The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-24
GANG DEFIED
BY The MAYOR
Weaver DismiSses Members Of
Cabinet Who Control Patronage
THE ACT CAUSED A SENSATION
Phl'adelphli's Executive Says He Took
Action Because Men Refused 10 Help
Him Defeat the Gas Lease,
The ACT CAUSED A SENSATION

Philadelphia. May 2i.-In his effort TO
defeat the consummation of the plan TO
lease the city gas works 90 the United
Gas Improvement company for Is years
for s25, 100000 Mayor Weaver yesterday
dismissed from office the two principal
members OF his cabinet. and thereby de-
livered staggering blow to the dominant
political organization Of this city. which
has caused probably the greatest sensa-
ton in the history OF Philadelphia mu-
nicipal affairs.
While the citizens were expecting some
move on the part of the mayor they were
not prepared for the immediate removal
from office OF David j. smyth, the d.
rector of the department OF public safety,
and Peter +. Costello. the director OF the
department OF public works. which oc-
CURED yesterday.
The mayor has announced that he is in
tho nght to the bitter end. which means
that great political battle Is now on
and Will be carried 10 the polls next
November The mayor has called in as
counsel Elihu Root OF New York and
former Judge James Gay Gordon of this
city. Judge Gordon is Democrat.
WHEN SUCCESSORS QUALIFY.
The mayors stated purpose in going
outside the city for his principal counsel
is that he wants a man who Is not iden-
tihed with any faction in the struggle
now on.
simultaneously with the dismissal OF the
two directors Frederick j. Shoyer. di-
rector OF the department of supplies, by
direction OF the mayor suspended Arthur
r. H Morrow, the assistant director or
the department pending an investigation.
The removal OF Directors Smyth and
Costello did not come until after the
mayor had asked them TO resign imme-
diateiy In reply each sent a letter to
the mayor offering his resignat ton, TO take
effect when his successor shall be quail
fed The mayor answered them by de-
manding their immediate resignation.
The answers the directors returned were
20 the effect that they had rendered their
designations ''in the usual form and in
accordance with the provisions OF the city
charter and that they would stand by
them an rendered. Mr.. Weaver then
ended the correspondence by sending TO
each letter I'm which he said
RESPONSIBLE TO MAYOR AND CITY.
.'I feel that the best interests OF the
shall terminate at once. You therefore
place me under the painful necessity of
Immediately removing you from the po-
e!tion, as j feel that must have someone
in that office responsible only TO the may
or and TO the city at once
After the removal had been announced
the mayor made public the names of the
men he had selected for the place. They
are Col sheldon Potter, 10 fill the office
OF Director OF public safety. and A. Lin
coin Acker 10 be director OF the depart
ment OF public works both ad interim.
The fight over the form Of the resigna-
ton was an important one In that the
new directors can only be qualified by tho
confirmation OF councils, which Is control
ed by the organization.
The department OF public safety has
charge Of the police and fire bureaus,
electrical bureaus, prisons, building in
spectors, boiler inspectors, city property
and inspectors of fire escapes
The bureaus OF gas highways, lighting,
surveys. street cleaning. water and city
ice boats are under the supervision OF the
s department OF public works. Each director
3 receives s10.s) a year. and together they
have control OF 1000 officeholders.
UTTERLY IGNORED MAYOR.
II is not likely that the councils will
confirm the men appointed by the mayor.
but they will hold the office ad interim.
men would make statement today as to
the specific reason for the change beyond
the general statement that the proposed
lease OF the gas works was The cause for
&C.
> The organization 20 a man was In favor
. of the lease while the mayor was unal-
terabiy-opposed 10 IL. He was-utterly ig-
nored in the transaction and he has been
, urged by the newspapers and reform or
ganiza tions 10 veto the ordinance passed
by the councils last Thursday.
This he has announced he would do.
In the meantime he brought every In
fluence to bear on Councilmen 10 sus-
tain his vote.
In this he has had little success
The two directors refused 10 use their
Influence to help him. and this led the
mayor TO ask the directors for their
designations.
WEAKEN THE ORGANIZATION
While the mayor refuses to say what
his future action will be regarding other
officeholders who oppose him, IL is be-
lieved that he is not vet through with
his work in this direction.
There Is much uneasness displayed by
thousands OF offceholders lest they be
caught I'm the political vortex. The new
directors refuse to say what plans they
have mapped out and until they make
tion will remain I'm a chaotic state
Some OF the organization leaders fear
that many W the officeholders will side
with the mayor and thus weaken the or
ganlzatlon forces
Assistant Director Morrow who was
suspended. Is greatly incensed. This after
noon he wrote letter 10 Director Shoyer.
IN which he says:
Under the provisions OF tho city char
ter raintfuU Ia apuofptfnrptq ~ refapt-al9
I am entitled TO a statement OF the rea-
son for such suspension. | am moved
90 ask YOU this because the charter pro.
vides that such~suspcnslon shall not be
for political reasons and YOU have made
n clear To me In your several conversa-
tions Of the last few days that IT WAS
for political reasons only that I might ex-
pect such action on your part"
Binks-Youug folks seldom have in
somnia do they?
spinks-Nonsense My baby is only nvc