Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22

of the municipal government. He controli-
ed the mayor to such a degree that the lat
ter never made appointment without
consulting him; no ordinance OF Importance
ever passed the councils without his ap-
prevail: no contracts We're ever AWARDED
by any of the city departments without nrst
being submitted to him: and 1t Is saio that
he examined the payrolls of the city resu-
Jarly and indicated by check marks the
names of men who were to be promoted OF
dismissed. The civil service OF the munici-
pality is theoretically based upon the merit
system, but Durham's wishes were always
stronger than the laws. You can near
much gossip about the money he has mace
from official sources. He Is accused OF pc
ing q partner of several contractors WHO
have been most favored III the CONSTRUCTION
work of the city.
Carnival of Corruption.
Under Durham's rule there has been
carnival of corruption in the municipal gov
eminent The filtration plant was public
necessity, for the waters of the Sehuylkili
river were VIGOROUSLY impure; but the cost,
it is claimed has been more than double
what 1t should have been, and the excess
Is supposed to have been divided among
those who controlled the contracts The
original estimate was eleven million dol
lars and even that sum was considered eX-
cessve; but, under DurhamS direction, al
terations in the plans were made, extern
sions were ordered and supplementary con-
tracts have been entered INTO Whicn nave
brought the cost up to $26,uooOoo, ana the
work Is not completed yet.
For example, a contract for SAND, TO De
used In the filtration beds, was awarded 10
James P McNichol a prominent ward poll
ticiau, for $3.50 600. The next day he sub
let 1t to James Caven, whose son is a men,
Der of the common council, FOR S2lo,Ooo ana
put the $4,000 profits in his pocket. "A
week later Cayen sublet 1t to Norcross IL
Jgdp,unds for S115 600 and put the $40 DuU
profit in his pocket
Before Mayor Weaver broke away from
the gang last spring, the city paid 81 %
square ward for asphalt pavement. The
same firm is now laying the same kind OF
pavement for 81 SO a square yard, and 1t Is
generally believed-in fact, the contractors
are said to have openly admitted-that the
difference of SLOT per square yard was
paid over to the gang. The same prac-
tees prevailed all through the city govern
ment In street cleaning, removing garb-
age, furnishing supplies of every sort, COM
petition was prevented. Contracts were
awarded year after year to tie same firms
individuals who were selected by MIR.
Durham. He fixed their charges and they
prepared their bids under his directions.
He controlled the police and thus exercised
autocratic power over the liquor sellers,
gamblers, houses of vice and criminal
classes generally. The same methods that
Tammany has cultivated with great skill
and profit for many years in New York
city were applied with even greater skill
and profit In Philadelphia by "the organi-
zation." Every merchant, every industry
was compelled to pay tribute according to
It's Importance, through the police or to the
tax assessors, while the large corporations.
the railroads, the street railway lines ana
other public utilities, were blackmaiied to
an extent which the public will never know.
Conditions Tolerated for Years.
ssThe organization" was absolute, and
perpetuated itself by most extraordinary
measures, which, strange to say, have been
over the manufacturing industries. which
informed citizen of Philadelphia for years.
and have been tolerated by them. Every
newspaper reporter. every employe at the
city hail, every club man. has been familiar
with the situation and has known more Or