New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-05
GAS "STEAL" DELAYED.
GAIN IN PHILADELPHIA.
Councils VIII Aduertise for Bids on
T5-Yeqr Lease.
[Br TELEGRAPH TO THE 1R1BUNE.l

PHILADELPHIA. May 4<-Because of an Indignant
populace, which see Is 81 have been hair arouse0
from its contentment, the propo'ed leaS' oL tii'
citv's gas works may bring to the municipality
u++la moro than the United Gas Improve
,nent originally proposed that it should have
for the valuable contract, The CITY CouhctS
this afternoon, while a crowd gathered on the
plaza of the City Hall and bought buttons
I,aor4ro ric+ures of a moose decided to defer
the extension Of the lease and to advertlse
for competitive proposals. OF course, no one
+o1,os This movement seriously, since king
Dnrhar has gone back to Hot Springs for
his health, and the gas Improvement COM
panv's officials have had all their needed con-
ferences with him and Mayor weaver
one of the suggestions Of the hour Is that
this move is merely to mollify the people anu
Quiet the clamor for terms better than those pro-
posed by the United Gas Improvement for the
extension of the existing lease to seventy-hVe
wears. One of the propositions is that syn
dictate shall make to the city the $25'OOO0Oo loan
offered by the United Gas improvement and
take the receipts Of the plant for payment or us
interest and the principal in twenty-one years.
The United Gas improvements present lease
will not have expired for twenty-five years yet,
and it's scheme to extend it for total period
of seventy-fve years would be considered good
business if the terms offered could be regarded
as ADEQUATE The suspicion, however, that there
is graft in the proposition and that the city
is not getting all Of the money that will be paid
in consideration for the gas works finally
aroused the people to the need Of action, and
it came.
There were town meetings in which the pro-
posed deal was roundly denounced by such men
as John II. Coverse president of the Baldwin
Locomotive Works, Charles Emory Smith and
others whose motives could not be mlsconstrued
and the city has rung with charges Of corrup-
ton, and yet, despite all the efforts TO really
arouse the people and the taxpayers to the
enormity of the situation, the Academy of Music
seating . 800 persons, was not overtaxed at the
protest meeting last night, and this afternoon
when it was proposed to make the demOnstra-
ton upon the plaza of the City Hall, the jam
was not sunocating. There was good sized
crowd TO be sure. and some hotheaded fellow
mounted the base OF a monument and excitedy
told the people to fay their councilmen, but he
was at first Missed and finally when he brought
some cheers. that was about all the indignant
populace" did.
The councilmen evidently feared the coming
Of a greater storm, however, and it is prob
able that its hesitation in jamming the lease
thorugh was the result Of these rather tame
demonstrations 1t is equally true that the up
rising might nave Dttl more liToIlt-iCed II WoTu
had not come from Durham prior to his de-
parture for the Springs that the deal would have
to be delayed for time.
Absolute denial OF the charges that the L. G. I.
bought out its rivals in competing for tie exist
ing lease of the gas works in 1897 was made
to-da! by several members Of the former Ridge
way syndicate. The charges were formulated
last night at the Academy of Music mass meet
ing by Robert Dornan. a carpet manufacturer.
who said Thomas u. Stinson and himself refused
an offer of $4,000 from the Dolan combination.
we'll as an opportunity TO buy stock In the
L. @. l., at less than the par value If they
would cease their efforts TO block the L.. G. I.
in securing the franchise from the municipal
councils. The charges were explicitly set forth
IN sworn affidavit and IL is probable legal en-
tangIements Will follow
While the crowd was having fun on the plaza
another small and easygoing crowd gathered in
the galleries Of the chambers OF the councils.
and 1t made no noise. In place OF the L.
c.. proposition. which was to have gone
through without visible hitch. Charles