The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-02
INFAMOUS GAS LEASE
 ORDINANCE WITHDRAWN
UNANIMOUS ACTION IS TAKEN BY PHILADELPHIA
 COUNCILS
Mayor Viewers Appolns,nent. Also

Mayer Weavcr's Appointments Also
 Confirmed Without q Dissenting
 voIce-Tax Rate to Remain the Same
 as Last Year--aIayor Contends That
 Existing Rate is suHicient--fs at
 Hand With His Lawyer Prepared to
 Appear if Necessary.
 Philadelphia, June 1.-Withour a dis senting vote both branches of city coun- ciis to-day withdrew the ordinance au- thorizing the extension of the city gas works lease to the United Gas Improve ment company for a period of seventy five years, for which privilege the com pany was to pay the city s25. .0G0,oO0. Select council also unanimously con- firmed the appointments of Colonel Sheldon Potter as director of public safety and A. Lincoln Acker as director of public works. The galleries of the council chambers were packed to suf- location with spectators, but there was no disturbance and the action of the municipal legislators was received in si- lence.
 An unusual feature of the meeting of councils was the presence of Mayor Weaver, accompanied by his attorney, in a room adjoining the upper branch, during the vote on his appointments. He was prepared to appear before tho body if necessary, but was not called upon to do so.
 Another important move was made in common council when Alexander de Haven, chairman of the finance com mittee, introduced a resolution fixing the tax rate for next year at $1.50 on $l0O, the present rate. The republicon organization leaders who advocated the l gas lease extension claimed that money was needed immediately to meet ex- penses, and asserted that if the ordi- nance was defeated it would be neces- sary to increase the tax rate. Mayor Weaver, on the other hand, contendeds 1 that the existing rate was sufficient Almost the first act of common coun- cil after converting this afternoon was the adoption of resolution recalling from the mayors hands the ordinance extending the lease of the gas worlss.- The resolution was transmitted to the select branch and was Immediately adopted. This action by the legislative bodies rendered unnecessary the veto message which Mayor Weaver had pre- pared to present to the meetings. Following the recall of the gas lease resolutions the mayors secretary ap- lpeared on the floor of the select cham Der and presented the mayors commu- nication referring to the removal of Di- rector of Public Safety David J. Sn1yth and Director of Public Works Peter E. Costello, and the appointment of their successors, Colonel Sheldon Potter and A. Lincoln Acker. The mayor gave as his reason for removing Directors Smyth and Costello 'the good of the public service and the promotion of a more efficient administration of the de- apartments"
 The roll call on the confirmation of the appointments showed forty-two af- l lfirmative votes, the entire membership of the upper branch.
 Late to-day Mayor Weaver sent a. letter to City Controller John M. Wal ton asking to be supplied with copies of the yearly statements of the United ,Gas Improvement company and the amounts alleged to have been spent. by the company for improvements. He asks also the amounts due. with inter- l est, at the end of the year 1907 for the properties belonging to the company
 His purpose, he states, is to secure as near as possible 9 statement from which an estimate can be made of the
 amounts that will be due and owing from the city to the United Gas Irn-I lprovement company, should the option to retake the gas works be exercised by the city.