The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-30
So, 600, 900 GRAFT
IN PHILADELPHIA
Gigantic Theft from Taxpayers in
Public Works Contracts Is
Revealed.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
philadelphia, Oct. 30.--Six million,
three hundred and thirty thousand dol
lars have thus far been stolen outright
from the taxpayers of Philadelphia by
the contracting combine which has e
tration plant and The two bonievards,
one in the northeastern and the other
in the southern portion of the city.
This conclusion has been reached by
Major Cassius e. Gillette, corps of en-
gineers, u. s.. A. and John, Donald
MaeLennan, experts employed by May
or Weaver to make full investigation
Of the contracts and the work done.
Major Gillette is the officer who inves-
harbor improvements and procured the
evidence on which former Captain
Oberlin M. Carter was convicted, and
against which Green and Gaynor must
shortly stand trial. John D. MacLen-
nan is ar. experieneed engineer who re-
Gently completed the construction OF
the government s filtration plant at
Washington.
The Men Who Did It.
John W. Hill, former chief of the
trial on charges of forgery, etc, in
connection with the filtration contracts.
The contracting, combine which is ac-
cused of this thievery is constituted
in the main Of Israel W. Durham, re-
publican boss Of Philadelphia and CO.
boss with United States Senator Pen
rose Of Pennsylvania and State Sena-
tor James P. McNichol. These two
men. with D. j. McNichol, a brother
tracing firm Of Daniel J. McNichol.
Evidence brought out at Hill 8 prelim-
! mary hearing showed that in this firm
| D. j. McNichol owns a twelfth in
terest, the other eleven-twelfths being
divided equally between Durham and
James P. McNichol.
| The report submitted by the two ex-
perts and made public today shows that
! on account Of the filtration plant, and
the northeast and southern, boulevards,
the city has expended $18,761, 541, and
that the work, had all Of it been of
/ frst-class quality, should not have cost
more than $12,130,00O, which sum in
cludes a 20 per cent allowance for con
! tractors profits and which sum has also
been paid the McNichols. Much of
the wor is Of 'second-class quality, the
t to make those portions that were visi.
BILE 1rst-class and all that could be
hidden second-class. .t...:. .4s
Twelve Hundred Deaths.
Beside the monetary loss, the OK
perts accuse the contracting combine
with direct responsibility for twelve
hundred deaths from typhoid that have
occurred, In the last twenty months.
| The plant, they declare, should cas-
lily have been completed Jan. l, 1904
Since that date there have been 1875
cases Of typhoid fever in the city will
1857 deaths, whereas the number q
deaths from typhoid, had the citizens
been provided with pure water, since
Jan. L, 1904. should not have been il
Of the $6,33O,Oo0 of which the cit,
has been robbed, the experts charg
the D. J. McNichol crowd with havin|
obtained $5,065,122; Ryan and Kelly
who are accused Of having been il
collision with the McNichols, go
$543, 800, and Ware Brothers, tho hav,
the contract on the, southern boulevar,
have got $89,128. IT. ;1Ta, f.
To complete existing contracts on tn