Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-26
CONTROLS SITUATION
Mayor Weaver Reported to
Be Holding tho Reins
IN THE HEGASLElSEFIGHT
ATTITUDE OF CITY COUNCIL rs
GIVING OPPONENTS CONCERN.
Philadelphians Thoroughly Aroused
Over Contest-Councilmen Are Now
Center of Pressure.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, May 26.-It is the
general opinion that Mayor Weaver for the
present controls the situation in his fight
with the republican leaders over the pro-
posed lease of the city gas works. There Is
much speculation as to what will be the
next move Developments today are ex-
pected to come from the Organization"
Insurance Commissioner Durham and his
Heutenants We're in conference late last
night, and their deliberations were resumed
office. Later he repaired to the office OF
United States Senator Penrose and was in
consultation with him for some time.
There Is still some talk Of impea chment
proceedings against the mayor, and there
is no longer any denial that this course has
been seriously considered by the leaders
against this step argue that any attempt to
impeach Mayor Weaver at this time would
only serve to strengthen his position with
the public.
Just now the attitude of the members of
council is giving the leaders almost as
much concern any other feature of their
contest with the mayor.
Both Sides Preparing.
Both sides are preparing for next Thurs
days meeting Of councils, when, unless
something intervenes, the mayor will for
ward his veto Of the new gas-works lease
ordinance to both branches. The "organiza-
ton" leaders, Mr.. Durham and State Sena-
tor McNichol, have announced confidently
that there will be no trouble whatever in
passing the lease over the mayors veto.
The mayor and his friends are becoming
more confident every day that they will be
successful in blocking the Organization"
plans, and that the veto will stand
To accomplish this end every effort is be-
ing made to induce councilmen who voted
on May is in favor of the lease to sustain
the veto. In this they have the active CO.
operation of citizens in every ward
Extraordinary pressure is being brought
to bear wherever a councilman shows signs
of weakening. In one instance committee
Of determined citizens In a suburban ward
hunted nearly all night for a member of
select council who was obviously avoiding
them. They used an automobile in their
search. but could not find their man.
Letters Containing Threats.
Early in the morning the committee ap-
peared at the mans house, routed him out
of bed, and while he stood barefooted in
his night clothes read their resolutions to
him and extracted from him promise to
change his attitude and sustain the mayor S
veto. Anonymous letters, some of them
threatening in character, are received In
every mail by councilmen. In addition
they are deluged with letters signed by
their constituents urging them to stand by
the mayor.
Wherever a "gas lease" councilman ap-
pears in public he is besieged by a clamor-
Gus demand that he vote "in the interest
Of the people" on the pending question.
II Is claimed that since last Thursday i've
members of select council and nine mem
bers of the common branch have been in
tt,atv lsr1,v al,o ,
their vote and sustain the mayors pro-
posed veto.
There are forty-two members Of select
council, and nine votes are thus far claim
ed to sustain the veto. Should the mayor
succeed in winning nine more to his side
the opposition will not have the necessary
three-ffths vote to defeat the veto.
Those opposed to the mayor are working
equally hard to prevent breaks in their
ranks, and they claim that next Thurs
days vote will defeat the mayor.