Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-10
ASK MAYOR TO
OFFER RELIEF PLAN
[Continucd from First Pagc.]


improvements and public safety to
proceed at once with "contem-
plated improvements, ETC., so as
to relieve the present distress of
large number of worthy and
able-bodied citizens now out of
employment. therefore,
Resolved, That the superintend-
ents of parks, streets and public
perintendent OF accounts and
finance, the authors of said reso-
luton, be and they are hereby re-
spectfully requested to submit to
Council at their earliest con-
venience a list of 1.-The contem-
plated improvements, such as
park improvement, laying of sew
ers, grading of streets and the
laying of water pipes" that they
may be legally proceeded with at
once, as said resolution directs;
and
Ask for Data
Resolved. That if the authors of
said resolution meant by con
templated improvements" public
work that has not already been
authorized by ordinance, as the
words would naturally imply, they
submit to Council as early as prac-
ticable what contemplated i'm
provements" may be so made,
whether the work shall be done
by the superintendents of parks
and public property, streets and
public improvements and public
safety, respectively, on force ac-
count, or by contract as the law
directs. and from what appro-
priations heretofore made the cost
of said contemplated improve
ments" shall be paid; and
Or Political Buncombe?
Resolved That a failure on the
RI nf tha nf in
luton to submit a feasible plan
whereby the said contemplated
improvements" may be legally
made at once. as directed, shall
be construed as indicating that
they knew that such improve
ments could not be legally pro-
ceeded with at once and that said
resolution was offered by the SUI
perintendent of public affairs as
one of his numerous efforts for
political buncombe only.
After due notice of his intentions
through the newspapers Mayor Royal
yesterday offered a resolution calling
upon the superintendents of streets
parks and public safety to begin al
once what paving, sewer pipe, water
pipe and park improvement work they
contemplate for this year in order
that the city's hundreds of unem-
ployed may be given an opportunity tC
work. Commissioner w. l.. Gorgas
superintendent of finance, seconded
that measure.
The resolution was laid over until
to-day.
Eager to Help
While frankly admitting that labor
conditions in Harrisburg have beer
worse this winter than in many year:
and that the city should do what il
can to provide work for the hundred:
of idle men. Commissioners Bowman
Lynch and Taylor-heads of the de.
partments in whose hands the city i'm
provement work largely is-yesterday
emphasized the impracticability anC
costliness of carrying on outside op.
erations in the winter time.
Mayor Royals work resolution
aimed solely at Commissioners Bow.
man, Lynch and Taylor, failed tC
work following it's presentation il
yesterdays session of Council because
the Mayor offered no practicable So
luton to the problem.
The superintendents of parks, street:
and public safety explained how they
had carried on such operations as lay.
ing sewer and water pipe, grading
paving, park improvement and so OF
farther into the real cold weather thar
ever before and that they had taker
on more men than was judicious will
the tundS at tnelr disposal.
Cold Compels Shutdown
I'VE kept the water main jobs il
Market and Front streets going as late
as we dared" said Mr.. Bowman. "Wt
Just had to shut down then because o.
the results of excavation in ground
that was so thoroughly frosted. The
chances are that we would otherwise
have to do the work all over again il
the Spring. Other jobs, those new
sewers on the Hill. for instance, We
kept going as long as possible. We
are responsible for the judicious OK.
penditure of the peoples money anC
| think we should bear this in mind
No corporation would do otherwise.
practical men who know theil
business" declared Mr.. Lynch, don
care to take a chance on work which
they know can't be done right with.
out financial loss to themselves.
I'm our department we've taken or
all the men we could and have kept
the work going as late as we could
Why, in constructing some of the
bridges we had to boil the water anc
heat the sand and the stones. 1t was
so cold at times that our men were
forced to quit or take a chance al
freezing"
Mayor Sidesteps
The Mayor sidestepped as much as
as to solution to the question.
We'll. I don't know just what work
you've in mind" he said. What
meant was the future work. WHY
can't you let these contracts now"
"The contractors can't work in such
weather. Any practical contractor OF
any other man that knows ANYTHING
about 1t will tell you that. That is
unless he is paid more for the extra
work that the job under these con.
ditions would require. Now wei
do this-if Council orders us to do so
But personally | don't think we've
any right to use the city's money thi,
way" answered the superintendent OF
streets.
"Why this resolution" began the
Mayor as he indicated the measure ht
had introduced a few minutes before.
Doesn't cover anything" finished
Mr.. Lynch.
We'll. it can be amended"
We'll. then. amend it. You made