The sun., 1897-11-13
GAS WORKS LEASE SIGNED.
THE MA1oR OF PHILhDELPHIA
ARPROYES TIE TRANSFER.

SSNF 30 A"D AAhN~NOE DAHe
Ne Gives Gus . Statement - to nIIs Actien-
Utilization 70 Ne neEun at Once-Citirens
Net Opposed 90 = Lease bat 10 the Fro
vtsieus Or This ordinanoe-The Political side.
PHrLADELPHIA. Nov. 12.-Mayor Warwick OF
Philadelphia afnxed his signature OF approval
at O'Clock this afternoon TO the ordinance
authorizing the lease Of the city gas works to
the United Gas Improvement Company for
thirty years. The Mayor placed himself on
record in his annual message as emphaticHlly
opposed TO lease Of the Ras works, and thcro-
fore felt 1t necessary to reconcile this opinion
with his action to-day by giving out a statement.
He said:
This matter Of the leasing OF tho gas works
was hrst submitted to mo on July Of this year.
II was indorsod by many OF the leading business
men of the city. who advised with me in rela-
tion thereto. After two months Of careful con-
sideration decided to forward the proposition
10 Councils. believing It worthy their consid-
oratfon. weighed tho question with an eye
single to tho interests OF tho city. II the plant
were in q nrstclass condition. working satisfac-
torily and giving flne quality Of gas to the
consumer, the lease could mover for one moment
have been considered, but tho constant COM
plants of our citizens and the inability to go
cure sufficient appropriations for the improve
mont Of the plant should be argument enough
experienced responsible company. able to fur
nish the money for tho improvements required.
and SO organized that IL can at once take hold
Of the works and operate them without delay.
80 many misstatements have been made that
many people. no doubt, who have had no oppor.
tunity to carefully study the question or to even
read the ordinance have been misled. 1t is not
assle Of the works, a. some would have us be-
Move. The city does not part with her franchise.
nt,, tln n.;hl
company, bound by contract and under security.
Tho lease will put money into the treasury Of
the city, and with the expenditure of S5 O0O. 900
in three years tho plant will be brought up to
date by tho introduction Of improvements in tho
process Of manufacture and in the methods of
distribution.
"The ten years clause, which reserves to tho
city the right to retake the property at ths end
Of thattime, il q valuable provision. and with
out 1t would not have considered the original
proposition, The simple business question
narrows itself down to this. whether or not 1t 10
to tho advantage Of tho city to continue oper-
ating the works in their present condition
without sufficient appropriation at Q loss. or to
lease them for term of years at q gain. It 10
o grave question in my mind whether or not
any municipality should operate any manufac-
turing industry. Tho constant succession Of
aaent changes in the heads Of depsr men me ., the
inability to continue by reason OF these changes
must prove to every thinking man that these
conditions greatly interfere with the successful
Do priVate " business that could prosper under
The Mayor sent a letter to George Tucker Bis.
pham. Joseph L. Caven, Peter Boyd. and John C.
Bell, counsel for citizens who brought restrain
ing proceedings in court. notifying them Of BIS
ecution OF the contract with the United Gas I'm.
provement COMPANY until tho contemplated
Mayor was at his office last evening until mid.
night. He was then preparing the statement
the evening his messenger was sent to Torres
dale, where Thomss Dolan lives. The messen-
ses s a GUSk We're n iwySrs tor
day TO have formal application for an injupc-
,on m n msde and argument mt disposed Of without de.
the Mayor would nt least take four or fivc days
TO deliberate the matter. refused to present an
probably tomorrow M rning, and II Tho Litigation
can be roonged beyond the date of the Februa-
City Councils are to be chosen. there may bo an
expression Of public sentiment on the methods
Pub ic Sc tiIncnt is not opposed to Leasing tho
gas works on a fair proposition. but seems op-
cured like this franchise was secured. The bill
which the Mayor SIGNED today leases the gas
years at least. of receiving greater revenue from
them than is now received. unless the figures In
sns q e hs
not. Tho Mayor cannot be enjoined by any
legal process from signing or vetOing an ordi-
nance This function s said to Re discretionary.
But whether he has the power when directed by
o lease OF city property will be determined when
an ordinance OF Councils to execute contract
and a formal application 10 made for an in juno
ton. II the county courts refuse the injunc-
tion supercedeas will probably be taken on
appeal to the Supreme Court with tho view OF
prolonging litigation.
There are some city gas loans still outstand-
Ing. Any holder of these living abroad could
bring an action against tho city Of Philadelphia
in the United States Circuit Court IL is said. of
o restraining character, and II the case got into
the Federal courts it would last year at least
A stock broker who owns stock OF the Unitod
Gas Company. and who is wondering what right,
title. and interest this stock will give him in
the Equitable Illuminating Gaslight Company.
made an interesting calculation to-day. He
found that the different companies and specu-
lative enterprises in which the Dolan.Widener-
ElkinB syndicate are concerned have an agRre-
gate capital of $500 900, 900. With the Eauita-
Bile Gaslight Company another $50,oO0,000.
probably, will be issued.