New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-20
PHILADELPHIA AROUSED.
FIGHTING GAS LEASE.
Cata@ens' Committees Working Hard
to Defeat the Deal.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUxn.I

to'urh for cash that will only go to enrich
4"Vored contractors, under the guise of making
PUBIC improvements
H'ery effort was exerted to-day to make
mayor Weaver that he can control the situ-
a''on' and by display Of courage bring to their
'H' oetore him the freebooters who have
openly defed the people and whipped through
councils the crowning iniouitv of the generation
10 men of influence who saw him to-day the
mayor seemed to be impressed with the neces-
si'y Ior heroic action There are some who be-
.ieFe that he will yet exercise the power vested
IN MIN by the Bullitt bill and hit the organiza-
Doh IN Its most vital spot by stripping 1t of vau-
able patronage
LOOKING TO MAYOR WEAVER
mayor Weaver had been so grossly ignored
and insulted that all eyes naturally turned
toward him as the leading actor in the work to
Oe DONE Should he maintain the attitude of re-
| tahauon which he displayed to-day and exer-
else the power which he possesses to crush the
gang 1t was admitted that he would win for
himself honor and renown. The citizens rep
reSentatives antagonizng the gas steal hastened
not only TO express to him their appreciation Of
| his patriotic stand. but also to prepare for po-
| litical warfare. which was regarded as sure to
prove successful against the public looters in
| elections OF the future.
The Mayor spent all Of to-day in conferences
| Seventy, with members of Councils and with
other citizens on the United Gas Improvement
| Company ordinance The certified copy of the
| bill was delivered at his office at noon. and for
the time being he set aside all business except
the gas question
MAY BE PASSED OVER VETO.
AS he arrived at his office in the
morning he had his secretary telephone write
to the nine members of the Common Council
and the four Of the Select Council who had stood
by him in voting against the lease He did not
ask them to obtain converts. but inquired Of
each man what the possibilities were Of a vote
to sustain a veto of the gas lease. Most Of his
| visitors told him they feared that the vote would
| not be much better than the cast on the
ordinance yesterday.
John c. Winston, chairman Of the Committee
of Seventy. personally delivered to the Mayor
! the resolutions adopted in recognition of the
| executives brave stand Mr. Winston said he
| had perfect confidence that Mr.. Weaver would
stand firmly a champion of the people in
| this fight
THE MAYORS ATTITUDE.
The following significant assurance was given
by Mr.. Weaver to several of his visitors:
am not ready to state specifically what
| propose to do but I assure you that moth
! ing I do to bring about the defeat of the
! gas ordinance shall remain undone.
AS vote in each branch of the Councils Of
| three-fifths of all the members elected would
override the veto, the Mayor, in order to win.
would have to be helped by sixteen Select Coun-
| cimen and thirty-three Common Councmen.
| The task of striving to win that number does
| not discourage the Mayor.
| Leaders of the Committee of Seventy propose
| to use every means to stir up assemblages of
! the outraged people TO warn the councilmen
| that they cannot afford to continue their de-
| fance of the owners of gas works. Although
| Mayor Weaver. the plea that he had studied
| the concessions" in the amended" ordinance,
| said that he would defer statement on it for
| a day or So 1t is known that the amendments"
| have not changed his purpose to veto the bill.
| Israel w. Durham leader of the Republican
| organization of the city. when asked about he
| situation, said:
don't cross a bridge until come to it, If
| there is to be any independent political move
ment for the coming fall viii consider it after
! it Is started.
CITIZENS TO ORGANIZE.
Late tonight several prominent citizens were
preparing a call on the people to cooperate in
drastic measures to stop the carrying out Of
| the orders of the machine bosses that the ord-
nance must be passed over the Mayors veto.
The movement is to be a prop for Mayor Weaver
in his night In giving the outline of the move
ment leaders in it said they contemplate bring
| ing together the men of courage and standing
in the different wards and formulating plans.
| not violence hut for determined efforts to
block the game of the machine bosses
According to the plans thus far agreed on
organizations are to be formed in every ward
| of the city. These are to begin action by call
| ing on Mayor Weaver in body and talking
over what is to be done to foil those who have
| defantly undertaken to grab this most valuable
asset of the city.
PLEDGE SUPPORT TO MAYOR.
The Committee of Nine also met to-day and
decided to meet daily until the battle for the
people had been won. The following resolution
! was sent to the Mayor:
! Resolved. That the Committee of Nine hereby
| extends to Mayor Weaver hearty commentator
| in the stand he has taken behalf OF the
citizens OF Philadelphia and pledges him its sup
| port in his opposition to the proposed gas lease
William C. Huey, who fought the present lease
in councils in 1897. declared that in his opinion
| the gas steal could be prevented in the courts.
| The most vulnerable point Of attack, he thinks,
is the present lease, which he says was obtained
| in a fraudulent manner. Mr.. Huey said:
A fight should be made for the annument of
the present lease. If 1 had been properly sup
| ported when l demanded a councilmanic in
Yestigation of the disposition of So 900 900 worth
| of Equitable Illuminating Gas Company's stock
| in 1897, several people would have gone TO
| 1887 job, but it isn't too late get back the
| property that was fraudulenty obtained from
| the city. The eagerness which the United
! Gas Improvement people display in having the
| new lease put through is enough TO convince
| any one that they are aware that the present
| lease could be knocked out If IL was attacked
in court the ground of fraud. If the 1897 lease
| was wiped out it would defeat the gas steal. and
the city would get its property back without