EVENING iEDGR PHIEAPBLPHIA, MONDAY, 6 xxjt xvxju iyj.o. . MVB DONE NO WRONG SAYS MAYOR, OF BOND COMPANY CONNECTION JEJxetiUtiVe Declares He Could Have Concealed Position ;, Prom Public, but Did No So Choo&e ORDERS LISTS PREPARED L- Y Mayor 'Spilth IJ today, speaking of his detention of hla stock holdltiRS In th Thomas B. Smith Bonding Company, thnt Ms was having his directors and depart mental heads prepare Hats of all city of ftclalB bonded y tho company, of which ho was presfdehfc tip Until a few months affo The Mayor has taken the poaltlon that, had he chosen to withhold from the pub lic his connection With the bonding com pany, which, as agent for the National Surety Company, does more city bonding than any other nh concern, he could not only have resigned his $10,000 place as president but could have transferred his stock to ln outsider to hold for him dur lng his four-year term as Mayor. The fact thnt ha resigned from tho active man agement of the concern, he asserts, shows hjs desire to hjdo nothing from the public. fiwits of "vuAns of lajioiv In discussing tho bonding situation, tho Mayor said, "I am perfectly willing that e,very opo should know of my business In terests. ! very one knew that I was pres ident of tho Thomas D. Smith Company when I was candidate for Mayor. I spent the best part of my life making that company a success. I resigned the pres idency, hut surely no sane person expected mo to give up my holdings In the company, the fruits of years of hard labor, simply because I was going to take a temporary oinco In tho government of the city of Philadelphia. "I doubt very mucn whether any of the firms which have been bonded by the Kattotutl Surety Company slnco I havo been Mayor were Influenced by my pres ence In office. Xn.fact, In the list of con tractors already published, there are few, If any1, who havo not been doing business with tho Thomas B. Smith Company for years, long before I had any hopes of be coming Mayor. "Do you think." continued the Mayor, "that If 1 supposed I was going to bo at tacked, for deliberate and wilful wrong dolncuind was at the time bent on law breaking for proflt. I would not have adopted methods to safeguard mytiolf from vfrltlclsm? Wns It not entirely feasible for mo to havo transferred my Btock, to be held In nnother namo, for my Interests. I did no such thing That would have savored of turning sharp corners and had It become known I could justly havo been criticised I cannot see that I como rvlthln tho law I feel certain that I havo dono no wrong." COMMISSIONS 30 PEIl CENT. In explaining tho bonding business, the Mayor said that although the Thomas II. Smith Company, of which It Ib by far the heaviest stockholder, has written bonds for moro than ?I,000.000 since last Decem ber the amount that actually came Intp the concern becnuso of that business wns comparatively small. Ho said that the Smith Company's commissions on premi ums from the National Surety Company vero 30 per cent. Frequently, he declared, business comes In through surety brokers -who must bo paid a commission of 15 per cent This leaves IB per cent, on such business for tho Smith Company. Out of thin, tho Mayor explained, olllce rent, salaries and other expenses must, bo met. This ex planation was made by the Mayor be cause he felt that tho public might con fuse tho amount of the bonds written with the actual return to the Smith Company. Scltct Councllmon Harry J. Trainer and Charles Seger, at a recent meeting i of tht Finance Committee, attacked the custom of forcing small clerks and low salaried officeholders, who handle none of the city's money, to give bonds. Coun cilman Trainer Is expected to Introduco In Councils. In the near future, bills re pealing ordinances requiring tho general bonding of small placeholders and cer tain classes of municipal pontractore. MISS BESSIE STRAUSS Who Is distributing mntzoths among the poor Jews of tho city that thoy may observe the Pnss- ovcr properly. GIVES MATZOTH TO TOOR Divorces Granted Today Court of Common Pleas No 5 granted the following divorces today: Bertha Hay llorrln from Edward Morris . Wlllan Viola Wilson Miller from Jarvis Henry Miller. Ethel Crawford from Matthew n. Crawford. Itlta Hlckks Harmon from lljron L,. Har mon Charlotte. M. Price from Clinton F. Price Margaret K. Moody from Itufui p. Moody. Mary Violet Kolcomli from William II Hal comb. llertrara Urban from Catherine Itcbtcca Urban Eva Stoklsy- Evana from Frank Evana. J-ff?'!. SJ; .I'rown from Etta Brown. Elizabeth T. Oallasher from Thoraaa Gal lasher i John Cerulaw from Freda Fenalaw. Kdward Stiles from Florence SI. Stiles. Louis lfers from Annie Myera Kdna fl, Nlver from David M. Nlver. Mar A.. Ifersojr from Ilernard II. lienor. I'aulln. Illllnski from Andrew lllllnekl. ?.,0.rr.', '0ltkDf from Esther Polekorf. Eatell p. Jones from J, Clarence Jones. PasquaU Tomasulo from Amolnetta Tom aauio. Vry W. Umbo from Cora Kambo. John Campbell from Jennie Campbell. Mauda T Thomas from Clifford E. Thomas. Girl Distributes 1000 Pounds of PasBover Food to Destitute Jewish Families of City One thousand pounds of matzoth wcro distributed today by 17-year-old Bessie Strauss, of 420 South street, nmong desti tute Jewish families for their use during the eight-day feast of Passover She began this custom seven years ngo and repeated this practical charity ccry year slnco. Tho Passover will be ushered In tonight with a seder or home eervlco and com memorates the emancipation of the Israelites from Egyptian bondago under tho leadership of Moses. Within tho last few years the price of matzoth has Increased steadily. This year the prices rango from 7 to 15 cents per pound, according tb quality. As the avcr ugo family consumes nt least 20 pounds during the eight days, the strain on the poor man's purse Is apparent. When Bessie Strauss was 10 years old sho was sent by her teacher to tho homo of a clnssmato to learn why tho latter was absent from school Bosilo found the girl 111, her family in destitute cir cumstances, and, although Passover was only one day off, there was no money to buy matzoth or other urtlcles of food re quired for the proper observance of tho festival She used tho contents of her savings bonk to buy matzoth for the family It then occurred to her that mnny other families might also be rufferlng Although sho had been saving money to take a courso oi music in uurope, she resolved to contlnuo her musical education In this -ountry and used the money to buy mat zoh for suffering Jewish families In tho southern section of tho city. MAX SENT TO PRISON' FOR ANNOYING (JIIILS Pupils of School in West Philadelphia Causo Arrest of Tormentor On tho accusation Of hnvlnir nnnmrfA beneath the windows of a prlvato school ... Hvw ..., nwi-ci uu unuuyi'U some girl students by his actions, Philip McCub, Wff rvan nf an .... Q,.l. . . . ...... v.. biicui iii-w duti, wuh ecnirnceu today to 30 dnys In tho county prison by Magistrate Harris, nt the 82d street and Woodland avenue station Four girl students testified against Mc Cue. They are Agnes Ayles, Mnynor Parker, Edna King nnd Carrie Allison, all of 3305 Arch street Tho girls testified that McCuo had appeared under tholr windows on secral occasions. Yesterday they notified the police of the 32d street and Woodland avenue station that he had appeared again, nnd Policeman Conway was sent to the bcone. McCue started to run when ho saw the policeman. Conway Is stout and a poor runner, and It Is cer tain that McCue would havo escaped had not seeral boys Joined In the chase. Tho boys were right at McCue's heels when he opened tho kitchen door of a house on Ludlow street and ran through the house, much-to the consternation of tho Inmates The boys tackled McCue on the front porch and held him until the arrhal of Policeman Conway. Magistrate Harris wanted to send the case to court so that "a stiff" sentence could bo imposed upon McCue, but the girl students were reluctant to press It further, and so the Magistrate settled the matter with a 30-day sentence. ASKS RELIGIOUS AID I FOR 12,000,000 YOUTHS Rev. Dr. R. W. Beach Telia Presbyterian Clergy That Many Are Without It That there are between 11,000,000 and 12,000.000 boys nnd girls of school age who havo no religious Instruction what ever, wni tho assertion made today by tho Rev. Dr. Robert Wells Bench nt tho meet ing of tho Presbyterian Ministers Associa tion, held In Westminster Hall, Wither spoon Building. Doctor Beach Is secre tary of nellglous Education of tho Pres byterian Board of Education. Equally surprising to his hearers was Doctor Beach's estimate that only 30 per cent, of tho Presbyterian families In tho United States hold any kind of family worship In their homes or attempt any systematic Instruction of their children In religious mnlters This latter assertion evoked protests of "Too high I Too high I" from Doctor Beach's hearers. "Then make It 20 per cent.," ho replied "Twenty per cent. Just think of It." Doctor Beach's toplo was "Education In the Local Church" He held It to bo n. primary responsibility of the church members to provide religious Instruction for children "The State," he snld, "takes caro of training In citizenship It Is the duty of the church to provide opportunity for eery chltd to become n Christian To this end the Instruction In religious mnttcrs should begin In tho home "True, there oro 18,000,000 children In our Sunday schools, but thero are 11,000,000 or 12,000,000 boys and girls of school nge who hava no religious In struction wnatever ana it is our duty to provide for them In the same manner as the State cares for Its future citizens " ITALIANS TAKE ADVANCED POSITION ON CARSO FRONT Austrinns Compelled to Evacuate Mountain Trenches Southeast of Lovico ROME, April 17. A. statement Issued by genoral headquarters last night says. "There was considerable artillery activ ity and movement of enemy troops In the one between the Lagartna and Sugann Valleys. Wo repulsed small attacks against our positions at Sogllo d'AspIo and Mltegrobo, on the upper Astlco. In the Sugana Valley wo compelled the enemy to evacuate his position at Monte Car bonllo, southeast of IjOvIco, which wo maintain under a curtain of ire "In Carnla there were artillery duels along a portion of the front from tho upper Degnno to tho upper But. "On Mnr.II, Friday night, the enemy di rected machine gun and rlflo fire ngalnst positions he had vainly assailed on Thurs day. "In tho Carso n bold advance of our Infantry cast of Selz and Monfalcono gave us possession of now advanced positions. Wo took 20 prisoners, together with am munition, bombs and caissons." AUSTRIAN'S ABANDON VALONA OFFENSIVE Activities on Russian and Italian Fronts Reason for Quitting noMi:. Anrll 17 Plans for an Austrian offensive against tho Albanian port of Valona have been abandoned because of activities along tho Italian and Russian fronts. It was learned I here today. I Tho Austrlans were moving troops J southward through Albania when tho Itus i sians and Italians simultaneously attacked Austrian lines. Tho troop movements were stopped and pnrt of tho Austrian fnmfti wpia spnt bunk in thn.Tflnnso. wham Hi (iv have been seen In notion. t l Gcnorn, Torro, second In command of tno' Italian urmj' 1 1 , 11 ! I1! II i slim Our Newest Gasoline Service Station n ta ' I i Open M H 9 rp Inspection Valona. of has returned from an tho Italian defenses of Rubber Found in Coffee Bags CHRISTIANS, April 17. A large quantity of rubber was found to bo con cealed in cofTee bags on board tho Lyn genfjord, which sailed from New York, March 17, for Bergen The entire con signment of 2o0 bags was belzed. The rubbor was discovered through the burst ing of one of the bags while tho steamer was unloading. I Woman Burned by Gasoline YORK, Pa.. April 17. Gasoline set lire to the dress of Mrs. Wilbur E Laumaster and she was severely burned Sho poured a basin of gasoline she had used to clean gloves Into a hole In the ground where her husband had tossed a lighted match. THE BOOKSHOP Easter Cards Booklets Novelties and Books THE DAYLIGHT BOOK STORE 1701 CHESTNUT ST. mHlLADELPHIANS were JL brought up on Ben Franklin aijd his almanac. They save and invest their money. Philadel phia is .one of the greatest markets in the world for securities; and those who make it such are read ers of the Public Ledger. Let the financial advertiser take heed. North Broad Street and Hunting Park Avenue onday, April Seventeenth HE liberal patronage of our West Philadelphia Service Station, in Chestnut Street, Thirty-third and Woodland Avenue, and the number of requests from the North Broad District have prompted us to build another service station, which will be open to the public Monday, April 17, 1916. CONVENIENCE COMFORT SAFETY ' The same perfect day and night service which characterizes and popu larized our Chestnut StreeStation' will prevail at this new station. Cour teous attendants will stfpply you cheerfully pump your tires or fill your radiator, Ade orylail lights, free of charge. THAT GQ.QP GULF GASOLINE and SUPREME AUTO OIL and GREASES will be handled exclusively, which in itself is a guarantee of satisfaction', - i 2s 'V y During the openin EM rTSA7Palr M Can of OIL April 1 7, to Saturday, April 22, inclusive, we will giyf free a sampeycan of our SUPREME AUTO OIL to H I U I i n every patron of the station who purchases five or more .gallons of THAT GOOD GULF GASOUNE. 1 I II ' n ii o j r Free Sample Can of Supreme Auto Oil fG THIS COUPON WITH YOU BRI .e samplean of SUPREME AUTO OIL. will be pre- every purchaser of five (5) or more gallons of The fr sented j THAT GOOD GULF GASOLINE who brings this coupon to our North .broad btreet and Hunting rark Avenue Service Station. 1 Good Onlv Dunne Onenincr Week. Ann! 17 to 22 v w 1 - a - -- GULF REFINING COMPANY a ii o u a u 'V u 1 . We want all motorists to know and use SUPREME AUTO OIL. It leaves less carbon in the cylinders; it provides the most efficient lubrication under all conditions, ... t SUPREME AUTO OIL is sold in "The Handy Can," containing one" gallon, also in five-gallon cans with patent spouts, in barrels and half barrels, or delivered to your-garage in bulk from our tank trucks. ( yt ' We will also deliver THAT GOOD GULF GASOLINE in 50-Gallon 4 lots or over. ' We Solicit YoUr Patronage GULF REFINING COMPANY The Largest Independent Refining Company in the World MORRIS BUILDING jseaapwaMM1WIB'T'rlSwaa'egewaaaaaaB 1l ij-wt ii i 'J'ljg.'Sl. --LL' i ' "; """ " " - i ULJBBMJBMPllBeM"WMallllllr-ljBMlrfl 1 v' "r " ' ' ' ..- i"immih i'i hi'mi iiiiiiiw.,1,,1 m Ml , ""'j"-11 Ui. "Vinvhhhume,!,,,,,, ,1.1... r iiiiii in n i M.i.BM t,t,
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