The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-06-14
"DE GANG" MAKING
A BITTER FIGHT
Republican Rascals of Philadelphia
Dying Hard.
COUNCIL A DEN OF THIEVES
POLICE CALLED IT A COMMITTEE
MEETING.

Philadelphia. June 13.-Amid the cry
of "Thieves!" and Crooks" and under
the protection of a squad Of police. the
committee on street railways councils
today referred to the city solicitor for
his opinion as to their legality four bills
repeating ordinances granting street
car companies the right to use 10 miles
of street TO lay tracks without requir-
ing any compensation for the fran
ehises- The meeting was in all respects
as sensational and as stormy as that
held by the committee on finance sons
weeks ago. when the gas lease was I'M
der consideration The "repeaiers
were Introduced at the instance Of
Mayor Weaver, and the action of the
committee today Is the first etback
the mayor has received. since the inaug
Dration of the reform movement which
began with the fight on the gas lease.
Another sensation in the political sit
uation today was the arrest of Frank
H Caven, select councilman from the
Thirty ward, on the charge Of
violating his Councilmauic oath by be
ing Interested in city contracts. he
was held in $40, GOO bail for further
hearing. He denies the charge.
Fight Warm One.
chise promises to be a warm one before
II is finally ended. It is a contest be-
tween the mayor and citizens living in
the territory through which the pro-
posed new lines are to be run, on the
one hand, and the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit company, backed by the Re-
publican OrgaEiza ton, on the other.
Recently four street car companies,
subsidiary concerns of the Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company which corpo-
ration controls practically all the street
car lines in the city. caused TO be
passed by the city councils ordinances
giving them the right TO lay tracks on
10 miles of street without the city re-
ceiyng anything for the privilege.
Vetoed by the Mayor.
Citizens protested against the ordi-
ndHces and Mayor Weaver vetoed
them The same day the gas lease
was passed by councils and the four
bills were passed over the mayors veto.
but no further action was taken be
cause of the gas lease fight. Two
weeks later. when councils adopted a
resolution Withdrawing the gas lease
bill. four ordinances were introduced
repeating the street railway ordinances
and today was set for a hearing on the
inca SureS.
Received With Kisses.
The committee room was crowded.
Select Councilman Thomas J. Ryan,
the only Democratic member Of select
council, suggested that the bills be
sent to the city solicitor for his opiu-
ion as 10 their legality.
His suggestion was received with a
storm of Kisses This made Mr. Ryan
very angry and he spoke bitterly OF
the diSturberS.
-Four members Of the committee who
spoke against the repsalers were called
thieves" and crooks" and 80 dis
orderly did the proceedings become that
a squad of police was hUrriedIy sum
mOped. Thereafter b=tter order was
maintained
After both sides had been heard the
committee by a vote of l. to Il re-
ferTed the bills TO the city solicitor for
an opinion on them by noon Thurs
day
Arrest of councilmen.
The biggest political sensation since
the removal Of Directors Smyth and
Costello was created today when Mayor
Weaver, through his counsel. CAUSED
The arrest of Select Councilman Frank
H CaVen Of the Thirty-fOurth ward on
charges of conspiracy to defraud the
city. Mr.. Caven was arraigned before
Magistrate Eis5nbaum and held i'm So
Geo bail for "a further hearing on Thurs
dax.
Inc atfldaVlt charges that Mr.. Caven.
while a member Of councils. committed
the offeuSc of being interested dire city
and indirectly in certain contracts for
furnishing supplies and materials for
the use of the city. Those supplies
consisted Of sand and gravel which
were furnished to Daniel J. McNichol
6, Co, contractors, TO be used in the
new filtration beds
state Senator James 7. NcNichoI
one Of the leaders Of thu Republican
organization in this city. is a member
Of the contracting firm involved Mr.
Caven denies the charge.
Work Suspended.
Director of Public Works Acker to-
day temporarily suspend work on the
Torresdale boulevard which is ex-
pected to cost several million dollars.
because it is alleged that the con
tractors are not living up to the sp=ci-
ficatiOns in the matter of material fur
nished i'm the building Of the boulevard
Colonel Sheldon Potter. director of
public safety notified all employees to-
day that hereafter no permission will
be necessary for any empInye TO change
his place Of residence. Colonel Potter
said that in the past there was a uriDt-
ed form that had TO be fill d up when
ever a man desired to move and his
application for permission to move had
10 be endorsed by d ward leader
Frank N Ritter q former director of
public safety, was appointed secretary
Of the civil service board today