Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-04-01
GAS TRUST CONDEMNED.
"A Fearful Judgment Pronounced.

reartul Judgment fronouEcec.
After about four months work the COM
mittee on the Investigation Of the Phila-
delphia gas trust presented to the councils
yesterday afternoon a report signed by all
the members of the committee. Severely
as this report reflects upon the gas trustees
and their management, ). Davis Page
says that some parts Of it are not ex-
pressed in terms as strong as he had ar
gued for in Wednesdays executive ses-
sion. Notifications were made, he adds.
in order that the select cOuncilmen of the
committee would sign the report and
allow it to be passed by the select council
with opposition from them. He declares
that there was an expressed understand
ing with the selectmen to this effect. and
Committeeman Miles, who belongs to the
select chamber, corrObOrates him upon this
point. The common council received the
report and passed tho following unani-
mOusly.
"Resolued, BY the select and common
councils of the city of Philadelphia, that
the board of trustees of the Philadelphia
gas works be directed to advertise for coal
and supplies, to be furnished under con-
tract or otherwise, as do the other depart
ments of the city of Philadelphia, in ac-
cordance with the acts of Assembly and
ordinances of the city in such cases made
and provided.
"Resolced, That the testimony and re-
port in connection with the pipes pur
chased from Jesse W. Starr, sr., be re-
ferred to the district attorney and city So
licitor.
Resolced, That the incoming councils
for 1881 he requested TO pass an ordinance
taking possession of the Philadelphia gas
works, and to make an appropriation to
paw off the balance of loan Q upon such
terms as can be made with the holders Oi
the loan, SO as to bring this department
under the direct executive control Of the
city councils.
sResolced, That the city solicitor be in.
stucted to file a bill in equity against the
trustees Of the Philadelphia gas works.
looking to a proper account by them o.
their management and conduct of tho
Philadelphia gas works, and that a copy
Of tho testimony and the report taken and
made by the committee be semitic him rs :
basis for such action.
| McMuilin's Performance.
When the report went before the selec
chamber there was revelation, and sus
picions previously expressed were con
firmed. President George A Smith, of thu
select council, being still confined to hi!
house by sickness which had kept hin
there about week, a motion made by
George Roney, Republican, the Seven
teenth ward member, that John McCul
lough should preside in the absence o
Mr.. Smith, was carried. All the res
olutions presented by Mr.. Bardsley'.
gas trust investigating committee wcr,
adopted except the important one direct
ing the city solicitor to proceed against
the trustees by bill in equity. This res
olution was defeated, the only selectmer
of the investigating committee voting for
it being Meessrs. Miles and Reyburn
Messrs. McMulln, Albright and Brooke
voted to defeat it, although they hat
signed the committees report. Ther
temporary President Mccullough, il
whom President Smith accorded th,
privilege four months ago of an
pointing the select chambers quota of tn,
investigating committee, appointed as
committee to confer with similar com
mittee of common council the very mei
who had just voted to defeat the resolu
tion-Messrs. McMullin, Albright ant
Brooke. The conference committee coul(
not agree and thus one purpose of the ma
jority of the investigating committee wa
dcfeated-at least for the time being.