Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-05-28
Gas PROPOSITION WITHDRAWN
Signal Victory For Mayor Weaver, But
the Injunction Proceedings Are Yet
TO Be Taken Up--Members OF coun-
ei!s Were Beginning to Desert Their
leaders Grounds For Withdrawal.
ny Associated preaaa !

PHILADELPHIA. PA, May 27.-Af
ter ccntest lasting five days the
Republican Organization" led by In
surancc Commissioned Israel w. Dur
hn:nh was forced today by public
opinion and clamor TO abandon its eff
forts 10 extend the lease or the city
gas works to the United Gas Improve
men, Company for rs years. Thomas
Dolan. president of the company. to-
day forwarded n formal letter to the
presidents of The select and common
branches of city councils, withdrawing
his proposition TO advance the city
S25.GO0.0D0, in consideration of the ex-
tension .af the, lease which the com.
pnny now holds, This action was TAX
Ell after Il protracted conference with
Commissioner Durham, State Senator.
McNichol and Select Councilman
Charles Segnr, who presented the gas
lease resolutions in councils.
Signal Victory For Weaver.
The withdrawal of the United Gas
Improvement Ccmpany's offer is M
dnubtedly signal victory for Mayor
Weaver in his fight with the "orgnnl-
zation." though it docs not mean the
end of the battle. The Injunction pro
ceedings brought by David Smyth. for
mer director of public safety, and
Peter II. Costello, former director of
public works, against Mayor Weaver
anil their SUCCESSORS, Colonel Sheldon
Potter, and a. Lincoln Acker. to re-.
strain tho mayors appolntees from
conducting the affairs of the two lie.
partments. is stillfto come up for ar
gument and the leaders will make de-
termined effort to have the temporary
injunction made permanent.
Since last Tuesday, when the mayor
created the first sensation by ousting
Directors Smyth and Costello and ap-
pointing their successors, great pres
sure has heen brought to hear upon.
the councilmen by both sides and the.
Organization leaders have steadily
maintained confidence in their ability
70 have tile gas lease pass over the.
mayors, veto. s.. \
Deserted the Gang Leaders.
Popular opposition became so pro.
nnunced. however. that ono by one
,ncnlbers of the councils who original
ly voted for the lease began to show.
n disposition to acccde, to the wishes
of their constituents and todny with
almost week intervening before the.
lease should come up for. final action.
the mayor required only seven votes
in select council and ten In comc,oa
council To sustain his veto
II became evident that the leaders
were losing control of councils, bit
they were saved from putting their
strength to the direct test. when tho
United Gas Improvement Company
withdrew its bid 81
Commissioner Durham, Slate Sen
,ator McNichol and Councilman Segar
held a two hours, conference with
President Dnlan with the result tina.
the company Officially assumed the
responsibility ofWittdraWing the lease
Mr.. Dclan's Letter.
5} Mr.. nolan's letter@to the, council
states that the inodificatlons dfthc cri.
ginal lease bill reducing the price Of
gas were not III accord. with the offer
of the company, but that they would
have; have been accepted. Owing to the op.
position on,lhe part of the people. how
ever Mr.. Dolan's letter stated the