Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-20
QTRACT ACTION
EXPECTED TODAY
souncils Likely to Author
lie Cancellation of All
but War Work
SUBWAY DEAL SEPARATE
Special Ordinance Needed 10
4 Meet Suggestions Of Officers
of Keystone Company

49, Ccunclls are expected 10 pass q meas
tlre today making 1t possible for the
Mayor, with the assistance of the City
solicitor. City Controller and depart
I ment head, to arrive at a basis for the
\ cancellation Of all contracts that do not
4 aid directly wartime activities.
f The final decision as to the terms Of
cancellation in each particular case will
rest with Councils and for that reason
special sessions may have to be called
or financial settlements postponed until
TALL
Contract Annulment conditions
Councils. under the contract bill, as
finally framed, may be called together
: It any time to confirm or reject settle
inents agreed to by contractors and city
ohicials. Most of the contracts to be
annulled lie in the Department OF Public
have much Of the work completed before
settlement is arrived at
Because of the many unusual items
entering into the snnullment of the sub
way contracts held by the keystone
a
nance giving the Mayor and Director
Twining the right TO settle with the conf
pany will be passed. Unlike the genera
ordinance on the settlement of contract
this bill permits the officials to settle
without referring their settlement to
Councils for ratification.
On but two of the subway contracts
the ones for Arch and Locust streets
Is the National Surety Company, the
-<-.s.
Company is Philadelphia agent. the
surety. The contracts total 5000, 900.
and the annullmen: of them leaves the
Mayors company without further re-
sponsiblity and with the fun premium
paid. As yet the Mayor has made no an
nouncement of his plan to settle equit-
ably the bonding end of the contracts
with the city "
The question Of time Is vital to the an
nulment OF the subway contracts. so tha
money can be procured through the sale
Of bonds for the quick completion of the
Frankford elevated and the subway work
under City Hall. Another question raised
will refer to profits to be allowed the
company for the cancellation of the
work. Hhe bill referring to subway work
includes number of suggestions as to
settlement made by officers of the Key
stone company. and TO that extent diff
fers in body from the general csncella.
ton ordinance referring to all other mu-
nicipal contracts.
Select to Approve Loan Bill
In Select Council the s1.200.OOO tenn
porary loan bill that passed Common
last week will be approved. The passage
Of this measure is a precautiou against
an empty treasury and Controller Wal
ton has promised not to negotiate the
loan unless it should become absolutely
ttnperative during the summer months.
3 Another financial measure of import
+ance Is the appropriation of s3Ss. 900
loan funds for the construction of a
main sewer on Packer street TO provide
savage facilities for hundreds Qf ,hquses
that the Government pans building
a1ong the north side of Penrose Ferry
road. The money is available from the
1920 900 loan for general purposes
approved in ,Tune, 1915. Originally
$500. 900 was allowed for sewers in Big
Ter and Packer streets. but the amount
MT wartime prices is barely half enough
for the purposes FIRST intended.
AZ Transfer and Repair Measures
Other bills OF. the utmost Importance
through the summer months provide
transfers of funds totaling about 5000
000. A part of this money. taken from
salary items, will be used in the pur
chase of coal and other supplies that
are badly needed by departments and
city institutions. The passage of such
large transfer at this time is saiC to
prssage a deficit at the close Of The " ar