Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-04
S74,OOO of Vare Claim
Is Paid, Says NObre

the advent of the so-calicd CatHu In.
Vcstigation Committee.


measured by INC and certified In the
usual and regular way In the current
estimate FOR payment TO the contractor,
and the money was actually paid To
tho contractor out OF the city Treasury
under such current estimate.
After such payment had been made,
the so-called catlin Investigation COM
mittcc came to Philadelphia to conduct
Investigations as to municipal contracts,
and the contractor in this case became
fearful that the payment which had
been made to him for the nlline IN of
Government avenue would hc considered
irregular and illegal, because GoVcru-
mcut avenue, although upon the city
plan, has never been lcgslly opened ana
there was no countilmanic authority or
legal authority for the payment by tho
city for grading or illling Of u street
not legally opened.
DESTROYED EVIDENCE
- vaS'thcrcupon requested by the con-
tractor to destroy the evidence which
would indicate the payment 20 him by
tho city for the filling IN Of Government
avenue. and I complied with his request
by charging against other portions OF
the League Island Park Improvement
the nlling that had actually been done
IN connection with Government avenue.
This did not result I'm collection
from the city Treasurer more than was
actually due the contractor for nlling,
but It did Incorrectly represent the guam
tIty for which the contractor had col
lcctcd for the portions of the work other
than Government avenue,
"If the Finance Committee Of Council
desires further details. and will order
gu investigation and give me an oppor-
tuuity to have access to the papers aud
records connected with this matter !
will. rs a city official. he ready TO give
such further assistance as ! can.
Chairman Gaffncy. after the state
meut was read. asserted
"Ir this Is a matter % spite, we want
to know It,"
"rhis Is ~ matter Of spite aud IT Is
meant to injure me politically asserted
senator Ware rising to his feet.
chief Albright. Of the Bureau Of sur
vcys. was requested by taitncy to bring
before the committee copies of tho Csti-
mates in this case NOhrr looked at
them and declared h" could not tell
/ which particular part Of the work was
shown by them. lie said he could tell
| from the progress sheets 81 should not
be asked to certify to such a particular
question in such Il short time" he said
Mr.. McCullen then suggested that
/ Nobrc he given plenty nf time tu 90
over tho progress sheet t;aftncy said
Nuhrr would be given plenty of time,
/ hut he wanted to ask Albright SOmC
I questions,
"Ilava YOU talked this matter over
. with Mr. Nuhrc?" was the first qucs-
tiuu.
/ II snut for him to 80 over these rec.
urdH at the time of the last meeting"
/ answered Albright. "Ilc came and said
/ that the records were taken out Of his
char aNd lie knew nothing about
{ them"
/ Albright then said that the records
referred to were taken from Nobrc by
former Director Cooke and with other
records regarding contracts were placed
/ in the vaults of the Fidelity Trust Com.
, pany.
senator Ware asked permission to
. question Mr. Nobrc, He asked him,
when and where did discuss this
with you?'
"m Your office" said Nohrc.
and in the office of Francis Skunk
| Brown" added Nubrc before Ware could
stop him,
WHO was present." asked the Sen-
ator.
Francis skunk Brown and your
brother, William :. Narc,' was Nobre's
! reply.
no such thing ever took place
thundcrcd senator Ware.
81 submit that the worl, had not beet
done at the time. NubrC says ! was
paid for it, and therefore | could not
have been paid for it at that time cN-
plaincd the Senator
Nubre then said: II told your sister
in-law. who was sent to me to influence
mo about coming here Senator
Ware interrupted. when did YOU tell
her that you should have been made
Director OF Public Work7?' he
countercd.
Then followed tilt over Nobrc's tcs-
timony before the s'atlin commission in
which lie said Senator Ware had not
approached him,
Nobrc said somc strange rcd marks
were on the plans and he never saw
some of the blucpriuts.
Punctuating his speech with raps OF
his cane on the desk, senator Ware said
Mr. Nobrc and Select Councilman
Trainer made this arrangement because
they were not satisfied with what they
got under the Smith Administration aut
to try to discredit the job, Director
Cooke said that this is shocking. Let
, them show it with official papers. It's
concocted by Nobrc to get even with al
imaginary grievance he has against IN,
and will prove it by good-lNing people
who can he trusted
4 don't want cent until It Is thor
uughly thrcshcd out and want tho
mystery cleared. | stand ready 10 pay
the bill FOR any investigation this com
mittec may authorize. | would be tn,
last fellow to he here asking for any
thing I'm not entitled to.
"Nobrc never said word to IN ON