Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-07-26
ROYAL AND GORGAS
WANT TO CLOSE GAP
In Lengthy Statement They Reite-
rate Desire Not to Hold Up Inn
prOvement if Money Be Found

In lengthy statement issued last
evening relative to the river wall gap
Mayor John X. Royal and Commis-
sioner W. L. Gorgas. superintendent of
finances and accounts. reiterate the
declarations they have both frequently
made@in newspaper interviews and on
the floor of Council that they are not
opposed to the proposed plan for clos
ing the gap at Market street by con-
tinuing the concrete steps across the
unsightly chasm.
Both the Mayor and Mr.. Gorgas add
that their only purpose in opposing
the plan to date is lack of funds, as
they believe. to complete the job.
The problem will be threshed out In
Council tomorrow and 1t is hoped
tfat the commissioners will get to-
sether on some plan 10 permit the
work to be proceeded with without
further delay Following is the state
nent OF Messrs. Royal and Gorgas:
Statement in Full
The statement signed by both Mayor
Royal and Mr.. Gorgas follows:
SO that the citizens and taxpayers
may fully understand all the facts, we
desire to make this public statement.
In the year 1910, by vote of the
people, a loan of $316, 100000 was au-
along the Susquehanna river" When
bids were asked for this improvement
1T was found that the sewer would
only cost about one-third of the
amount authorized. Plans were then
made to spend the balance autlpor-
lied and a wall or series of steps was
ordered built by the Board of Public
Works.
"On the completion of the sewer a
controversy. arose between the con-
tractor and the Board as to the
amount due the former. The cons
tractor claimed balance due of
about $4,000, and the Board of Pub
lie Works claimed that about $4,000
only was due, and it has been said
(unofficially) that the contractor
would have been willing to settle for
$4,000.
The matter in controversy was sub
mitted to the old council through the
city solicitor, who in a communica-
ton strongly urged arbitration and
on his recommendation council au-
thorized the Board of Public Works
to appoint a Board of Arbitrators and
according to the terms of the agree
ment the decision of the arbitrators
was to be final and from which no
appeal could be taken.
THE arbitrators found there was
due the contractor the sum of S22,-
5000, and so reported to Council
Council took no definite action on the
report. After some weeks the attor-
ney for the contractor notified Council
that his client wanted his money and
Council should take steps to pay same.
The city solicitor notified Council that
the award must be paid and it was
their duty to provide the money. AS
there was a balance of S23,156.1S in
the fund. Mr.. Gorgas introduced res
!.
streets and public improvements to
draw warrant in favor of the con-
tractor for the amount awarded. AS
the amount of money already eXpend-
ed and the bills for work ordered and
completed exceeded by $4,000 the
amount authorized by the people, Mr..
Gorgas, as superintendent of finance,
felt as If he could not legally counter
sign any more warrants on this fund
until some decision was made, as to
whether debts could be contracted in
excess of the amount authorized by a
vote of the people. Therefore he re-
fused to countersign any warrants
on this fund.
"Up to this time there lave been
warrants drawn and paid for work
done on the sewer and steps S292,S43,
and there are debts unpaid for work
done S1O.0S3.S0, and due contractor
S22. 2.767.09, making a total of $685.
-644.71. or $9,644.71 in excess of the
amount authorized by a vote of the
people.
I'm the face of this the superinten-
dent of streets and public improve
ments and the board of public works
have authorized a further expenditure
of $3.50 (estimated) to close the gap
at Market street, which would make
an expenditure of s16,S94.71 in excess
of the amount appropriated and no
steps taken to pay the said excess, to
say nothing of the bill rendered by the
arbitrators. of $4,000 for services rem
dered.
THE Constitution of Pennsylvania
says no debt shall be contracted or
liability Incurred except in pursuance
of an appropriation previously made
therefore II ere by the municipal govern
I'VE are in no sense opposed to
filling the gap in the River Wall, but
we consider it our duty, as city Off
cials, to see to 1t that this step is not
taken without provision for its pay
ment and we stand ready to hear some
definite method by which the city
means to pay this excess and If that
may be legal and at the same time
feasible we are willing to support it,"