The Washington times., 1905-10-30
WASHINGTON MAN
LAID FRAUD BARE
Engineer McLennon Inyes-
tigated Affairs.
LIVES AND MONEY WASTED
Needless Delay Killed Twelve Thous-
and, Report Says-Millions Went
Into Grafters' Pockets.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 3O.-John DON
AID McLennon, who had a large part
In the building of washington's Ultra
ton plant, and Major Cassius E Gil
iette, United States Engineer Corps.
VINO brought Captain Carter to book
Ior fraucs in harbor improvements at
savannah. have filed a report with
Mayor Weaver showing that Ph,ladel-
phia has been defrauded Of s6.S3O,OOO in
the construction of its filtration plant
and other public improvements
The two engineers were appointed by
Mayor Weaver last July to examine the
nltrat.on plant and northeast and south
ern boulevards. now in process of con-
struction.
Death in Delay.
They found that owing to delay in
completing the filtration plant there
were in Philadelphia 100 needless
deaths from typhoid fever, the death
rate having materially decreased after
the completion OF the plant
The contractors who have received
most of the more than SIS, ,e00, 600 that
has been expended on public improve
ments are d. ]. McNichol & Co., James
J Ryan. John a. Kelley and Ware
BHrothers The members, of the Nc
Nichol firm are Israel w. Durham,
leader of the local Republican organi-
cation; State Senator J. p McNichol,
also city leader, and the latter s
brother Daniel. The Ware firm is made
and Edwin II. Ware. Their brother.
William s. Ware. is recorder Of deeds.
Held Responsible.
The officials held responsible by ~.
report for some OF the conditions in
ennnaotf0r, NIT lf-of faryr
are William c. Haddock. director ol
public works under Mayor Weaver un
til last May>when the mayor dismissed
him. and John w. Hill, former chief OF
the bureau OF filtration, who is await
ing triai on enarges OF fraud ana tals, as,
the construction Of the filtration sys
TEN.
Tbs. report says: "omitting from con
struction all small contracts-say. unde
3o.0e0-we find for the filtration worl
and the two boulevards as constructe
Up 70 date the city has paid or pledg
ed SIS, ,541. First class work unde
the specifications should not have cos
more than s1243O.00O. which includes a
9oS for legitimate contractors profits
The difference is sc. 10000
Where Money Went.
"Of the Sc. go, 600 excessive cost ther
has gone to the contractors who worke
i22. similarly TO Ryan & Kelley. s543. .s9'
and to Ware Brothers SIS. .i2S.
Some OF the contracts are incomplet.
The estimated cost OF completion of tn
existing filtration contracts at contrac
prices is about 81, 600. A fair price, a.
lowing 20 per cent profit. would b
Sl.ZS.o00. The city will lose the dil
ference If these contracts are cen
pleted.
..If completed at contract prices. tn
additional cost TO the city of tn
northeast boulevard Will be about So
100000. and the additional loss at leas
s2.z50O0o.
ITO complete the southern boulevar
at contract prices would cost $3.50. 81
and the additional loss would be $3.50
Cheap Work Done.
''Of the work done by Ryan & Kelle
and D. j. McNichol, the parts whic
Go not show prominently TO the pul
lie are distinctly second class and n,
up to the specifications"
One OF the means by which excessiy
profits We're made possible, the repo
says. was by not permitting fair con
done too shortly before the letting
contracts for other than gang firm
to prepare bids. Official informatio
too. the report says. was kept ava
frcm unfavored ones.
Froze Out Unfavored.
When outsiders underbid insiders. Il
work was readvertised-
All the work given favored contracto
has been grossly delayed. the enginee
say.
Wanamaker's Paper