National Affairs: Perpetuity in Philadelphia

Justices of the U. S. Supreme Court hold their jobs only for life. Philip H. Johnson, architect of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, legally held office "in perpetuity," but last week Death —coming as it must to all jobholders—brought even his job to an end. Johnson's late wife was a sister of "Judge" Israel Durham who 30 years ago was a power in Philadelphia politics. In 1903 Durham got the city council to vote his brother-in-law a perpetual contract as architect at a fee of 6% of the total cost of constructing...