The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-05-24
/. GAS WAR is ON.
Philadelphia's Mayor Turns Out
Two City Officials
Who Would Not Resign as
Promptly as Desired.
WERE OUT OF HARMONY
They Would Not Help Him to
Fight the Gas Lease.
Whole Matter win Now Become
Political Question.
WERE OUT OF HARMONY


has granted a temporary injunction re-
straining Mayor Weaver from removing
Directors Smyth and Costello from Of
fee and Monday, May 29 was set as the
date for argument on the injunction.
Philadelphia, May 24-Insurance COM
missioner Durham and other Republican
leaders have taken up the gauge thrown
down by Mayor Weaver and are form
ing their lines for fight that doubtless
viii be to the bitter end. Mr.. Dunham
was in conference with his lieutenants
until an early hour this morning but
none of the parties to the conferences
could be induced to speak of the plans
| discussed by the Organization lead
ers. It was hinted however that an ex-
ira session Of the legislature might be
called for the purpose of making the
/ Philadelphia ripper bills passed dur
/ ing the recent session, imperative.
These bills take from the mayor the
power to appoint the directors of pub
lie safety and public works and place
! 1t in the hands of city councils. Under
I the act of the last legislature the law
does not become operative until the in
| cUmbent mayors term expires in April
/ 1907. It is not generally believed, how
ever, that the governor or the members
| of the legislature outside of Phtladel-
! phia would approve this plan.
Mayor Weaver reached his office
about $3.50 o'clock today and a few
minutes later announced that Colonel
| Sheldon Potter had taken the oath OF
office as director of public safety to
| succeed David J. Smyth, removed.
Prior to the mayors arrival former
Judge Gordon, who is associated with
Elihu Root of New York as private
latters Office. He declined to discuss
the object of his visit. If city coun-
ellis pass the gas works lease over
the mayors veto which is probable an
appeal will Immediately be made to
the courts to prevent the consumma-
ton OF the lease and a legal war viii
follow, which probably will not end
until the United States supreme court
mas passed on the merits Of the case.
In this event the services of Mr.. Root.
Il Judge Gordon and other legal talent
WIZ be at the mayors disposal
Arthur r. II. MORROW, assistant direc-
tor of public supplies, who was sus-
pended yesterday but declined to ac-
cept the suspension on the ground that
was not at his Office at the usual hour
today. Mr. Morrow is the Republican
leader of the Twenty-sixth ward.
Shortly before 10 O'Clock the confer
ence of the leaders with United States
Senator Penrose which was in session
all of yesterday and last night was re-
sumed.
officials Turned Out.
Philadelphia, May 24.-In his effort to
defeat the contamination of the plan to
lease the city gas works to the United
Gas Improvement company, for IS
years for S25,000, 900, Mayor Weaver has
dismissed from office David J. Smyth,
director of the department of public
safety and Peter z. Costello, director OF
the department of public works. The
mayor has announced that he is in the
fight to the bitter end. which means
that a great political battle is now on
/ he "a cd n he
November. In his fight against the gas
lease and the Republican organization
the mayor has called in as counsel
Elfhu Root of New York and former
Frederick J. Shoyer, director of the
department Of supplies by direction Of
the mayor. suspended, pending an in
Vestigation. Arthur H Morrow, assist
ant director of the department. The
removal of Directors Smith and Costel-
10 did not come until after the mayor
had asked them to resign Immediately.
In reply each sent a letter to the mayor
| Offering his resignation to take effect
when his successor shall be qualified.
| The mayor answered them by demand
ing their immediate resignation. The
| answer the directors returned was to
/ the effect that they had rendered their
designations ''in the usual form and in
/ accordance with provision of the city
charter and that they would stand by
them as rendered.
MI. Weaver then ended the cores
pondence by sending to each letter
: of dismissal
VI After the removals had been an
Il nounced the mayor made public the
names of the men he had selected for
the places. They are Col. Sheldon Pot
ter to I'LL the Office OF director of pub
lie safety, ad interim, and A. Lincoln
Acker, to be director of the department
of public works, ad interim. The fight
over the form of resignation was an
, important one in that the new direc-
( tors can only be qualified BY the con-
| firmation OF the council, which is con-
trolled by the organization. Each dis
missed director received $4,000 q year
4 and together they had control Of 10000
off1ceholders.
| It is not likely that the city council
will confirm the men appointed by the
mayor, but they will hold the office ad
interim. The two dismissed directors
refused to use their influence to help
the mayor in his anti-gas lease fight,
and this led the mayor to ask the d.
rectors for their designations
The news of the mayors action
spread quickly to every section OF the
A citys Every one wanted to know what
the Organization" was going to do. It
is evident that it is planning for q
great contest The next city election
| will be held in November when Sheriff
and coroner are to be elected. The or
eanization'' candidate for sheriff is
Harry g. Ransley, president Of the Sc
Iect council and an advocate OF the
1 gas lease and it is likely that the re p
s form organization of the city VIII CEN
/ ter their strength to defeat him. While
the mayor refuses to say what MS tu-
f1lre action viii be regarding other OF
dceholders, who oppose him it is beiev-
ed he is not through with his work IN
= this direction The reform organization
: of the city is continuing with vim
D the plans to block the lease Ward