Milford chronicle., 1905-05-26
in TnlLADELfHIA
layOr Weaver Dismissss Two Prin.
eipal Members of His Cabinet
WILL FIGHT THE MACHINE

dismissed from office the two princi
pal members of his cabinet, and there
by delivered a staggering blow to the
dominant political organization of this
city, which has caused probably the
greatest sensation in the history OF
philadelphia municipal affairs. While
the citizens were expecting some sort
of a move on the part of the mayor.
they we're not prepared for the imme-
Aiate removal from office Of David J..
Smyth, the director Of the department
of public safety, and Peter E. Costello,
the director of the department of pub
1ic works The mayor has announced
that he is in the fight to the bitter
end, which means that a great politi-
cal battle Is now on and will be car
Tied to the polls next November In
his fight against the gas lease and the
Republican organization the mayor has
called in as counsel Elihu Root, of
New York, and former Judge James
Gay Gordon. OF this city. Judge Cor
don is a Democrat. The mayors stated
purpose in going outside the city for
his principal counsel is that he wants
q man who is not identified with any
faction in the struggle now on.
simultaneously with the dismissal
Of the two directors, Frederick ].
Shoyer, director Of the department of
supplies, by direction Of the mayor,
suspended, pending an investigation.
Arthur r. H. Morrow, the assistant di- |
rector Of that department No action |
was taken against any employe in the
department of public health and chari-
aies
Immediate designations Demanded.
The removal of Directors Smyth and
Costello did not come until after the
mayor had asked them to resign i'm
mediately. In reply each sent a letter
% the mayor offering his resignation,
90 take effect when his successor
''shall be qualified" The mayor an
swered them by demanding their i'm
mediate resignation. The answers the
directors returned were to the effect
that they had rendered their resigna-
fions "in the usual form and in ac-
eordance with the provisions of the
city charter" and that they would
stand by them as rendered. Mayor
Weaver then ended the correspond 1
snce by sending to each letter in
which he said: ]
Il feel that the best interests of the {
city require that our official relations [
shall terminate at once. You therefore I
place me under the painful necessity
If Immediately removing you from the
position, as l feel that I must have
,ome one in that office responsible
,nly to the mayor and to the city at
,nce." :,
After the removals had been an :.
bounced the mayor made public the
iames of the men he had selected for
he places. They are Colonel Sheldon :,
'otter to I'll the Office of director of -
iublic safety, ad interim, and A. Lin :
oln Acker to be director of the de- =
artment of public works, ad interim. q.
Control over 10000 offieeholders. .
The fight over the form of the re-
ignatiOn was an important one. in y,
hat the new directors can only be :,
ualifed by the confirmation of coun- =
lis. which is controlled by the organi- :,
alton. The department Of public
afety has charge of the police and G
re bureaus. electrical bureau. pris-
MS, building inspectors. boiler inspec- D
,rs, city property and inspectors of
re escapes. The bureaus Of gas
ighways, lighting, surveys. street sc
eaning. water and city ice boats are X
nder the supervision of the depart d.
ent of public works. Each director vi
'ceives $4,000 a year. and together m
ley have control Of upwards Of 10000
nceholders. SD
It is not likely that city councils tn
Ill confirm the men appointed by the an
ayor, but they will hold the Office. ad pl
terim. an
Cause Of the Fight.
Neither Mayor Weaver nor the re- ms
oved men would make a statement wi
to the specific reason for the
anges. beyond the general state
snt that the proposed lease Of the IL,
5 works was the cause Of It. The
ganization to man was in favor of
2 lease, while the mayor was unal- +,o
ably opposed to it. He was utterly ~
lOred in the transaction. and he has ~. w.
en- urged by the newspapers and T~ NJ
orm organizations to veto the ordi- -
nee passed by councils last Thurs -,
=. This he has announced he would -
In the meantime he brought
sry influence to bear on eouncilmen az az
sustain him in his veto. In this he NJ
little success. The two directors ~ ~
used to use their influence to help ~
4, and this led the mayor to ask the uio
ectors for their designations.
VERY request Of the mayor for de- T
In the matter Of passing the gas . \
sc ordinance met with refusal on NJ
part of councils. In addition to cor,
j, when the gas lease was passed Sec
week, both branches Of councils com
sed over the mayors veto eight 4
j Of minor Importance that he had 9th,
rned that day Ordinarily vetoes fou,
laid over for at least a week
Machine islands Pat" On Lease. S,
he news Of the mayors action M
ad quickly to every section Of the min
r-1 I'll ,ffo-,o,., A. ff-g.rt-li L. -