The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1905-06-03
PHILADELPHIA ON
VERGE OF PERIL
Crisis Created BY Gas Works Lease Ex.
tension Peacefully Passed

tension Peaeefuliy faSSed
Last week WIS the most exciting in
th. history of philodrl,hi, since the
DAYS of the Civil War. 1t closed with
thn withdrawal of the offer made hv the
United Gas Improvement Company of
sd Geo 600 nnv1hl,. within three wears
for the extension Of IFS l,;,7,. of the city
gas works for ~ wears. The ordinance
ratiryin~ the lease had passed both
Branches of thr CITY Council. hut 81 great
woS the storm Of protest and So likely
the prospcct that The Mavor'S veto of
the ordinance would be sustained. under
pressure of public opnfon THAT the
sAIachinc." leaders saw safety only in
thc withdrawal Of the bid offered for the
franchise. The popular protest was not
against the Leasing CORPORATION but
against the mrthol by which the rX-
tended lease WAS provided for. There
as absolutely no complaint against either
the service rendered ly tn" company M,
the charges made. 1t is asserted 10y tho
management Of the company that Fhln-
delphia has the best gaS service in the
world, and private inv, -tigat:an>, tend To-
confirm this view.
Under the prora.rI extended lease the
Improvement Cumpau. was to lay tU
.he city sd. 600 uOO within three wears:
return the ras works free to the city on
December 81. 1850: furnish dollar gaS
until january 1911; gl-ccnt gas from
January l. 1911 to 1871: g-ccnt ga>D
from 1927 to 1886: SI-c"nt gas from
1896 to 1886, and Su-ccnt Gas there
after. There is another side to the
prcuositiou which hl> not hcrn EXPECTED
in the local press. and that l., the general
dread of the p,olIr that the city may
again undertake. f., manage the gas
work, Such n step would he REGARDED
by fine prmir oS nothing A,;.t of a uuh-
lie calamity. When tn, city managed
the Gus works the price of .us WIS, 81 sc
per 81 .OHu feet. al the service war
1oS;tiyrlv diSrcputahlp in every GpIurt-
mont,
Tho m,ttcr WI, tlk,1 into the
Cont. and the MAYER wen in the pre-
limi,...ry rr,ccrFiurs and dealt the MIA
cI,iu,'' = hody blow hy removing Drec-
tors Smvth and Costello. two important
Citv officials. rrp,acinr them with men
af hi. avn rhnicr Whether thp Mayor
will r..t an his l,ur,.ls or make further
w,r an tho .N,chinn' and It's wealthy
aud nn,vnrful leaders rcu;lin,s 10 b, seen.
In cnmpouy with former Judge Gordon
ha yy,rt over To New York one day last
wool; tn consult Llihu Root The World
SAYS of him.
"IIr does ROT look Il fighter or the
central tiyurr of one of the most import
ant munirirnI battles ever fought. His
be;yht * ,l,nut five feet seven. his figure
ronnd and substantial without being
fat. his hair and well-trimmcd nous
+ach, nm. If gray \IoumSido his mouth
Is , .unIl scar that ry1ruds more than au
;nch .r,utuis. His ayes orn ,rnv. his,
chin is rnuuI ord his inv short and firm.
H. wnuIL r,ss anywhere for Il pros1.sr-
ou. clark Ja walks briskIy. and caly
+,ll, ,,. r.,ndlv ns he walks Over in
ph;r,deluhiu they refer TO him as the
Mrvor with the Young face" He did nrt
onn,.,,. worry vouthful Yesterday. There
war. lines in his face that suggested
con.idr,,,hIc mental perturbation. His,
manner and sneecb. however, were calm.
Most of tho talking was done by Judge
CnrI.n his counsel who outliued the
nl,n Of octiou ia be followed"
m. f,ht on rho .os lease WAS largely
pon.r,rti.,u hut ,mnr., fine lenders who