The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-05-25
Mayor Weaver Dismissed From
Office Two Principal Mem
bers of His Cabinet.
is IN THE FIGHT 70 THE BITTER END
Political Battle is Now On That VIII
BE Carried TO the Polls
in November.
The Mayor Has Called In as Counsel
Elihu Root, OF New York, and For /
mer Judge James @. Gordon,
Of Philadelphia.

Philadelphia. May 24-In his effort
to defeat the contamination OF the
plan 10 lease the city gas works to the
United Gas Improvement Co. for Is
years for $4,000, 0O0. Mayor Weaver
dismissed from once the two princl-
pal 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
Philadelphia municipal Affairs While
the citizens were expecting some sort
OF a move on the part OF the mayor
they were not prepared for the imme-
date removal from once OF David j.
Smyth, the director Of the department
OF public safety. and Peter y. Costello
the director OF the department OF pub
lie works. The mayor has announced
that he Is ia the fight To the bitter end.
which means that great political bait
tie Is now on and will be carried to-
the polls next November. In his fight
against the gas lease and the repub-
lican organization the mayor has cali
ed In az counsel Ellhu Root. OF New
York. and former Judge James Gay
Gordon, OF this city. Judge Gordon is
a democrat
New Directors Appointed.
The removal OF Directors smyth and
Costello did not cnme until after the
mayor had asked them 60 resign ina
mediately. In reply each sent let
ter TO the mayor offering his resigna
ton 10 take effect when his successor
shall be qualified The mayor an
swered them by demanding their i'm
mediate resignation. The answers the
directors returned were TO the eject
that they had tewlered their resigna-
lions In the usasa form and In accord
ance with the provisions OF the city
charter" and that they would stand by
them as rendered.
After the removals had been an
nonnced the mayor made public the
names OF the men he had selected for
the places. They are Col sheldon
Potter 10 Ms the ONCE OF director Of
public safety ad interim. and A. Ian
coin Acker. TO be director of the de-
partment OF public works ad interim.
The fight. over the form CT resigna-
ton was an important one. In that the
new directors can only be qualified by
the continuation OF councils. which Is
controlled. by the organization.
VIII Councils Confirm Appointments
u is not likely that cny councils
win confirm the men appointed by the
mayor. hut they will hohd the Office ad
insertm Neither Mayor Weaver nor
the removed men woild make state
mene az 30 the specific reason Tor the
changes beyond the general statement
that the proposed lease OF the gas
works was the cause OF H. The organ
izEion. 10 a man, was in favor OF the
lease, while the mayor was unaltera-
bly, opposed 10 H. lie was utterly ig-
nOred in the transaction and he has
been urged by the newspapers and re-
form organizations to veto the Ordi
nance passed by councils last Thurs
day. This he has announced he would
do In the meantime he brought every
influence 40 bear on counriltnen to sus-
tain him In bis veao. I'M this he had
little success. The two directors re-
fused to use their Influence to help
him and this led the. mayor ao ask the
directors for their lreslgns1 Ions.
Every request OF ahe magyar for de-
lay In the matter az passing the gas
lease ordinance meth With refusal on
the mart Of councils. I'M addniOn to-
this. when the gas lenset was passed
last week both brmchesN of councils
passed over the mayor'sg veto eaght
bills Of minor Importance ithat he had
returned that, day. Ordi tarily vet0es
are laid over for at least week.