Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-09-23
Cas, City Afford
Palace of Justice?

W VuEs "'O sO.'
of the plans for the ''paiace," and sale
he would release twenty. nine rooms IN
City Hall for Other purposes. The pro.
posed courthouse Is to stand on thu
Parkway, between Twentieth ant
Twenty first streets, facing 1osar
square.
Mr.. Connor contipued that the pro.
posed new building would provide 460.
900 square feet for the purposes Of the
court. He said 5000 persons daily are
interested in the courts proceedings
and that its work has increased 18d
per cent since 1914.
"what will It cost?' asked Juds,
Audcnried.
"If the work had not been delayed
It could have been completed for 3d.,
600, ,000," the attorney replied.
Mrs. Jurist Gives Views
Mrs. Louis Jurist, n manager Of the
House of Detention. was the first op.
ponent who gave her views. She be.
gan addressing the crowd IN the room,
but was told by Judge Audenreid to
speak to the court. She said that the
money that the proposed structure
would cost Is needed for the child wards
of the city.
Mrs. Jurist declared that the original
plans for the Municipal Court Ind been
wholly forgotten. and las Senator Ware
and the late Senator McNichol has
prophesied, the thought has led into
great extravaganza. and waste of the
city's money"
Mrs. Jurist said the money would be
bc far better spent by applying II to the
congested sections Of the city, 80 thnt
the housing conditions of the poor could
be improved.
Councilman Develin, who has fought
the palace project through all its
stages, compressed his arguments under
three general heads. He argued that the
original purpose Of the court was to
have It close to the people, operated in
various sections of the city.
IL the Legislature ever decides TO
distribute the Municipal Court judges
In various localities. he said. the or =
nate court building would be useful only
as an art museum and this city already
is at work on such a museum.
The Municipal Court Is understood TO
be a business institution, he continued,
and n business building would be moro
appropriate than the ornate building
that the County Commissioners plan for
the court which President Judge Brown
heads.
Another point made by Mr.. Devclir
was that the cost of the "paiace'
would be entirely out of proportion
to its purpose. The city and county
needs S20O,000, 900, he said, to bring
the city up to date for tho Scsqui Cen :
tennfal. Money available should be
used for necessities and not superuities,
he argued. From $50 ,OOO. 900 to $50, :
100000 is needed for the water supply
alone, he added.
Details Of Project Described
Mr.. Windrim described details of the
project as he walked about the model
and pointed to various features. The
building was planned to face the south,
he said. and was designed so the maxi
mum amount Of light and air will be
obtained The roof of the south wing
Is TO have a playground for children.
The south wing itself will accommodate
200 children and will cost 81 400, 900,
tho architect said.
"In your opinion is this building un.
usually ornamental!" asked Judge
Audenried.
NO. it Is very plain and we'll pro-
portioned. he said, adding that 1t will
be built Of Indiana limestone.
II would like to know something OF
the city's financial condition." re.
marked Judge Audenried. THE City
Controller should be here to tell "
thoso things. | understand the county
commissioners have no power to raise
any money except for soldiers mon
umcnt."
Mr.. Connor told the Court 81 900, ,OOr
already has been appropriated for th'
proposed building.
Mr.. Thompson. the next speaker
urged the approval Of tho plans.
AS citizen" he said, II am in
t"reS"ted in having n building con
strurted that will harmonzie with tho
other structures to be built on the
Parkway. 1t is true. | believe. tina,
palmer, simpler building could be
designed, but don't believe the citizens
want one palmer and simpler"
Mr.. Thompson said the visitor abrond
brings back impressions Of the grand
eur of Westminster Abbey. st. Pauls
Cathedral. the Louvre and other AR
chitcct,ral triumphs while in New
York, the visitor IL impressed with the
beauty of the Astor and the Lennox
libraries. lie added that he objected
to placing n factory-type of building on
the Parkway.
What about the water supply :"
asked Judge McCullen. 1T has been
said here the city needs money for its
water supply"
II cant speak about the finances of
the city" replied Mr.. Thompson. ri
we can't build this structure because
the money is needed for something else
and that something else can't be ii :
nanred because there are still other
needs We will never get anyw here"
'Do you think building Of this
type IS necessary inquired Judge
Audcnrird
well, If w"rc thinking of rsltting
up II building ] wou!d engage an expert
ns the County commissioners have done
TIL" officials of the court say the build
ing, nS planned. is appropriate, and
that it suits their needs"
Mr. Nauclnin followed the l.. G. |
official. and also indor"od tho project
ll9 said he failed to see where the build
Ing hS planned IS too ornamental. liz
added he understands the space now
occupied for the business of the Mu.
nicipal Court Is inadequate.
Henry NJ. Gratz, president of tho
PonnSylvania Society for the Protection
Of Children from Cruelty, said the Mn
nicpal Court needs larger quarters
Some of the clerks work In rooms littl,
larger than closets, he said. The Moral,
Court IN particular. hr said, should b,
placed in more homelikc surrounding,
than Twelfth and Wood streets. Ht
added that this city should be prout
Of the court.
INJURIES PROVE FATAL
4,