The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-05-24
Philadelphia Mayor Turns
 Pretty Trick.
CABINET MEMBERS FIRED
Another Big Sensation in the
 Gas Fight.
Weaver Kick. Out Two Principal Mem bers of His Political FnmfIy fn Effort to Defeat P1sn of
 Leasing works.


 to defeat the consummation of the plan to lease the city gas works to the United Gas Improvement Company for seventy-five years for $25,000,000. Mayor Weaver today dismissed from office the two principal members of his cabinet and thereby delivered a stag gering blow to the dominant political organization of this city which haa caused probably tn egreatest sensa- ton in the history of Philadelphia mu- nicipal 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 Da- vid J. Smyth. the director of the de- partment of public safety, and Peter E. Costello, the director of the depart ment of public works.
 The Mayor has announced that he is in the fight to the bitter end. which means that great political battle is now on and will be carried to the polls next November. In his light against the gas lease and the Republican or ganization, the Mayor has called in as counsel Elihu Root of New York and former Judge James Gay Gordon ot this city. Judge Gordon Is a Demo~ crat. The Mayors stated purpose iH going outside the city for his princis pal counsel is that he wants a man who is not identified with any faction in the struggle no won.
 Simultaneously with the dismissal ok the two directors. Frederick J. Shoyers director of the department of supplies, by direction of the Mayor, suspended pending an investigation, Arthur B. H. Morrow, the assistant director of the department. No action was taken against any employe in the department of public health and charities.
 First Asked to Resign.
 The removal of Directors Smyth and Costello did not come until after the Mayor had asked them to resign fmue- diately. In reply each sent lette- to the Mayor offering his resignation to tafle effect when his successor shall h8 qualified" The dismissais followed.
 After the removals had been ans nounced the Mayor made public the the places. They are Colonel sheldon Potter to i'll the office of director of public safety ad interim, and A. Lincoln Acker, to be director of the depart- ment of public works ad interim.
 The fight over the form of the resig- nation was an important one, in that the directors can only be qualified by the confirmation of the council. which is controlled by the organization. The department of public safety has charge of the police and fire bureaus, electri- cal bureau, prisons, building inspectors boiler inspectors, city property and in spectors of fire escapes. The bureau of gas, highways, lighting, surveys. street cleaning, water and city ice boats are under the supervision of the depart- ment of public works. Each difectot receives $10,000 a year and together they have control of 10000 office hold CTS.
 It is not likely that city councils 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 state- ment today as the specific reason for the changes beyond the general state- ment that the proposed lease of the gas works was the cause of It. The organization to a man was In favor or the lease. while the mayor was unal- terably opposed to 1t. He was ignored in the transaction and he has been urged by the newspapers and reform organizations to veto the. ordinances passed by councils last Thursday.
 This he has announced he would do. In the meantime he brought ev- cry influence to bear on councilmen to sustain him in the 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 resignations.
 Fight on the Mayor.
  lay in the matter of passing the gas lease ordinance met with refusal on the part of the councils. In addition to this, when the gas lease was passed last week both branches of the coun- cil passed over the mayors veto eight bills of minor importance that ne had returned Monday. Ordinarily yetoes are laid over for at least a week.
 The news of the mayors action spread quickly to every section of the city and all the afternoon the Rialto around the city hall. where politicians gather every day, was densely crowded with politicians and citizens. Every one wanted to know what the "organlza- ton" was going to do The leaders, however, made no public announcement beyond the statement that the organi- zation would stand pat on the lease and that if the mayor wanted fight the organization was ready.
 State Insurance Commissioner Israel Durham, leader of the party in this who had many of the city's contracts and who is next to Durham in the leadership: and Charles Seger. the leader on the floor of the city council were besieged by leaders from ths forty-two wards all day and evening. Numerous conferences took place, put not a word as to future plans was disclosed.
 It is evident. however. that the orr ganization Is planning for great con test. The next city election will be held in November, when a sheriff and & coroner are to be elected. The can didate for sheriff is Harry c. Ransley president of the select council and an advocate of the gas lease. and it is likely that the reform organizations of the city will center their strength to defeat him.