away from the Governor.
Smink retortcd that the court was
"a thorn in the side of Philadelphia.
and referred to relieving the Governor
Of ian obnoxious duty" He said the
court cost $1.00O,000 and his amend
ments would give the city "thc value
Of its money"
Colder declared he did not "care if
IL cost 81 900. 900 or 5000. 900. and
there could be no noblcr work than
uniting families, which the court does,
without criticism, except from political
opponents