The Washington times., 1905-05-28
GAS LEASE DEAD,
PEOPLE WIN WAR
AGAINST STEAL .
u. G. |. Directors De-
cline to Enter Into a
New Contract.
YIELD TO BOSS DURHAM
Mayor Weaver May Go Back
With the Ring Now Fight
IS Oyer.

-
PHILADELPHIA, May 27.-The fight
over the extension of the lease of the
municipal gas works in this city to the
United Gas Improvement Company for
a period of seventy-fiVe years is off at
least temporarily
The struggle which was precipitated
by the announcement of Mayor Weaver
that he would veto the bill extending
the lease, passed by the select and com
mon councils last week. was ended by
the announcement of the gas company
that 1t would not accept the lease even
II 1t should be ratified
This announcement was made al
O'Clock this afternoon at the Offices of
the gas company. a letter in which the
company tells why it has taken this
course, and which was addressed to both
branches of the municipal legislature,
was then made public
The letter reeites the history of the
passing of the ordinance and recites the
provisions Of the lease, especially dwell
ing on the amendment made in the
council providing for a reduction after
certain period. of the price of gas
from 81 TO SO cents per ], ESQ feet. The
fact that the movement to extend the
lease has aroused great public indigna-
ton is also referred to-
Public Opposition.
Continuing the letter. reads:
The manner in which the whole sub
1ect has been treated indicates that the
community is opposed to any extension
OF gas lease upon any terms
This being SO this company is un-
willing 70 accept the ordinance which
has been passed or 10 enter into any
contract whatever with the city look
ing TO variation OF the terms of the
present lease.
The United Gas Improvement Com
pany, therefore, begs respectfully to
advise councils that. for the reasons
stated above. should the pending ordi-
nance become law it Will not be ac-
Eepted by it
The letter is signed by the presiden;
OF the company, Thomas Dolan.
Directors Surrender.
The action of the directors in thus
yielding to public opinion on the ques-
ton of the gas lease was only taken
after a long discussion OF the matter,
and at the express demand OF Israel W.
Durham, boss OF the Republican organ
ization.
4 conference lasting from 10 o'clock
this morning until o'clock was held
before the directors surrendered Then
the letter referred TO was prepared. 1t
was addressed to Harry c. Rausby.
president of the selA;t council. and
George McCurdy, president Of the COM
mon council.
Senator Penrose. President Thomas
Dolan, of the L. G. /. Company; Boss
Durham. James McNichoIs. aud other
political leaders and followers of the
gas ring were at the conference.
II is understood that Boss Durham put
his demand for the Withdraw of the
company from the fight in no uncertain
terms. He referred to the state of pub
lie opinion in regard TO the proposed
extension, and pointed out the ernbar-
rassment which the passage of the bill
has brought upon members Cf the two
councils.
The gas company. he insisted. has no
right to put the counciimen, who have
been the tools OF the organiza don, into
the predicament of having to choose
between the people and the gas in
terests
The defections from the ranks of the
gas councilmen" were also referred to
eloquently.
Durham Prevails.
His arguments finally prevailed and
the directors surrendered. Their CAPT
tulation to the people in this instance
was announced in the letter addressed
10 the councils
The surrender OF the company did not
come, however. until the people had
given pretty good evidence that they
would force the councilmen to defeat
the ordinance or demand a strict ac-
counting from the city Legislators
II ss doubtful even whether Durham
would have taken the stand he did had
Il not been for the great outcry against
the steal
Handwriting On the Wall.
The boss has never been noted for
saving much attention 10 the desires of
T5,tladelDhians. Had he not seen the
handwriting on the wall il is doubtful
whether he would ever have taken tho
course he did
The people. ever since The hght against
the extension Of the lease began, have
been working hard TO defeat the pro-
tect. They failed at the meeting of
tbe councils last week. and the measure
veat through. Without yielding TO this
dtscoura cement they at once went TO
work with renewed energy. Determine
tion 10 win in the end headed off the
final ratification of the bill.
MAYOR Weaver became the center OF
their hopes On him their arguments
rravaiIed- He announced that he would
yeto the bill IN doing this the mayor
broke completely with the organization,
for the time being at least
Even with the mayors pledge to re-
s,,se his signature TO the bin. the battle
fconinued On Second Pase.)