The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-05-24
PhiIadeIphias Mayor Dismissss
Two Of Cabinet
COUNCILS ARE AGAINST HIM
Entire City Is Shaken BY the Mayors
Action and the Organization"
Will Fight to the
End.

Philadelphia, May 2S.-In his effort to
defeat the consummation of the plan to
lease the city gas works TO the United
Gas Improvement company for seventy
five years for s25.0Oo,ooO, Mayor Weaver
today dismissed from office the two prn-
eipa members of his cabinet and there
by delivered a staggering blow to the
dominant political organization of this
city which has caused probably the
greatest sensation in the history of Phil
adelphia municipal affairs.
While the citizens were expecting some
sort of move on the part of the mayor.
they were not prepared for the Immediate
removal from office of David ]. Smith,
the director of the department of public
safety, and Peter r. Costello. the drec-
tor Of the department of public works.
The mayor has announced that he is
| In the fight to the litter end which
means that a great political battle is
now on, and will be carried to the polls
next November
Calls Eminent Council
In his fight against the gas lease and
the republican organization, the mayor
has called in as counsel Elihu Root of
New York, and former Judge James Gay
Gordon of this city. Judge Gordon is
democrat. The mayors stated purpose
in going outside the city for his principal
counsel, is that he wants man who
is not identified with any faction in the
struggle now on.
Simultaneously with the dismissal Of
! the two directors, Frederick j. Shoyer.
director of the department of supplies.
by direetion\ of the mayor suspended,
pending an Investigation, Arthur p. H.
Morrow the assistant director of the de-
partment. No action was taken against
any employe In the department of public
health and charities.
The removal of Directors smyth and
Costello did not come until after the
mayor had asked them to resign imme-
diately. In reply each sent a letter to
the mayor Offering his resignation to
take effect when his successor shall be
qualified" The dismissas followed
After the removals had been announced
the mayor made public the names of tho
men he had selected for the places. They
are Colonel Sheldon Potter to hll the
term, and A. Lincoln AcAer to be direc-
tor of the department Of public works
| ad interim.
Fight Over Form of Resignation.
The fight over the form Of the resigna-
tion was an important one. In that the
directors can only be qualified by the
confirmation of the councils. which is
| controlled by the organization. The de-
| partment of public safety has charge of
| the police and fire bureaus, electrical
bureau, prisons, building inspectors.
boiler inspectors. city property and in
spectors of fire escapes The bureau OF
gas. highways lightning. surveys, street
cleaning water and city ice boats are
| under the supervision of the department
of public works Each director receives
$4,000 a year, and together they have
control of 10000 office holders.
1t is not likely that city Council will
confirm the men appointed by the mayor,
but they will hold the office ad interim.
Neither Mayor Weaver nor the removed
men would make a statement today as to
the specific reason for the changes be-
yond the general statement that the pro-
posed lease Of the gas works was the
cause of it. The organization TO man
was in favor Of the lease, while the
mayor was unalterably opposed to It,
Mayor Was Ignored.
He was ignored in the transaction and
he has been urged by the newspapers and
reform organizations to veto the ordi-
nance passed By the council last Thursday.
| These he has announced he would do. In
| the meantime he brought every influence
to bear on councllmen 10 sustain him in
his veto In this he had little success
| The two directors refused to use their
| influence to help him. and this led the
mayor to ask the directors for their res
| lsnations. Every request of the mayor
for delay In the matter Of passing tho
gas lease ordinance met with refusal on
| the part Of the council.
| In addition to this, when the gas lease
was passed last week. both branches OF
councils passed over the mayors veto
| eight bills Of minor importance that he
had returned Monday Ordinarily vetoes
are laid over for at least week.
Politicians In Caucus.
The news of the mayors action spread
quickly to every section OF the city and
all the afternoon the Rlalto around the
city hall whore politicians gather every
day was densely crowded with politi-
clans and citizens. Every one wanted to
know what the organization was going
to do The leaders however. made no
public announcement beyond the state
ment that the organization would stand
pat on the lease, and that IL the mayor
wanted a fight the organization was
ready.
state Insurance Commissioner Israel
Durham. leader Of the party in this city;
State Senator James McNicol who had
many OF the cltys contracts. and who is
next to Durham in the leadership; Charles
Seger. the leader on the floor OF City
Councils. were besieged by leaders from
the forty-two wards all day and evening.
Numerous conferences took place, but
not a word as to future plans was dis
closed II is evident. however. that the
organization Is planning for a great con-
test. The next city election will be held
in November when a sheriff and a coroner
are to be elected The candidate for sher
iH Is Harry c. Ransley, president OF tho
Select Council. and an advocate of the
gas lease. and II is likely that the reform
organizat tions Of the city will center their
strength to defeat him