New-York tribune., 1901-12-30
PHILADELPHIA AFFAIRS.
POLITICS QUIET-MAYOR AsHBRIDGES
DoINGS-THE CHRISTMAS SURPRISE
OF THE STREETCAR MEN.


rscy-of which the State and regular Philadelphia
city organization have been at odds-has excited
less comment than the postponemsnt or Repuoiscan
primaries in far counties Of the State is
speaking commentary the loss Of prestlge OF the
Democratic party a live organization.
Uneer the guidance Of State Chairman CfeaseV
snd National Committeeman James NJ. Guney' VINO
takes time from the business which MS immense
Texas oil gushers forced upon him TO look
after the minority party, the factions nave ap-
parently come together Mutual concessions nave
been made. and both sides have agreed TO vote al
fbe same primary election polls under revised ruies.
II is question whether the harmony VIII last
longer than takes 10 find out Which facuon hdS
secured the advantage
The postponement Of Republican primary elec-
tlons IN Allegheny and other western coufues oi
the State is being heralded from Pittsburg as set
hack 10 the plans Of Attorney-General Elkin ana
Governor Stone caused by Senator Quay. There is
no doubt that it had been the intention OF the
Elkin men TO force an early state convention II
possible and the delegates in many instances hao
been selected in advance. Since Mr. Elkln return
from Florida official notice has been sent out cdl-
ing of the election Of delegates.
This has set the politicians in the eastern part
Of the State guessing. Mr. Elkins frlends mere
know that an early convention would be entirely
IN the interest of his candidacy for Governor MI
FlBin declares 10 them privately that he is yet a
candidate for Governor and that he VIII nave lLe
support of Senator Quay. But in the continued ao-
s.noe Of Mr Quay N Florida there is no one VINO
n
sYb;eet What is feared most by those frlenos OF
ar Eikn who are unwilling TO be bound oy Seha-
- ouavs wishes is that the leaders IN other couh
ties Of the State will gather as OF oid AROUND 4hi.
e,uav And the Philadelphia situation Is such INA ina
at any moment there may be oeVelopinenrs " ii''
viii disarranse II not upset. all present plans
In citv polittcs there has been little stirring All
attention in this field is directed toward lhe e'eo
tion of councilnlen in the spring The deVelopnleh'
.. The week has been the retirement from the con-
De- oFgrar1 org
OF two holdovers from the former regime al
though they professed repentance for their FORMER
saliattons and expressed their entire Willingness 10
-eo slong' with the present machine they nave
been notified that the "plums" are not Tor thefn'
end now they find themselves without the cohh-
denoe Of either faction.
It is safe TO say that the executive head OF
every municipality small large. has done some
thing in official life which he has regretted as fool
.sh but seldom has there been such oerlsloh en-
countered from friend and foe as has oeeh tnis
week BY the present city administration For years
reporters of the morning newspapers assigned 10
duty at City Ha,. io keep their city editors IN
<Srmea Of r-s reported by the district police to
Hesdausrt-rs have been accustomed 10 while away
the hours Of the midnight until o'clock by games
of cards. That It has not always been FOR love
gees without saying and the reporters have fire.
ouently welcomed into their circle members OF the
city detective force on duty the hall, and other
officials we'll 1t had become reeognized as
made that there any objection 10 the practice
Last Sunday morning, just before the hour when when
various Offices, squad of City Hall detectives paid
with all the formaiity and precautions which at
tend raid on a suspected gambling house. Ihey |
found six reporters at table playing "fantan,
as they call a game of dominoes with cards with |
a pot OF 81 cents in front of them BY some uneX.
planned process Of differentiation only three Of
them were locked up. These three were the rep
Tesentatiyes OF papers when have been strong in
istraticn. The others represented newspapers of
The young men selected by the detectives for de-
tention were held only a short while, and were
When Mayor Ashbridge was asked why he or his
Director Of Public Safety had ordered permitted
will sound very bad have it said that reporters
foT newspapers that ortcise my administration for
and in the City Hall?"
On that Sunday night the Mayor was in high
humor over the situation. but before the time came
Tor The nearing on Monday ne had apparently
presented themselves before the magistrate with
tnelr lawyers they were informed that there was
70 warrant that there charge against them
prosecutor. ~
AS against this. Mayor Ashbridge has performed
fglDania Academy of Fine Arts. For years Har-
TSe ten s1 who is part proprietor of
spRt.i sspRtof.eo talthfuIly the present Republican
ings has been seeking fuller recognition of local
artists by the academy authorities He had an
aspiration 10 seat IN directorate of the insti-
zution which has never reached fruition. The city
es Lnsoe sn annual appropriation of 81 900 10 the
academy. This year in City Councils a rider was
attached 10 the ordinance which made the ammo.
q GeG the ars a bs By the
I-ne academy formally decided rot to accept the
sPpropriation As soon Mayor Ashbridge heard
or this he had conference with the directors and
aeaIo Ior me hrst time that the regulations Of the
schoeny specially bar artists from membership on
the board of directors. ''p 0'
The Mayor promptly sent 10 the academy an oni-
eiai communication placing himself its service
explaining that while he had power to veto the
stem entire he could veto alone the clause
which authorized him TO appoint two directors He
sEprsefseo ms Willingness, If the academy so de-
vas preferred. he would veto the whole item. but
lev Oro1ndnce with the ats1ointment clause elm
lnetee The academy has agreed 20 the latter
except possibly two artists who might have se-
cured throug political pull places on the direc-
world. '@O''e art institutions OF the
The greatest Christmas surprise in Philadelphia
@ @ii2aounIediy was the official announcement by the
tnlon ITacuon Company Of a voluntary increase
N the wages of its conductors and moterraen None
whose salary was not raised-Presdent JoSpn
Parsons 1t was because OF the confident belief bv
ss sincere in his emPSSes and ihat earnest M
n his 5og oq6 - ms & promise MS HAT he would do all
sn sn Tge d6 an inersase sa as the xed charges Of
holiday season was averted. The men who believed
that the elevation TO the presidency OF the com
leave their claim entirely in his hands and the he
their judgment 1 ''ii''''es
IN the last two weeks there has been 2 d,c,oed
saosiasnoe OF the smallpox scare and the people
tng what at one time threatened TO become an eni
aenlle rlvalng In vrulence that of the forties II
taken advantage the free VaccinaoRp eeree haee
~ ~ ne nealth suthortes This together with the
viewed the expenditure Of $1,000 To meet has has IN
councils For incidental expenses Pe PASSED f by
s'ssg9 90 have been drawn on a temporary loan made
STo%niss' oy which name are known the special
bet the