CITY SOLICITOR DIES AT OVERVIEW HOME [Continued From First Page] er was enjoying a hard-earned vaca tion trip. , Under Specialist's Cnrc The solicitor remained in New York for brief treatment, but then hasten ed on to Harrlsburg where his own physician. Dr. J. Ross Swartz, took charge of the case and ordered his pa tient to Philadelphia. Treatment by Dr. John Jay Tuller helped the lawyer some, but he grew perceptibly worse and finally he was removed to his country home in order that he might have complete rest and quiot. Gradually he grew weaker as his 5, sudden sinking spells grew more fre , quont and his stout efforts to rally grew less frequent. A few weeks ago the solicitor sunk so rapidly that a hurry telegram to his son brought the Yale student in haste to his father's bedside, but after the father rallied again the son returned to his studies. Son Hastens Home For the last few days Mr. Seita has been sinking rapidly and another wire was sent to New Haven notifying Robert of his father's fast slipping sriu. A final telegram informed him yesterday afternoon of the death, and the son started at once for 1 larrisburg. lie arrived this morning. Besides his son. Mr. Seitz is survived by his widow, his aged mother, and a brother David, a petty officer in the United States navy. Postmaster Frank C. Sites, a broth er-in-law of the dead solicitor, has I'hargo of the arrangements for the funeral and lie put in a busy day com pleting the details. Fum-ml Saturday Saturday afternoon will probably be selected as the date for the services, although the hour was not fixed de finitely until this afternoon. The ser vices, too, will be held at the dead lawyer's city residence, 1211 North Second street, and the Rev. John D. Fox, pastor of (trace Methodist Church, of which Mr. Seitz was a member, will officiate. The body was , brought to Harrlsburg tills morning. Council and liar to Pay Tribute Both City Council and the Dauphin County Bar will meet in special ses sion to act on the death of City So licitor Seitz and plans were mapped out. to-day for both meetings. The definite time for each session, it was pointed out by those in charge, de pended largely upon the time set for the funeral services. Attorneys this morning expected the har meeting to be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon prio rto the serv ices. Resolutions will be adopted and euologies will be spoken. Following the memorial services the united bar headed by President Judge Kunkel and Additional Daw Judge McCarrell will attend the funeral in a body. Council will arrange its meeting fol lowing the budget conference this evening. The special session will likely be held to-morrow afternoon. Tho*t Who Mourn While Harrlsburg grieves for the loss of Its ablest legal adviser and city of ficial who in many ways helped to give the municipality Its place in the sun, Dancasterians can justly point with pride to the fact that Daniel Stoafer Seitz was a native son of old Lancaster county. • Born April 19, 1861, the son of Noah and Klizabeth Seitz, he lived in Lan caster county until just a few years before he entered his teens when his parents moved to near Fall-view. The old Lochiel school building first claimed "Dan" Seitz in his "a b c" days and he finished his public school education In the Harrlsburg high school, graduating with the first class that received Its collective diploma in the then, new high school. Incidentally he was the first valedictorian, for his class was the class of 1879. In that class, too, was another citizen who has done much w for the civic development of Harrls burg and Dauphin county—Henry W. Gough. From llnnk Clerk to Law Firm Then "Dan" Seitz went to He got his A. B. degree from the Kaston institution in 1883 after four years of activity during which he frequently showed flashes of his later ability as the legal adviser of a real city. Incidental ly Mr. Seitz was a "frat" man at col lege; he belonged to the Rho chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity. The law as a profession was far from the young collegian's thoughts when he returned from Lafayette. He en tered the clerical service of the Dau phin Deposit Bank, now the Dauphin Deposit Trust Company, and worked over ledgers and things until about 1892. Then he moro or less dubiously heeded the advice of Ills friend. Attor ney R. Sherman Care. He applied for and obtained admission to practice at the Dauphin county bar. lleturnliiK to Bank During his years as a bank clerk he read and studied law, with Mr. Care's frequently voiced incentive. "Dan, If you can't make as much or more money as a lawyer during your first year as you're making now as a bank clerk, I 11 make up the difference and you can return to the bank," ringing in his ears. And It Is not of record that Mr. Care ever advanced his chum any money— and Mr. Seitz never went back to the bank, except, perhaps, to make de posits. Councilman Dan Seltx Mr. Seitz naturally went into the of fices of his friend, Mr. Care, and it was Ills chum, by the way, who moved for hip admission to the bar. A year or two later the preceptor's health failed and when he felt obliged to relinquish active work for awhile Mr. Care asked Mr. Seitz to help form a partnership And so for a number of years the bulk of the work of the successful youn<* firm of Care and Seitz fell upon the junior member's shoulders. It was 'round about that time, too that the young lawyer's thoughts turn ed to things politically. Always a sturdy Republican lie was a real hust ler in the political activities of the First ward and in 1891 a grateful con stituency sent him to Common Coun- Bringing Up Father # 1 # Copyright, 1916, International News Service # # I LI ? %\ nrirH ? a I y^^ii THURSDAY EVENING, oil. How well Commoner "Dan" Seitz served Ills ward and his city has lon been a matter of municipal history. He took a keen legal Intellect and forcible initiative for advancing the city's in terests to that law-making body. rrCNlilent of Comment Council And Common Council saw his worth, too. He was elected president Of that bodV from 1593 to 1894. Quite naturally at the expiration of ills term in 1K95 Harrlsburg decided that Mr. Seit/. was Just the man tins city wanted for its legal adviser and he was elected to that position in 1896. It Commoner Seitz won a place In municipal history as a councilman he carved himself a special niche In the hall of fame as city solicitor. Mostly It OKl's* Then Thorn* Now and then he met defeat, of course. But the thorns of unwon bat tles were hidden too deep among the roses of many a famous victory to be pointedly noticeable. Some of his vic tories sustained by the lower and higher courts have become precedents upon which third class cities of the State have entrenched themselves. For instance, there was the gruell ing battle between the city and the Sixth street property owners relative to the per foot front rule for paving as sessments. True enough Charles H. Bergner, assisted In that tight, but that didn't detract a bit from the legal ad viser's glory. That victory not only saved thousands of dollars for Har rlsburg, but the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania sustained the position of Mr. Seitz in a way that has stood for all time as a precedent for cities of the Keystone Commonwealth. The I'cr Foot Rule There were other victories, too. His successful tight against the viewers' award in Market street subway con troversy saved thousands of dollars. Mr. Seitz' contention had been that abutting property owners were bene fited rather than damaged by the Im provement, at least to the extent rec ommended by the viewers. And his ac tivities resulted In slicing at least 60 per cent, from the amounts allowed by the viewers. Among his later victories, perhaps, the Wild wood Park condemnation cases, can be cited. Had Harrlsburg paid the price demanded by the owners for the big stretch of land It obtained in Wild wood, the city's coffers would have been depleted to the extent of from SI,OOO to $1,500 an acre for the ground. Mr. Seitz advised condemnation proceedings and conducted so vigorous a campaign before the courts that Juries allowed but SIOO an acre for the parkland. The Filter Klght When the city was before the courts on the question of patent infringe ments of filtration methods Mr. Seitz worked assiduously with ex-Judge M. W. Jacobs, the special counsel, and the city won. At the time of his death litigation was pending in two other big condemna tion cases—the Front and Second street subway problems and "Hardscrabble." At that Mr. Seitz easily won the first and second line trenches in the "Hard scrabble" battle and he was preparing to continue the offensive when he was haled before the Last Tribunal. For the State Too While he was ever active in the city's interests his fame as a lawyer had be come general throughout the State. His specialty, perhaps was municipal law, and his worth was always recognized by fellow solicitors of other cities of the Commonwealth. Always a leading figure In the law committee of the Third Class City League of Pennsylva nia, (the committee which framed the legiatlon which these municipalities asked the State Assembly to eriaet in to laws) he prepared and helped pre pare practically all of the important bills that still live on the statute books. When Harrlsburg was compelled to change from the bicameral to the com mission form of government a few years ago the trying work of rearrang ing the cogs of the city's machinery to conform with the curious requirements of the Clark act fell upon Mr. Seitz' shoulders. How well he fulfilled that duty is a matter of record In the in formation lilts in the otllces of many a city clerk and city solicitor. Hon UoeN llnrrishiiiK l)o Itf For while Harrlsburg, oddly enough, was well content with the conduct of its government under the old system and was accordingly reluctant to switch from the old plan, it had solved the new problems so successfully that the most eager advocates of the commis sion plah in other cities have been forced to ask, "How Harrlsburg does It" when a particularly Intricate or trying question confronts them. In other ways fellow-barristers ap preciated Mr. Seitz' ability. As a mem ber of the State Bar Association he was invariably selected to serve on the com mittees to which were given the tough est knots of municipaf law to un tangle. On the lleneh t That City Solicitor Seitz wag de stined to go far was generally pre dicted in legal circles. Should Dauphin ever select a third member to Its Judi cial bench, It was freely conceded Mr. Seitz was to have been the choice. And there are those who believed that his elevation to the bench only waited the creation of a vacancy In the additional law Judgeship. Fellow members of the bar always recognized the solicitor's worth. He served as president of the Dauphin County Bar Association end was fre quently selected to fill Important com mittee positions. He enjoyed a promi nent place in the fraternal and social life of the city and even had a voice in Its business activities, havlijg been a member of Harrlsburg lodge 629, F. and A. M., the Social and llprrisburg Clubs, and the Chamber of Commerce. The Lant FloerH The city solicitor's quick wit and quiet humor endeared him to a host of friends and he was Invariably selected to preside at councilmanlc banquets and similar gatherings. To-day many a city official, past and present, recalled City Solicitor Seitz' genial, if rather sis- Just Two More Days For Christmas Shopping We intend to make these two days the BANNER DAYS of the Xmas season. Every item we quote will be an exceptional value. It will pay you to consider any of these items quoted. You will save money buying here. SWEATERS [ WAISTS Hundreds of times we have been-told our selee tion of Misses' and Ladies' Sweaters are the finest in ALL BEAUTIES TOO the city and so many many styles to pick from Dozens of Crepe de Chine Tub Silks all real novelty and plain styles all sizes and /jBET an( * Lingerie Waists worth $2.50 53.00 shades. JPIIhK All sizes in all styles, d* "1 Q FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY f \tj \y® * "" r I>i< * for " * we quote the following reductions 011 sweaters that " are all taken from our regular stock. Every price is HUNDREDS OF CREPE DE CHINE a genuine reduction and a large saving to you. WAISTS Regular $6.50 and $7.00 Values at Qg $3 B ° ld regularly for Qg Regular SB.OO Sweater Values at <£ Kj QO D 1 enonc * x/ , T FOUR STYLES OF GEORGETTE CREPE WAISTS Regular $9.00 Sweater Values at $6.98 Regular $6.00 values - for quick selling <t; ? Other Sweaters at $1.98, $2.50, $2.98, $3.98 your choice at ~0?- TEN STYLES IN CREPE DE CHINE f ,#S&.v Over Georgette Crepe Waists. Values up to Q An 1 p jg!; j|l) $6.00 and $7.50, your choice yUtVO W'VfSI" fanc y all d pl ain styles, each packed in a QjJ n i ce Holly box, special ✓OG Furs at greatly reduced prices including French Coney Kitten Coney Red Fox Sets and Scarfs Lynx Black Fox -- _ Taupe Fox Hudson Seal Near Seal Beaver Nutria I II r I Mole and Dog Scarfs and Muffs. 111 | Muffs From $2.98 to $45.00. V-/ JL JL Scarfs From $5.98 to $65.00. Children's Furs ... $2.98, $3.98, $4.98 up to SIO.OO Suits that formerl y sol <i at t COATS rsL sl9 - 50 Many New Coats to choose from. >~JWI $25 -° 0 a " d Prices range from $5.98, 57.50, ( 7.50 Suite at SIO.OO, $15.00 up to $20.00. AiV T | any Cl ° th COi " " tHe at .$10.50 AA -If p THIS MEANS— \ /L J# The choice of any suit— a None Reserved — nificant comment, upon the remarks of a fellow-diner who had said some mighty nice things about the municipal lefjal adviser In calling upon him to respond to a toast at a famous coun cliiiranic banquet: • "* * * and I'm not too modest to say that I think I should prefer the flowers placed In my arms rather than upon my grave!" HARRISBUT*© TELEGRAPH CITY BRIEFS AMSTERDAM. Of twenty Bel gians who had been sentenced to death by a German court-martial at Hasselt, eleven were shot last Saturday, says the Maastricht Lea Nouvelles. Forty four persons were sentenced to vari ous terms of penal servitude and 64 others ordered deported to Germany. The newspaper adds that another court-martial was begun to hear the . case of 192 Belgians charged with ! espionage. NORHISTOWX. _ The Ballard i Knitting Company announces a gen . eraPwage increase of five per cent, in effect the week beginning January 4, 1917, until further notice. HAZIiETON, The IJUZCTOC Coun ty Gas and Electric Company, with DECEMBER 21, 1916. branches at Kingston and Wilkes- Barre, to-day announced a wage ad vance of from $5 to $lO to a large number of its men. PHILADELPHIA. ln eighty-live minutes yesterday Sergeant William Ocker, of the United States Aviation Corps, Hew from Washington to this city, a distance of 139 miles, In his army airplane. He came unheralded, circled City Hall at an altitude of 2,- 000 feet and then whirred to League Island, landing at 2:45 o'clock. Ser geant Ocker recently piloted Congress man-elect E. D. Bleakley, of Frank, lin. Pa., from this city "to Washing* ton. 13
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers