The Penn's Grove record., 1905-06-02

The Gas Grab Bill is Acknowledged as Be-
ing Lost to the Ring-Clergymen's As.
ISOLATION Backs Up the Mayor In Move
For Good Government - Municipal
Ownership Question.
Philadelphia, Pa.-Beaten at every
turn, State Insurance Commissioner
Israel W. Durham, the boss of Phila-
delphia, hauled down his flag and sur
rendered to the people.
The Committee of Seventy met and
decided to carry the battle for decent
government into the homes of the
grafters, while the Committee of Nine
issued a call declaring that the battle is
not vet over, and that it will not be
ended until every vestige of the oil
gafchy that has prostituted Philadel-
phia has been removed from power"
With but a few unimportant excep-
tons every ward leader waited upon
Mayor Weaver and sued for peace.
Within an hour these same harpies
lined up in Durham's office and re-
newed their oaths of allegiance.
Later, however, Durham sent for
some of the ward leaders and released
them from their pledges to stand by
him, and made the following announce
ment:
Il have advised my friends not to
oppose the confirmation Of A. Lincoln
Acker as Director of Public Works and
Colonel Sheldon Potter as Director of
Public Safety, If their names are sent
to Select Council by the Mayor"
1t is conceded by all concerned that
Councils will confirm Messrs. Potter
and Acker. The Durham organization
is down and out.
The Presbyterian Ministers Associa-
ton at its weekly meeting adopted the
following resolution:
"We, the ministers of the Presby.
terrain Church, pledge our support to
the Mayor in his conflict for civic
righteousness and urge him to make
no compromise with the organization
that has plundered u city, but, as
did General Grant, demand 'uncondi-
tional surrender We promise Mayor
Weaver Il continued support and will
follow his leadership in the right
Resolutions of encouragement and
promising to support the Mayor were
adopted at meetings of the Methodist
Preachers and the Baptist Preachers
Associations.
Municipal ownership will be the slo.
gan of the new organization. Men who
favor municipal ownership will event.
ually be recognized as ward leaders,
and the November election will be
fn1obt p1t IN 4ha rn1pioipol ou-norcbin
issue.
Chairman Winston, of the Committee
of Seventy, will sail within six weeks
to study this problem intimately
abroad.
1t developed that one of the main
arteries of the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit system may be taken over by
the city at any time under the terms of
a franchise granted years ago, it being
expressly stipulated in the franchise
that the city may become possessed of
the property upon payment for the ma
terial assets at an appraised value.
The keystone Telephone Company is in
such a condition that it could be read
lily acquired by the city, and the Fair
mount Park Transportation Company
is also for sale. 1t was reported that
competent counsel has advised the
Mayor that the special legislation that
brought the Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company into existence will not hold
water before a high tribunal.
The idea is that the city shall own
the properties and lease them, as the
gas works are now leased.
1t was reported that Director Potter
has suspended Lieutenant Carey, of the
Third District. If this proves to be the
fact it means that Mayor Weaver has
declared open war upon Leader
Maloney, who challenged him to come
into the Fifth Ward and give him bat
tie at the polls. Carey is the only
real strength behind Maloney.