Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-12-14
WORK ON 100000
GENERAL HOSPITAL
BLOCKED BY POLITICS
Perpetual Contract Of
Philip H. Johnson Impels
Director Harte to Hold
Plans in Allegiance.

Reconstruction Of the Philadelphia Gen.
erai Hospital win not be started until
the question OF what architect shall draw
the plans is satisfactorily and definitely
settled.
That Is the announcement OF DR.. n. II.
liarte Director OF the Department of
Health and Charities, who has evolved
plans to transform the antiquated and
overcrowded structures Of Blockley into
modern s6.O00,0OO Institution. There is an
Item OF 100000 for the beginning OF the
work IN the s11,3OO.O00 municipal loan
passed. at the last election. The $4,000
Will be made available by Councils within
the next few weeks.
Criticism directed against Doctor Harte
because of his willingness to have the
plans drawn by Philip II. Johnson, a
political architect. who holds by Organi-
zation power a perpetual monopoly over
all contracts In the Health Department.
has impeled tho Director to announce
that he shall hold his plans in abeyance.
Director Harte takes the stand that
the courts have decided that Johnson
shall be the architect of the Health De-
partment. The Director contends that
he is bound legally to allow Johnson to
supervise. the work. and that an effort
on his part to employ any other archi-
tect would tie. up a project that Is hu-
manItarian and should be completed as
by Director Harte that all plans for the
hospital have been evolved by himself
and approved by eminent medical au-
thorities, and that the work OF the archi'
tect will be merely reducing to working
plans on paper designs submitted to him.
Realizing this attitude of Director
Harte. the Organization leaders of Coun-
ellis, chief among whom is Charles Seger,
chairman Of the powerful subcommittee
on Appropriations, have shown q willing
ness TO let Doctor Harte "have what he
wants" for the Health Department, ex-
cepting the new Division of Housing and
Sanitation. The leaders in Councils re-
alize that Johnson, the favorite architect
OF the Organization, will get at least
900 as his personal per cent share
from the 100000 reconstruction work at
Blockley.
Public Works, has, according to Director
Harte, asserted that the reconstruction
of BIoclSley should be performed in the
Public Works Department to the COM
plete elimination of Johnson, the ''perpet-
ual architect" Doctor Harte says under
the law such arrangement is impossible.
The, Director now fears however, a tax
payers suit or other legal action aimed
to annul Johnson's right to perform the
architectural services of rebuilding Block
ley at the rich fee of 100000, If the work
il started.
Philip II. Johnson, the architect, the !
cause of the controversy and the present |
lmpediment to greater Philadelphia |
General Hospital, secured his grip on the |
Health Department construction work in |
1903 during the Administration OF the late |
Mayor Ashbridge. Under the city con-
-ract johnson then secured, by orders of |
he Organization, he has virtually per-
ostual monopoly on all work that will |
aver be instituted by the Department of |
Health and Charities.
Johnson and the late Israel w. Durham, |
former Republican political boss, were
The present architect |
vas former rodman in the Philadelphia
Survey Bureau.
has been upheld by President Judge
Mayer Sulzberger. Of the Court of Com
non Pleas No. 2, in the following lam
suage; THE contract of March 30, 1908,
With Philip II. Johnson, was therefore
/ valid, subsisting contract, and the City
5olicitor was right in refusing to draw
Ind approve a contract with another
architect I'm 1918 for a part of the same
york" That decision followed an effort
in the part of city officials to employ
,ther architects on work stipulated for
Johnson under his eternal contract"
Until the argument Is settled one way |
,r another regarding Blockley, Doctor
zarte asserts he will take no further ac-
ion. He contends he Is not a politician
md has no affiliations with the Organiza-
ion, although Administration adherents
Jay they can see tendency in that direc-
Inn