The sun., 1919-05-22
SUBWAY BUILDERS
PROTEST AT VETO
Assert That Mayor and Comp
trollcr "Double Crossed"
Them With Governor.
EXCESS BILLS HELD UP
Assert That City Officials
Agreed to Pay for Extra
Cost Due to War.
EXCESS BILLS HELD UP

Subway contractors are I'D In arm,
over the veto by Governor Smith of the
bill which would have turned over 70
the Board of Estimate the settlement OF
their claims against the city because of
the excessive cost of their work due to
the war. They declare that both Mayor
Hylan and Comptroller Craig have
double crossed" them.
The Mayor gave his approval TO the
bill after hearing. Then Comptroller
Craig, who the contractors say had not
previously been inimical to the measure,
persuaded the Mayor to join him in
urging the Governor TO veto IL
II is said that the situation OF some
Of the contractors is serious, and that
there may be trouble in finishing the
seven contracts that are uncompieted un.
less the contractors get financial relief
that they need and, they say, were led
10 believe they would have.
Protest of the Contractors.
When Frederick L. Crawford, presi-
dent Of the General Contractors Asso-
ciation, was asked about the matter yes
terday he said:
Notwithstanding the authority IN the
law passed in 1918 (the Lockwood bill)
to adjust war losses, and notwithstand-
ing the agreement of June Is, 1918,
among the Board OF Estimate, the Pub
llc Service Commission and the contrac-
tors, which directed that we should IN
crease wages sufficiently to keep our
men away from the Government work
No l1A a -
materials necessary to continue the con-
struction OF subways without interrupt
ton. nothing has been done to carry out
the joint agreement.
This agreement was that if we would
carry on the work they would pay the
increased cost to us after the United
States entered into the war-increased
costs due to that war. This promise has
not been kept; the adjustments have
not been made. ..-
IAN attempt was made by the con-
tractors to clarity the situation by Sc
curing legislation in Albany. Every ef-
fort was made to secure the cocpera-
ton of the public authorities Every
step taken was with their knowledge.
For two months the Comptroller had
the opportunity to criticise and amend
the legislation. While he at no time d.
recty approved OF the direct words of
the bill each paragraph had been SUBJ
mltted to him.
Il feel that the contractors on the
subway have been double crossed both
by the Comptroller and by the Mayor,
who after approving the bill offered an
eleventh hour objection based upon
purely technical grounds, reasons not
borne out by the facts"
n.
In the memorandum fled in opposition
to the bill the Comptroller said:
This is a mandatory bill which would
impose large liabilities upon the city
Of New York. have been informed by
the Mayor that II received his approval
under the impression that the bill was
desire to help the Comptroller in dealing
with the claims OF the subway con-
tractors. It has also been stated to me
that the bill passed the Legislature upon
the impression that II was the Comptrol-
ers bill.
so far as the contractors have legal
claims against the city OF New York
there is no necessity for any legislation.
and all such claims presented to the
Comptroller for adjustment will receive
careful consideration.
In relation to losses suffered by con-
IdCLuIS from nue. 10 lne war
for which there was no legal liability on
the part of the city, and from which the
city nevertheless received a benefit, I
stated to these gentlemen that I would
not oppose the passage of a bill that
would leave it entirely discretionary
with the Board OF Estimate whether
in any particular case. upon due examin-
alton Of the facts. 1t should allow as
an equitable claim some portion of such
losses"
The contractors assert that the bill
was IN no sense mandatory in that It
made the city liable to pay any losses
but only authorized and empowered"
the Board of Estimate TO audit and
allow such claims" as in its discretion
may be just and reasonable.
Two Contractors. Get Settlements.
When the contractors heard that the
Comptroller and the Mayor had urged the
ioNernor to veto their bill they tried
70 see both men. A delegation waited
Tor an hour TO see the Comptroller. but he
reused to see them. They hadDno bet
Ter success at the Mayors Office.
The contractors complain that they
are not able to see the Comptroller to
press their claims He has settled the
cams OF the Intercontinental and of the
n'Eu'A company and paid bonus to
6ootn & Flynn. but so far as can be
learned has not settled with any other
contractor.
Before the expiration OF the thirty
H'ys for action on bills 1t was learned
nat during the closing days OF the Leg
Nalnre statewide bill had been passed
making additional war costs of all
contractors on public work a legal and
'aiH claim against the various gov
ttAments. This was introduced by Sem
slor Walker on April Is and rushed
through TO passage. The city's legal
preventative at Albany caught II in
.ue Governors grist and when tb1 Gov
enOrs attention was calIed IN n ba lat