The sun., 1897-11-13
|1HE STEAL GOES THROUGH.
Many Ugly Stories Going the
Rounds.
BITTER FIGHTS TO FOLLOW.
Rewards May Be Offered For the Ar
rest and Conviction or the
BOOdlers--- Specific
Sums Named.
BITTER FIGHTS TO FOLLOW.

Sums Named.
PHILADELPHIA Nov. 12.-Mayt
Warwick this afternoon aflixe
his signature to the ordinance authori
ing the lease Of the gas works for perio
Of thirty years to the United Gas In
Company. After thus settil
the seal OF executive approval on the o
dinance, his Honor at once certified it.
Select and Common Council. y
Realizing that the people would d
lnand some explanation from him II
Mayor apologies in this fashion:
"This matter Of the leasing of the
Gas Works was first submitted to me
on July 2 of this year. 1t was en-
dorsed by many of the leading busi-
ness men of the city, who advised
me in relation thereto.
"After two months of careful con-
sideration 1 decided to forward the
proposition to Councils, believing it
worthy their consideration.
II weighed the question with an
eye single to the interests of the city.
studied every phase and feature of
the case and reached the conclusion
that lease of the works under a
binding contract to a responsible,
well-equipped gas company was the
proper thing to do under all the cir
cumstances.
'If the plant were in first-class
condition, working satisfactorily and
giving fine quality of gas to the
consumer, the lease would never for
one moment have been considered;
but the constant complaints of our
citizens and the inability to secure
sufficient appropriations for the i'm
provement of the plant should be
argument enough to show that the
works should be leased to an expert
enced, responsible company, able to
furnish the money for the improve
ments required, and SO organized
that it can at once take hold of the
works and operate them without
delay.
"S, many misstatemcnts have been
made, that many people no doubt
who have had no opportunity to
camtully study the question or to
even read the ordinance have been
misI,d.
'It is not sale Of the W, rks, as
some would have us believe; the city
does not part with her franchise;
sic simply leases the works to a re-
sponsibIc company, bound ~ con-
tract and under security. The lease
will put money into the treasury OF
the city, an with the expenditure
OF SJ,OOO,O)), in three years The plant
will bc brought up to date by tne
introduction Of Improvements in the
process Of manufacture and in the
methods Of distribution.
"'rhc ten years clause, wilch re-
serves TO the city the right t" retakc
the property At the end Of that time,
isa valuable provision, and without
it | would not have considered the
original proposition.
"The simple business question mar
rows its If down to this: whether or
not it is to the advantage OF the city
to continue operating the works in
their present condition, without su
fcient appropriation, at a loss or to
lease them for II term of years at II
gain.
at is a grave question in my mind
whether or not any municipality
should operate any manufacturing
industry.
"The constant succession OF admin
istrations every four years, the c"nse-
uuent changes in the heads OF de-
partments, the inability to continue
by reason of these changes a settled,
definite policy, looking to one end,
must prove to every thinking man
that these conditions greatly inter-
fere with the successful OF cation Of
any business enterprise.
'There is no private business that
could prosper under such a system
/ Now that the unholy compact h'
been made, signed, sealed and delivered
developments may be e'
pected.
Roundabout town, in shops, stores an
places Of general resort men have bee
heard asserting that such and such
member of City Council received som
specific sum for his vote, etc. Beyond a
this. the assertion has been made p'll
licly that Mayor Warwick is broke an
that s25 900 was handed him for afiix'n
his signature to this sbill. Ofconrse t''es
stories are banded about as mere Idle gov
sin and it would be u hard matter to trae