The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-19
Excited Citizens Nearly Caused
Riot in Councils Chamber.
ARMED POLICE QUELLEO RIOT
Citizens Cried Thieves" and Had Ropes
for CourcIImsn United GiS Co.'s
Offer for Works $25, (00,000.

riotous demonstration ever seen in the
city hall. the councils last night iammed
through the steal Of the Philadelphia gas
works. turning down practically without
consideration the bid of the syndicate of
New York capitalists known as the T.. h.
Smith & Co syndicate
The offer 81 the United Gas Improve
ment company the present lessee Of the
city plant. for a I5-year lease. amended
so that the city will get S0-cent gas in
1885. now awaits the mayors action. In
the common council the vote was "a 20
., and in the upper branch the result stood
s. 20 T.
The afternoons proceedings will 60
down IN the annals OF the city not only
as memorable but as provocative ~ the
widest disorder ever seen within the
walls Of the city hall Al ! O'Clock the
finance committee received the report ~
the subcommittee recommending the ac-
ceptsnce OF the United Gas Improvement
companys proposition.
THREATENED EJECTMENT.
The chamber in which the committee
meets is not commodious and the crowd
of eager citizens that jammed it from
wall 20 wall made IL rather difflcult for
the members of the committee 10 move
about
In the corridor without hundreds pushed.
tugged and trampled over each other in
mad effort 10 see what was going on
inside. Some one. in a spirit of fun.
started singing Wen Hang Tom Dolan
on the Sour Apple Tree" but the crowd
was not in a humorous mood and when
the several hundred voices took up the
strain II was in a spirit Of grim determine
tion.
Inside the tension was great and once
or twice Alexander -peIaNnn7-eAa 4EHHaH-
of the finance committee. threatened 10
clear the room. The report throwing out
the Smith bid was heard. however. with
hreathless interest The reasons given
were hazy. II declared that the terms
were not clear and what benefit the city
would receive was defined I'm terms too
problematical for considera tion.
The crowd jeered. and when Mr. Do
Haven shouted "Ill have YOU all thrown
out the sergeant -arms were not per-
certihly enthusiastic
TIME WAS LIMITED.
Robbers shouted someone from The
rear OF the room, and from then until tho
close OF the meeting similar gibes NJ the
committeeman were made at frequent In
tervals.
Charles Seger Boss Durham's right
hand man. then ordered the reading OF the
report rejecting the Smith bid and approv-
ing United States Gas Improvement offer
a man I'm the rear wanted 10 make
speech I'm opposition. but the committee
would not allow it
"Our time Is limited" Chairman De-
Haven explained.
we have other meetings and a caucus
AT . O'Clock. II was then |: 80 o'clock and
the crowd thought II saw a shadow OF a
gas.
shame shame. shame" followed hy a
storm of Kisses greeted DeHaven "If
rsnft afa lie aen
shouted
Try g." retorted the crowd
The chair then sirnaled that II would
hear from John O. winston OF the COM
mittee OF 70. hut he waived his right 10
speak In favor Of ex-Judge Gordon
The latter demanded that a letter from
the mayor urging postponement he read
IN was the first time Mayor WeaVer's
name had been mentioned and the crowd
hooted. The letter was read and there
was an awkward pause
PoTTER's PROTEST CHEERED.
Move 10 postpone consideration of
mayors message" said a committeeman.
There was not q vote OF dissent EN-Judge
Gordon then gave Charlie Seger and Jake
Henderson very bad half-hour He told
them he didn't blame Tom Dolan "Dolan
Is shrewd Scotch-Irishman." he declar-
ed. He Is acting for the best interests OF
his corporation. and is not to he blamed.
But YOU gentlemen also have n corpor-
alton 10 look out for-the corporation OF
the city OF Philadelphia, which her citi-
gems have entrusted 20 your hands Why
don't you be shrewd Scotch Irishmen,
too?"
Gordon drew from Seger the admission
that he did not know the earnings Of the !
United Gas Improvement company for /
last year, nor had he taken the trouble 90 |
look the matter up Minister TO Italy !
William Potter protested and evoked I
cheers. Then, after. hearing three solid I
hours OF speeches the committee inlmc- 4
diately voted 20 present the report OF the
subcommittee 20 the councils without any /
recomme ndation
ROPES FOR CoJNCILMEN.
The crowd upon hearing the result
gave howl of Indignation then moved
bodily upon the council There we're
200 ~ them hy This time, and as they
marched along the corridors singing
We'll Hang Tom Dolan on n Sour Apple
Tree. the echoes reveroerated through
out the building
There was a mad scamper for seats
In the galleries of both chambers ana
a stalwart Irishman upon gaining a seat
In the front row. threw a rope over tho
railing, 20 which was attached q sign.
This Is for our councimen This was
the signal for others and In an instant
number ~ ropes were dangling down As
the councilmen took their seats those
IN the galleries All changed their lsy 20
hail. Hail The Gangs All Here"
order. order shouted President NJ
Curdy
smut up. retorted n galleryite
Clear tho galleries cried McCurdv.
Try n. YOU thieves shriekcd dozen
men
During The temporary quiet the United
Gas improvement proposition WIS read
Ihen the surprise % the day camc when
Counciinun Hammond arose and offered
the amendment under which the con.
suinefs viii eventually get gas az ~ cents
ifr 100 fect When the crowd under
stood that this ngure would not come
until 1915 pandemonium broke loose.
Thieves Robbers You thugs
the crowd shouted Alexander DeHaven
sried 20 sr>ak lie coulcnf be heard
sAfs~ feet away. ana there wac No more