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