New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-24
WEAVER HITS HEAVY BLOW
DROPS HIGH OFFICIALS.
Takes 10000 Offices out of Control
of Machine an Gas Fight.

effort 10 defeat the plan to lease the city gas
works the United Gas Improvement Com
many for seventy-five years for S25 900, to-
dav dismissed the two principal members of his
cabinet and thereby delivered a staggering blow
- the machine and caused a sensation. While
sor7e move by the Mayor was expected. citizens
usre not prepared for the summary removal of
Dsyid J Smyth. Director of the Department of
Public Safety, and Peter E. Costello Director of
she Department Of Public Works
The Mayor has announced that he is in the
fight TO the bitter end. which means that the
great political battle now on Will be carried to
The polls next November. The Mayor has called
in as counsel in his present fight Erhu Root
and ex-Judge James Gay Gordon Of this CITY,
Judge Gordon is a Democrat The Mayors
stated purpose in going outside the city for his
principal counsel is that he wants a man who
Is not identified with any faction in the struggle
The Mayor struck another blow to-day when
Re ordered Frederick J. Shoyer, Director OF
the Department of Supplies. TO suspend. pend
tng an Investigation Arthur r. H. Morrow.
Kistant director Of the department
DIRECTORS FORCED OUT.
The removal of Smyth and Costello did not
rome until after the Mayor had asked them to
resign Immediately In reply each sent letter
70 the Mayor offering his resignation. to take
effect when his successor shall be qualified"
The Mayor answered them by demanding I'M
mediate resignation. The directors replied that
thev had rendered their designations "n the usual
form and in accordance with the provisions of
the city charter" Mr.. Weaver then ended the
correspondence by sending to each a letter IN
which he said:
feel that the best interests of the city re-
uuire that official relations shall terminate
81 once. You therefore place me under the
painful necessity Of Immediately removing you
from the position, as 1 feel that must have
some one in that Office responsible only to the
Mayor and TO the city ar once.
The Mayor then selected for the places
Colonel Sheldon Potter to I'LL the Office of Di-
rector Of Public Safety, ad interim, and A Lin
coin Acker TO be Director of the Department
of Public Works ad interim
The fight over the form of the designations
important, the new directors can be
'qualifed" only by the confirmation of Councils.
which is controlled by the organization. The
Department Of Public Safety has charge of the
police and fire bureaus. electrical bureau, pris-
ons, building inspectors. boiler inspectors, city
property and inspectors of fire escapes. The
bureaus of gas. highways lighting. surveys,
street cleaning, water and city iceboats are
under the supervision of the Department of
Public Works. Each director receives $4,000 a
year. and together they have control of 10000
olficeholders.
Il is not likely that City Councils viii con-
firm the men appointed by the Mayor, but they
will hold the Office ad interim.
MACHINE HAD IGNORED MAYOR.
Neither Mayor Weaver nor the removed men
would make a statement to-day TO the specific
reason for the changes beyond the general state
Inent that the proposed lease was the cause
Of fl. The organization to a was in favor
Of the lease while the Mayor was unalterably
opposed 10 it. He was utterly ignored in the
transaction, and he has been urged by the news
papers and reform organizations to veto the or
dinance passed by Councils last Thursday. This
he has announced he will do. In the mean time
he brought every influence to bear on council
men to sustain him in his veto. In this he had
little success The two directors refused to
their influence to help him. and this led the
Mayor to ask the directors for their designations.
Every request of the Mayor for delay in pass
Eng the gas lease ordinance met with refusal on
The part Of Councils. In addition TO this. when
the gas lease was passed last week, both
branches Of Councils passed over the Mayors
veto eight bills of minor Importance that he had
returned that day. Ordinarily vetoes are laid
over for at least week.
The news OF the Mayors action spread quickly,
and all afternoon the place around City Hall,
where politicians gather every day. was densely
crowded with political workers and citizens
Every one wanted 10 know what the "organza-
ton was going to do. The leaders, however,
made no public announcement beyond the state
rnenJ that the organization would stand pat
or the lease. and that If the Mayor wanted
fight the organization was ready.
MACHINE MEMBERS CONFER
Israel W Durham, State Insurance Commits
Eoner and the boss; State Senator James F.
McNichol who has many of the city's contracts,
and who is next to Durham in the leadership,
and Charles Seger, the leader on the floor of City
Councils were besieged by leaders from the
forty-tWo wards all day and evening. Numer-
GUS conferences took place, but not word as
70 future plans was disclosed 1t is evident,
however, that the organization is planning for a
great contest. The aext city election will be
held in November, when a Sheriff and Coroner
gre TO be elected. The candidate for Sheriff is
Harry C. Ransley. president of Select Council
and an advocate Of the gas lease and 1t is likely
that the reform organizations of the city viii
centre their strength TO defeat him.
While the Mayor refuses TO say what his ac-
ton viii be regarding other offceholders who
oppose him. IT is believed that he is not yet
through. There is much uneasiness displayed
by thousands Of oficeholders. The new di-
Tectors refuse TO say what plans they have,
and until they make some announcement
the political situation Will remain chaotic. Some
Of the organization leaders fear that many Of
hceholders viii side with the Mayor
Thomas Dugan. the present coroner, who
failed of denomination, was the centre Of much
interest II was rumored that he had Joined
forces with Mayor Weaver and removed two
mon from his office who members of the
councils and who voted for the gas lease. He
denied that he had taken any action, and re-
fused TO say what he was going to do.
MAYOR HAD A BUSY DAY