New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-28
IND GAS SCANDAL.
DIR. I1ius Reciezos action of Nc
CIeUan and Commissioner Oakley.

William NJ WINS, the Republican candidate Tor
Mayor, yesterday said he had observed that III
most of his speeches Mayor Mcclellan had been
referring with ostentatous pride to the fact that
a city lighting plant is in process of erection 1t
seemed to him Mr. WINS said. that the Mayor was
little rash in bringing up this lighting propie1n
and he proceeded review the history OF the city
well known dispute with the Lighting trust III
Mayor Lows administration, regarding lights Tor
city streets After referring to the ciys continued
refusal 10 pay the bills the unwillingness OF the
trust to go into the courts for relief and the agita
ton for a city lighting plant Mr. WINS continued:
Such were the conditions when Mayor Low went
APPOINTED Oakley as Commissioner of Water Sup
ply Gas and Electricity Oakley dserce eaG vanta
have proved was bold enough and brazen enough .
For many months nothing was heard Of the
Of a newspaper the public was astounded with the
information that Oakley had signed ana .a Ta 1na
many stick, had approved. practical renewal OF
to pay up all the basis of the high prices
claimed by the company.
the city Hall Mayor Mcclellan took fright. He re-
pudated the action OF his Conmlssoneir osIIey
but he too, became frightened and abandoned MS
the gas MONOPOLY and it fell through for the time
being But Mr. Mcclellan kept Oakley in office
more indicative of suen purpose to a aD
complish by means or other the conunued eIl
Oakley had betrayed the public. Public indigna- "a
ton had compelled the Mayor to repudiate his
Commissioner action, yet he did not remove MN.
Oakleys services in other respects had been iner-
fcient and worthless. The public knew it, Mr. NC,
Ciellan it, and yet he kept him and H1 SUI
keeps him in office Why? Are there other services
for the gas monopoly still to be performed
Nor is the scandal of the public hghtlng contIact
and the retention of Oakley in contempt OF pubic da
sentiment the only contribution which Mayor NC
Clean has made to the handing oyer Of the G ny
to the gas monopoly. Has the public forgotten me
Remsen Gas bill? The Remsen Gas Dill mao passed.
the legislature during Mayor LOWS term t1e
,1rornnTiv vetoed it. With the Remsen law on tne
statnfe hooks the city would be powerless either
70 resume expiring franchises or TO prevenI the
f,,rtbar growth and expansion OF the monopoly OF
- an0i,iTa the rights of the monopoly oy con
Jor1nation proceedings except through the eA-
nerIitIre of enormous sums. ~ -a
The legislature passed the bill again; a tha
NJ Mcclellan signed It. He signed II IN the
faS af outraged public sentiment. veheilent! eA
I"oe He signed in defiance OF the peopie
PfyttS and an outraged public was orced 10 aRiea
To n Governor, who S't'eu 'iieli 'A0 ~
whom they elected ., ,aa We do not know
re Community instinctively seeks TO deal geIety
Ill, NJavOr Mcclellan. He is senlai anu aeto
rbIe personally and on formal occasions ne his
49, not without dignity Viewed even IN tai,s
InSiv Iight his signing of the Rernsen GU tn ap
49, AT its best act OF mseraple "edhiioSS
md iuefficenCy-