Evening journal., 1902-04-05
CARTER SAYS IT
WAS IN THE SAFE
Declares That Lighting Con-
tract Was Overlooked
MAYOR FISHER is RETICENT
As to What Action lie Will Take
in The Matter Now The Original
Paper Is Found

Although Il Is alleged that the origi-
nal Welsbach lighting contract, which
was found In the safe of the Street and
Sewer Department yesterday, had been
nut there within the last thirty days.
Director James D,tgarter, who is said
to be the only man who knew where
the important document was. still con-
tends that the contract has been in
the archives of the department since
Il was executed last June.
"That contract was signed by Mayor
Fahcy and attested by Clerk of Coun-
ell Morrison on June % last. II then
was given TO me and / Immediately
took Il to the Street and Sewer De
partmcnt and gave Il to Mr.. Wiley TO
nut in the safe" said Mr.. Carter to a
reporter for the Evening Journal this
morning.
"In the first place, Mr.. Wiley, by di-
rection of the members Of the depart
ment drew up contract form with
the Welsbach people, he continued.
This was submitted TO the officials Of
the gas company. who took IL to their
main Office to consider t. The Wells
bach representative next appeared be-
fore the Street and Sewer Department
with a ten-year contract written by
themselves. In this, the price was re-
duced % cents per lamp. After a care
ml consideration of the contract and
after making several changes, we ac-
cepted Il and sent Il to the mayor Al
tier it had been duly executed and the
bond for $1,000 attached to it, I deliv-
cred il TO Mr.. Wiley myself"
when did you give the document
To Mr. Wiley?"
1T was on the very same day. II
was June 20 of last year"
Mr.. Carter appeared pleased that
the contract had been found, and said
that he was surprised when he saw
the story regarding II In the Evening
journal of yesterday.
II is understood that City Solicitor
Reinhardt and President Melvin have
) been trying to find some trace of the
missing contract. Secretary Harvey j.
Wiley searched and worried over the
missing paper until he was almost
Frustrated and was Obliged 10 go to
the eoashoro In order to recuperate. He
has been away about a month.
President Melvin yesterday asked
Leslie " Christy. assistant secretary.if
he could swear that the original con-
tract was not then I'm the safes of the
Street and Sewer Department Mr..
Christy said he had not made a thor
ough search and was unable to take
oath that the paper was not there.
l Mr. Melvin instructed him to make
a thorough search for the document.
, Mr. Christy first examined the interior
Of the safe in the Office on the first
floor This was a fruitless search, but
, in the safe In the old quarters on the
second floor he cried Eureka" as his
eye caught sight of the contract.
While there are many opinions eX-
g pressed as to how the contract hap
I pened to be in the safe, some business
men are of the opinion that the docu-
ment has been in the safe all the time,
but being mixed in with the other
papers. was overlooked.
J. There are. however, some people
who laugh al this view of the case.
Ayers S. Webster. former president
of the Street and Sewer Department,
saws:
During the time between June 1
and September l., OF last year, | asked
dozen different times, in regard to
the contract. and Mr.. Fahey and Mr.
], lCarter both said the contract was In
q the hands of the Welsbach people, in
. PHILADELPHIA. / also asked Secretary
n WILEY the same question. and he said
y he had sent the contract to Philadel-
= phia. and that 1t had not been re-
turned.
Il most positively state that th'
award of the Welsbach contract was
never done in any public meeting o
OF the board. or at any private meeting II
I'd June. II never was awarded until De
D. cember 81 1901, and then only through
rs Mr. Fahey and Mr. Carter. vote'
against.
Further. it might be we'll TO adj
that there is no record on the minute
a of the department that the Contrac
lt was awarded in June
,e Patrick Fahey. formerly directo
el of the department. has contended a.
Dr. along that the paper was in Mr. Car
ter's possession.
Mavor Fisher this morning said tha
lhe did not know what effect the find
ing of the old contract would have o
him toward the new one. He held
he conference this morning with Andre'
lC. Gray. attorney for the Welsbac
Company. but both the mayor and Nj
of GRAY are reluctant on the subject.
IN, President Melvin this morning too
y 1.-THE resurrected contract {
ry Andrew c. Gray's Office and compare
to it with the one held by the Welsbac
G. Company. IT was exactly the same.
n