Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-14
JUDGES PASS BUCK
ON CITY HALL: FIRE
Justices Assert Supreme Court
Was Not Even in Session
at Time Of Blaze
BLAME SUPERIOR TRIBUNAL

The meal to- orGcr system ~hA'H 'eu
to n fire in III" Surr"ln" '"uf 'h"n''
Der recently cannot bc blamed on '"'
States highcs, tribunal.
Although tho justicea ~ th' court
cdmi, they boil coffcc there. they haV"
n complc,c alihi backed by Il" nm'h :
tnry evidence, rcr"rds--yeil. ANA even
tie calendar,
Responsibilities for the blaze. from
the standpoint of cold 'i!dtcia' doduc'
sirn, rests on tho Superior Court. why:
We'll, the truth was learned today AMI
il ke"ps the crminc of Tn" highest
tribunal absolutely unSniied.
Criticism by Mayor Moore, who be-
lieyCs that restaurants Hh"'iIdh h'
allowed in city Hail even I" cater TO
judicial appctitcs. Tanned ia" hrc 10
iigurativr fame HgaiD.
Here are some Of the r"AS"nS why
the Suprem" Court is innocent ana why
tho criticism is ''imcomlRtcn'. iIrc''N-
an, and immatcrial. n$ J. sometimes
said in court.
chief Justice vom Moschzi'ker was
among others who's" views ON III" '"S"
were sought.
The Justice was not IN very Hrf!ou"
nouI. IIr cSprossch sGrpris" an hear
ing fhnt there was Il tendency 10 plar"
responsibility on the Suprem" court aN
a whole.
Court Not in Session at Time
Then for n tcw moments the Cher
Justices training began +" assert it.
srlf. ,
"In the first place. he said. the
Supreme Court was not III session ana
it's members did not even have their
gowns there. Al inyestlgao"n was
made and it was found by quest ioning
those in charge thGt the cl"ctrlrlty was
not turned on. There is II small stove
in Il room used US Cluukroom, where
coffee Is heated. Two Judges OF the
Superior Court. in session at the time
of the Tire. say that tho current az
tuchcl to the stovc was not turned 'h'
The fire Gauges 10 loss I" IN" city.
as insurance in charge Ot tho SINKING
Fund Commission takes car" "t thHt.
think il would he better :" abolish AL
stoves which, may 10 il NJ" and have
no cooking in III" Hall. | agree with
the Mayor in that respect.
As Mayor Moore was rather sweep
ine in his criticism OF municipal cook
inr establishments In Tia" Hall, Judge ).
, Willis Martin, who hus tt very light
lul ch prepared in one ot the sinal!
r", ms adjoining his Common Pleas
, Court No. ., was asked his views on
tht matter.
well, maybe the Mayor viii !uvit"
| th" judges out to lunch, be said. " h."
! figIres concerning the dnmag" by IN"
/ frr show thc loss was something more
than l4,000. That is not very serious
IN view Of the fact that CITY iall was
bu fifty-two years ago, and ] brIieN"
the fire mentioned was the first her" IN
all that rimc.
Saved City Reai Money
The Judge paused 80 look over >"n.'
pspers and then added; The habit
Of many of the Judges in taking theil
luncheCn in the hall really hs- sny"d
considerable mou"y Tor th" "i'I. MS
is very appn rent in the matter OF time
80 ed. Instead OF wasting on" or nearI'
tuo hours going TO some h"teI theN
remain near their work and are r"ndI
10, work right on the moment "het
trails arc resumed. think suci
or ticism j. making mountain out
of mole hll. It's really amusing
4 defective wire is likely 10 cause
FIRE anywhere.
! he flrn anu th' JLNl'thl 'hi' ''i -
! sy.tem which was supposed lndire"tl'
10 have caused il were discussed yes
terday at meeting Of the sinking
Fund Commission when il vas IN
uounreI that the cost Of restoring III
court chambers would be abou
Sl4.3Jo. The Mayo" didn object e
the cost. hu' h" WAS opposed {" N
manner in which the work waS 10 b
let. II was announced that tn" wor'
vas !" be apportt"I'ed among. firm
designated by = man selected by Jus'i"
k"phart.
Mayor Sees ooking Menace
This suggestion arou"oi the Mayor
indignation. lie insisted that the wor
, be done by competitive bidding, ~ pr"
scribod BY the city Charter, ana Ia