Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1905-05-27
POLITICAL WAR
IN PHILADELPHIA
EGyor Weaver DismisseS Two Prin-
c.pal Members Of bis Cabinet
WILL FIGHT TIE MACHINE

plan TO lease the city gas works to the
United Gas Improvement company for
Is years for $4,000. 900, Mayor Weaver
dismissed from Office the two prlnci-
pal members OF his cabinet. and there
by delivered y staggering blow 10 the
dominant political organization OF this
city. which has caused probably the
greatest sensation ia the history Of
Philadelphia municipal affairs. While
the citizens were expecting some sort
OF q move on the part OF the mayor,
they were not prepared for the imme-
date removal from office OF David
Smyth. the director OF the department
Of public safety. and Peter +. Costello.
the director OF the department of pub
lie works. The mayor has announced
that he Is I'm the fight 10 the bitter
end. which means that great pOliti-
Cal battle is now on and Will be car
Tied 10 the polls next November. In
his fight against the gas lease and the
Republican organization the mayor has
called ia as counsel Elihu Root. OF
New York. and former Judge James
Gay Gordon. Of this city. Judge Cor
don Is n Democrat The mayors stated
purpose Ga going outside the city for
his principal counsel is that ne wants
n man who is not Identified with any
faction in the struggle now on.
simultaneously with the dismissal
Of the two directors. Frederick j.
Shoyer. director OF the department Of
supplies. by direction OF the mayor.
suspended. pending an investigation.
Arthur r. n. Morrow. the assistant d.
rector Of that department No action
was taken against any employee in the
department Of public health and chart
ties
Immediate designations Demanded.
The removal OF Directors Smyth and
Costello did not come until after the
mayor had asked them 10 resign i'm
mcdiately In reply each sent = letter
70 the mayor Offering his resignation.
70 take effect when his successor
shall be qualified" The mayor an
swered them by demanding their I'M
mediate resignation. The answers the
directors returned we're 20 the effect
that they had rendered their reslgna-
lions 'in the usual form and In ac-
cordsnce with the provisions or the
city charter" and that they would
~N"AAA - NAA'AA a. AfAANtAfn NANOI .
Weaver then ended the correspond
snoe by sending 20 each letter IN
which ne said.
De- y feel that the best interests OF the
city require that our odoial relations
shall terminate at once. You therefore I
place me under the painful necessity
o. Immediately removing you from the
position. as feel that 7 must have
some one IN that Office responsible
only % the mayor and 20 the city at
80"
After the removals had been an
nounced the mayor made public the
names of ehe men he had selected for
Tia silsssss. ThSy az Colonel Shsld@-
Potter 70 81 the once Of director OF
public safety. al interim. and A Lin
coin Acker 10 be director OF the de-
pRrtment OF public works ad interim
Control over 10000 Orieeholders.
The fight over the form OF the re-
signation was an important one. in
that the new directors can only be
qualified by the confirmation OF coun-
ellis which is controlled BY the organi-
ration. The department Of public
safety has charge OF the police and
IRE bureaus. electrical bureau. pris-
0ns. building inspectors. boiler inspec.
tors. city property and inspectors OF
IRE escapes. The bureaus of gas.
highways. lighting. surveys. street
cleaning. water and city ice boats are
under the supervision OF the depart
ment OF public works. Each director
receives $4,000 a year. and together
they have control OF upwards OF 10000
eficeholders.
IL is not likely that city councils
will CONFIRM the men appointed by the
mayor. but they will hold the once. ad
Interim.
Cause Of the FIGHT.
Neither Mayor Weaver nor the re-
moved men would make statement
as TO the specific reason for the
changes. beyond the general state
ment that the proposed lease OF the
gas works was the cause Of f. The
organization 10 a man was In favor OF
the lease, while the mayor was unal-
terably opposed to t. He was utterly
ignored in the transaction. and he has
been urged by the newspapers and
reform organizations TO veto the ordi-
nance passed by councils last Thurs
day. This he has announced he would
do. In the meantime he brought
every influence To bear on councilmen
10 sustain him in his veto. In this he
had little success. The two directors
refused To use their influence TO help
him. aud this led the mayor to ask the
directors for their designations.
Every request OF the mayor for de
lay In the matter OF passing the gas
lease ordinance met with refusal on
the part OF councils. In addition to
this. when the gas lease was passed
last week, both branches OF councils
passed over the mayors veto eight
bills OF minor importance that he had
returned that day. Ordinarily vetoes
are laid over for 1t least a week
Machine Stands Pat" On Lease.
The news OF the mayors action
spresd quickly TO every section OF the