Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-06-09
WHO URGED PUBLIC
WORKS RESOLUTION?
Commissioners Can't Find Out by
Whose Request Gorgas Offered
His "Stop Work" Measure

BY whose request did City Commits
sioner w. L. Gorgas offer his resolu-
ton calling for the dismissal of all
the engineers and other subordinates
of the Board of Public Works July /.
City circles are still mystihed about
that.
Commissioners Lynch and Taylor
made a strenuous effort to find out
yesterday afternoon during the discus
sion that preceded h final voting
down of the measure but MIR. Gorgas
declined to enlighten them.
Commissioners Bowman. Lynch and
Taylor voted for the indefinite post
ponement of action on the resolution
because as both Mr.. Lynch and Mr..
Taylor frequently pointed out 1t would
not mean a saving of money as Mr..
Gorgas declared, but would merely
mean the shutting down of work on
the various jobs which are so near
completion.
When the Fuss Began
When MIR. Gorgas offered his resolu-
ton a few weeks ago he said he did
so because he thought the city would
be saved money as the engineering ex-
penses of the board cost from $500 to
$500 monthly and hat because the
work was so nearly finished. the final
SACAASS Jul " ahNC0 ny IN lily
engineers office. Action was post
poned at the time, and al a subse-
quent meeting Mr.. Gorgas in answer
TO a question of MIR. Taylor admitted
that the measure was not entirely his
own idea, but that he offered the reso-
luton by request. He declined, how
ever, to state the source.
When the resolution was called up
for final action yesterday Mr.. Lynch
moved for indefinite postponement as
he declared its passage would cost a
reflection on the Board of Public
Works, that nc money could be saved
because the dismissed men would have
to be hired by the city engineer be-
cause they are so thoroughly familiar
with the work, and that the whole
purpose of the measure is to shut
down the operations.
Tribute to Public Works Board
In seconding the motion Commits
sioner Taylor said that he did so in
order to express his confidence in the
work of the Board and to pay a tri-
butte TO the excellent manner in which
they had handled the thousands of
dollars OF the city's money. ne
money will be saved by this measure
because the same men will nave to be
employed to finish the jobs" said he.
The Board has carried this work
through up to its final stages; the
people Of the city have expressed their
confidence in the high character and
again by voting for loans of hundreds
of thousands of dollars and they did so
with a peculiar feeling of security be-
cause they knew that the Board of
Public Works would spend the money.
1t is only common courtesy to the
Board to let them finish the Job.
MFR. Gorgas Doesn't Agree
bITTA1 I~~ ---AA --sAL l.
tleman," declared Mr.. Gorgas, lin that
the resolution is rejecting upon the
personnel o fthe Board in any way.
If the city hasn't the money to pay,
why wouldn't it do what everybody
else Toes under like circumstances
quit"
Then it doesn't resolve itself into a
question of saving at ALL" interposed
Mr.. Taylor, sit resolves itself into a
question of whether or not the work
shall stop. Now if a question of saw
ing mon for the city be involved
then I would gladly vote to save it.:
but if the purpose OF this measure is
to stop the work, then I'm most GER
tainly opposed to it.
Who Is Back of Resolution?
What l should like to know is"
demanded Mr. Lynch, why wasn't
the Board considered in this matter
at all? Who is back of it? Who is
after EN-"
Mr.. Gorgas has explained what's
back of it, volunteered Mayor Royal.
HE said his purpose was to stop the
work because there is no money.
There is no intention Of rejecting
upon the Board.
"Oh, certainly not" agreed Mr..
Gorgas.
Mr.. Taylor Asks a Question
IF the directorate of your bank, for
instance, Mr.. Gorgas." suggested Mr..
Taylor, dismissed one of the men who
had been employed by you-and did
not consult you about it-wouldn't you
consider hat a reflection on your
Judgment"
Mr.. Gorgas smiled and said hat the
case wasn't parallel.
WHO or what is back of this: Who
is after the Board?" once more in
sisted Mr.. Lynch.
Question on the notion" called
Mayor Royal.
And when the vote on postpone
ment was called only Mr.. Gorgas and
the mayor voted NO" The mayor
said he wanted it understood plainly.
however, that he didn't mean to cast
any reflections on the Board of Pub
lie Works.