The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-19
Philadelphia Turned Over TO Gas
Trust for as Years.
For a Present Consideration of
S25, 900, 900.
PEOPLE INDIGNANT.
Kisses and Cries of esThieYes'
When Vote Was Announced.
Gas Crowd Owns Enough COun-
cilmen to Override a Veto.

Philadelphia, May 19.-Annid scenes of
disorder unprecedented in the annals
of the city the council has voted to
lease the city's gas works to the United
Gas Improvement company for a term
of seyenty-hve years for the total sum
of S25,000,000 the money to be paid in
various amounts before the end of 1907.
Council chambers and committee
rooms were crowded with excited citi-
zens protesting against the lease to the
United Gas Improvement company.
The climax was reached when the
vote in common council was announced
after three hours of debate. The mo-
ment President George McCurdy, of
common council, announced the vote, a
great uproar was started in the gallery
which was crowded to the door. From
all over the gallery came misses and
cries of ssThieVes!"
A squad of police cleared the gallery.
The agitation against the passage OF
the bill resulted in the common council
amending the measure SO as to provide
for a slight reduction in the price of
gas. The amendment as adopted pro-
vides that the price of gas from the
date of the lease until January l, 1911,
shall be 81 1000 cubic feet, the same
as the present price; from 1911 to 1921,
95 cents; from 1921 to 1896, 80 cents;
from 1886 to 1885, IS cents, and there
after until the expiration of the lease
in 1880, 80 cents.
Mayor VIII Veto It.
! Mayor Weaver is expected to veto the
bill and in that event both chambers
will probably pass it over his veto. The
vote in the common council was IA to
and in the select council 81 to 4. There
/ is only one Democrat in each body and
| both voted against the lease. There Is
| some talk among citizens who fought
the lease of taking the matter to the
courts
Another syndicate had offered to pay
the same price, SIS, 900 600, for the lease,
give the city from one-third to one-half
the net profits and allow the city to re-
duce the price of gas. 1t did not own
the council, however, and its offer was
rejected.
The committee of nine issued the
following statement:
Address to Citizens.
To the Citizens of Philadelphia:
You have received the most insolent
affront from your councilmen ever
given to the people of any greai
American city. Despite reason and re
speot for the rights of the people the
/ city council voted to confer upon {
corporation the unhampered contro
! of your gas works. Your committee
appointed by town meeting, now calls
upon you:
opinion and the expressed wish of YOU
mayor asking for. delay.
Theft of your property.
"Enslavement for three genera ttoni
to a gas monopoly.
"Second-To rise in your might ant
by personal, unceasing effort, maxi
/ Impossible the contamination of tn,
greatest steal ever attempted.
''A-By assembIage in every ward
lby personal demand and pressure
l1p00 your local cOuncilmen.
"B-By full and immediate use o
the cards and literature distributed b.
the committee as well as other form
of written protest
that will block the final attempt t.
complete the conspiracy when tn
ordinance is again considered after tn
mayor has vetoed it."