The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-05-27
5hS LEASE FIGHT
CARRIED TO COURT
Philadelphia's New Directors Swept
Out OF Office by Injunction.
MAYOR CoNSUTS ELIHU ROOT

Lease viii Be Passed over veto anu
Put Into Operation.
philadelphia. May %. - The gas
lease fSht was carried into the courts
and in consequence the two directors
amounted by Mayor Weaver are out
II Office. and the directors who were
dismissed have again taken mp the an
ties Of their positions. Late in the day
Nsvor Weaver. accompanied by
former Judge James Gay Gordon. went
to New York for consultation win
Elihu Root. the mayors special coun'
sci What the next move will be can
NOT be foreshadowcd. The leaders OF
he Republican organization announce
hat their lines remain unhroken, tha'
the gas lease will be passed over the
MAYORS veto next week and that the
ease will be put into operation
Mayor Weaver and Judge Gordon re-
turned to this city from New YORK
asst night They said they had con
terence of several hours with Emu
Root but declined 10 say what plans
they had mapped out for carrying on
their side of the gas lease contest. Mt.
Root they said. would be here at the
nroner time to ,aAe a hand In the con
roycrsy.
II was another exciting day around
The city hall. the storm centre OF the
controversy. Events moved rapidly
and the great army Of oflceholders
and citizens who were gathered on the
polifical "rialto" seeking for iniorma'
tion were not kept long in suspense
as 70 what would be the next move.
The city employees felt much relieved
&c the dav wore on 10 learn that the
MAYOR had taken no further action
with regard to the removal of the
heads of other departments or OF bu-
reau chiefs. The return TO Office OF the
ousted directors also gave them conn
dence
Mavor and Directors EnIoined.
The first move of the day was the
appearance before Judge Robert Raj
ston. in common pleas court No. .. oil
attorneys for Peter F. Costello and
David J. Smyth. the dismissed direc-
tors. who applied for a preliminary in
| junction against the mayor and \.
Lincoln Acker and Sheldon Potter
from assuming the duties OF their re-
spective Offices and restraining the
MAYOR and all other city employees
from aiding them in carrying out such
intentions. After due considerations
Judge Ralston granted a temporary
restraining order. and fixed next Mon
dav morning as the time for the de-
PENDANTS to show cause why the IN
junction should not be made perma-
nent. The attorneys for the ousted
directors lost no time in the prepare
lion of the papers to be served on the
| defendants. The mayor and his two
new directors were informed of the
action of the court within a few min
utes after the injunction was granted.
and they were not surprised when the
papers were served on them. The
MAYOR and Mr.. Potter readily accepted
service. but Mr.. Acker at first refused
10 recognize the papers He remained
II the desk vacated by Mr. Costello
and refused to leave the Office. The
busted director left the Office to begin
proceedings to have him obey the or
der of the court, but when he returned
he found that Mr. Acker had left the
Office. Mr.. Costello thereupon took
possession.
The new directors were in office
about two hours. Their short incum-
bence had its humorous side All the
morning a stream OF visitors had been
calling on the new directors to con-
graduate them. One citizen not &C
uuainted with the new or old direc-
tors came to the Office of the director
Of public safety 10 congratulate Mr..
Potter. He was about to shake hands
with Mr. Smyth, when he was told OF
the quick change that had taken place.
Mr.. Potter in opening mail after he
assumed Office opened what he thought
to be Official communications only to
find that they were letters from Mr.
Smyth's friends offering their sympa.
thy and assistance.
There was much speculation as 10
what the new directors would do
Both are prominently identified with
the reform movement, and radical
changes were looked for The only Off
cial act of Mr.. Potter was to receive
the reports of police lieutenants He
was introduced to all of them, and
made a short speech, in which he told
them that each would be expected t.
perform loyal. honest and faithful ser
vice
Mr.. Acker, as director of public
works, signed a few warrants sent tc
him from the bureau of street clean
ing. which warrants the controller re
fused to honor until the court pro
ceedings shall have been terminated
Mr.. Weaver had little to say for pub
LEGATION. Regarding the injunction, h'
said az am still the mayor Of the city
and mean to exercise all the rights
Of my Office. The injunction canno
prevent me doing my duty"
As an evidence of the view thu
mayor takes OF the situation, he or
dered that matters pertaining TO The
two departments requiring immediate
action be brought to his notice at once
thereby assuming personal charge o
those branches Of the city government
pending the outcome Of the legal com
plications.
Machines Lines Unbroken.
J The leaders OF the organization wer
in conference ali day and conference
were held last night. One Of the mos
important gatherings Of the day wa
| L II l. ~. M .xNT III 80