Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-06-14
TWO SENSATIONS
Stir Up the Staid and
Quiet Quaker City.
Police QueII Disturbance Over
the Railway Franchises.
Councilman Caven Arrested on Charge Of
Interest in City Contracts.

PHILADELPHIA, June 13.-Amid the
cry of Thieves" and Crooks" and
under the protection of squad of pO-
lice. the committee on street railways
of city 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 the city receiving any ccmpen-
sation for the franchises.
Tho meeting was in all respects as
sensational and stormy as that held by
the committee on finance some weeks
ago when the gas lease was under con-
sideration. The "Repealers" were in
trOduced at the instance of Mayor
Weaver and the action of the commit
tee, today, is the first setback the may
or has received since the inauguration
of the reform movement which began
with the fight OH the gas lease.
Another sensation in the political sit
uation, today. was the arrest of Frank
II. Caven, select councilman from the
saith ward, on the charge of violating
his councimanic oath by being inter
cstcd in city contracts. He was held
in $4,000 bail for 4 further hearing
He denies the charge.
The affidavit on which the warrant
was issued charges that Mr.. Cavel
while member of councils committed
the offence of being interested in GER
tain contracts for furnishing supplies
and material for the use of the city
BY supplying these materials. it is
ri, ~ r,-n1 (<nvnr, Nyin cd
of office.
The fight over the street car fran
cnises promises to be a warm one be-
fore it is finally ended. 1t is Il contest
between the mayor and citizens living
i'll the territory through which the pro-
posed new lines are to run. on the one
hand, and the Philadelphia Rapid Tran
sit Co, backed by the Republican or
ganization, on the other. Recently
four street car companies. subsidiary
concerns Of the Philadelphia RapiC
Transit Co, which corporation con-
trolls practically all the street car lines
in the city. caused to be passed by city
councils ordinances giving them tn.
street without the city receiving any
thing for the privilege.
Citizens protested against the or.
dinances and Mayor Weaver vetoed
them. The Same day the gas lease wa:
passed by council the four bills were
passed over the mayors veto, but nc
further action was taken because OF
the gas lease fight. Two weeks later
when councils adopted q resolution
withdrawing the gas lease BILL four Or.
dnanccs were introduced repeating tho
street railway ordinance and today
was set for Il hearing on the measures
The committee room was crowde,
with lawyers. representing both sides
and other citizens. A motion was mad
that the repcalcrs be favorably report
ed to councils. but the chairman aske,
that all thse Whe desired to speak OF
the measure he heard before the com
mittee took action and this was agreed
to. Select Councilman Thomas ]. Ryan
the only Democratic member of sclec
couno il. suggested that the bills be t.
the city solicitor for his opinion as t
their legality. He made the pOin
that the ordinances had been paSset
and that the street car companies ha'
thus been vested with the right to u.s.
the streets wanted and that councils
could not now take those rights from
them.
His suggestion was received with ;
storm OF Kisses. This made Mr.. Ryan
very angry and turning to the chair
man, he said:
81 am ashamed of you to allow any
member of councils to be insultcd il
this way. ! for one do not mean to si
here and listen to it. If we cannot b'
protected from this mob I shall NOV,
that We adjourn at once without con
sidering these bills any further"
Turning to the crowd he shook MS
fist and rebukcd them warmly for theil
attitude and conduct toward him.
Mr.. Ryan was pacificd by the menl-
bcrs Of the committee and sat down
Other members of the committee who
spoke against the repralers were called
Thieves and Crooks" and so disor-
derby did the proceedings become that 4
squad of police were hurriedly sum-
mOncd from the central station on tht
sixth floor of city hall to the commit
tee room on the fourth foOr. There
after better order was maintained. At
ter both sides had been heard. the COM
mittce. by vote of Is to II. referred
the bills to the city solicitor for IN
opinion on them. by moon Thursday.
Councils will meet at L. NJ. that day