Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-08-09
SIX SUBWAY CONTRACTS
READY FOR SIGNATURES
Contractors, However, Want Pro-
lection From Loss Through
Delays
MAY NEED AN ORDINANCE

The City Solicitors office today completed
work of drafting the six contracts for the
subway work awarded two weeks ago, and
the documents are now ready to receive the
signatures of the contractors and the city
authorities. 1t became known at the same
time, however. that the passage by Coun-
ellis of an ordinance giving the Transit
Director broad discretionary powers re-
gardng the execution of a contract might
he necessary step before the concessions
sought by the three firms can be adjusted.
This matter is now being threshed out by
the city Solicitors department and it Is
not expected that any decision will be
reached before the middle of next week.
Meanwhile the six contracts will be kept
IN the Office of the Law Department, since
under the regular procedure the contractors
themselves are the first to sign the docu-
ment.
TO COVER LOSS BY DELAY
The contractors are asking that the city
compensate them for the superintendent
ana upkeep of their plants in case the work
Is tled up by the lack of materials after
II mas been once begun. and for other neces-
sary expenditures incidental to the delay In
the delivery of materials and supplies 1t
IS generally admitted by those who have
STUDIED the situation that to grant the re.
quests would practically mean a modflca-
"hether any legal way can be found to
cllcumVent this is seriously questioned. it
was said today, and as n result the CITY
ooIlcltof may advise that Councils mass an
ordinance making it discretionary with the
Dlrector i TO grant the concessions" sought.
III view OF the unusual war conditions
IN New York city the Public Service
commission possesses such power as affect
ihS municipal contracts. but in Pennsyl-
wanna no similar power has ever been con-
lerred either upon the Service Board or
upon any of the city directors
director Twining today received from
the Philadelphia Subway Construction Com
pany (Senator yare's concern) a formal
letter outlining the concessions sought by
mat nrm' The Keystone STATE Construction
company (Senator McNichol's Con,nanv,
iast week submitted a similar letter. and
the only frm now to be heard from is
Smith Hauser & McTsaacs. Inc, New York
HANCOCK INDORSES NEW LEASE
william Hancock, one of the cty's repre-
sentatives on the Philadelphia Rapid
transit Company's directorate, today added
ms indorsement to the new lease. Colonel
Sheldon Potter another of the citv rnnro.
sehtatives on the board and Edward A
.NoppeI president Of the United Business
Mems Association, yesterday made public
their approval of the document.
MT hancock said: II have gone over
ing ana l can say that every feature which
was complained of in the old lease has been
corrected in the new draft 1t would be
Impossible | think, to draw UP an agree
ment more equitable and fair to both citv
and company alike.
Ihe citizens of Philadelphia owe a debt
OF gratitude to Mayor Smith and TO Director
Twining for the great fight thew have noaJa
Tor fair lease and a square deal The
United Business Mems Association likawiso
deserves credit for the position it has talxen
thlilk that every member of the United
ASSOCIATION will be ready TO indorse the
new tease when he has read it."
Between today and Monday Director Tv;-
ilhe VIII go over the draft page by nape
IN order to discover any possible ornissions
or errors ANY discrepancies he NAV dis
cover will be discussed on Monday With
A. L. Drum, chief engineer for the Transit
company, and William Draper Lewis. legal
'ii transit ADVISER OF the city and the draft
wII then he put into final shane.
The Mayor had not Intended to cio
copy 10 City Solicitor Connolly for his
opinion until next Tuesday, after all cor-
rectons had been made. 1t was leornod
however, that Mr., Connolly might offer oh
lections to giving his approval to the nact
m'ano"t having q sufficient time to study it
the Mayor will turn proof copv oyer r''t,' ~
me city Solicitor tomorrow
Charies L. Fluck, president of the North. |
west BUSINESS Mems Association, said today
tnat tn II was likely his organization would |
rmhiioa, tne general terms of the lease. IT, on
pupiicatloh' they prove to be as he under
sIands they are. The approval of CoIona1 |
ohelaoh Potter he said, would carry preat
weight The organization, however Mir,
reserve the right to oppose some Of The
II tne lease ultimately provides for civ
oee' oemS ARE ne said this increase should he
not to the surface lines. ''''S anu
me Northwest Business Mems Associ,-
tion VIII not join with the Allied Rmsinoaa
Mems Association Of West PbiladalnhIa %
making political fight in Councils for I'm IN
nT,usiEn IN the lease of provision for the
certain s,,r,ao nIiructlon oa ,irn and operation OF