Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-04-09
CHALLENGE vARE
ON JOBS DELAYED
onator Ascribes Work Undone
to the Exigencies of
the War
PHASE OF CHARTER FIGHT

WAR conditions were responsible, is
the Substance of Senator Wares reply
( 10 ducstions by the Philadelphia charter
/, eenmittee regarding delay or complete
\ stdppage OF work on four city con-
frscfs. .a ..
The questions, as well as answers,
to two queries made by Senator Ware
were embodied in a statement issued
3 BY Powell Evans. publicity chairman
4 Of the charter revision committee.
senator Ware at City Hall tomorrow
3 VIII preside at hearing on charter re
VISION. Only opponents. Of the Wood .
Il yard bills will be heard. Supporters
of tlic measures were heard March -
( at Harrisburg.
Ihe statement inquiries why the Phila-
drlplia Subway Construction Company
took contract for the northeast sewage
trcatment works, left the work uncom-
pleted and removed its equipment early
IN the summcriof 1918, although retain
ing the contract.
Senator Wares reply to this question,
given after he was shown the full state
mept. follows:
THE Philadelphia Subway Con
4 strHction Company stopped work on
Z the Sewage disposal plant in the north =
east just as all other big contracts were
stopped in this city, when the United
States Government took all workmen
snd material and used them in war
contracts.'
The charter committees next ques
y ticn. in brief. was:
why did Senator Ware take con
tract September 6, 1917, for grading
the right Of way at League Island Park
for S35 900, and only do work on it
amounting to 81. .252 10, when the city
annulled the contract, October 80,
1882"
IF any one cares to look up the
matter" was Senator Wares answer.
..they will find that the Pennsylvania
Railroad and the city Jointly Cancelled
the right of way contract so that the
material could be used to fill in swamps
and to lay railroad tracks to the Green
wich piers. where the government was
spending 0,O00,0 900. This was caused
by the starting of the war and the
!. changing of the plans
n The charter committees next ques-
( fion was why Senator Ware contracted
February Z to remove houses on Twcn7
ty fifth street for $3.50 900, on which
August 2S, 1913.
To that question in the statement is
sued by Mr.. Evans, Senator Ware re-
piled:
''The Twenty fifth street grade cross
ing removal contract was ordered
stopped by the head of the United States
Arsenal on Grsy's Ferry road, and all
material and machinery in use in the
contract were removed by the head Of
the arsenal because of the war prepara
!. tions being made at the arsenal. This
contract was cancelled as soon as the
war preparations were started
!. The charter committees final ques-
tion was concerned with the building of
fonndations for the Frankford elevated
4 line. Senator Ware had the foundations
4 contract for the northern end of the
line, James Dorney the contract for the
lower portion.
Ware Work Long Delayed"
The committee asserted that Dorney
completed his contract. but that Senator
Ware ''long delayed his work, and that
his contract was finally Cancelled and re =
\ <adyertised and relet to Contractor Ware
at about 100 per cent increase in
price
4 TO this the Senator answered:
sWar conditions were responsible in
j the case of the Frankford elevated foun
\ dations contract. The Rapid Transit
Company either would not or could not
get the tracks out Of the way, and Di l.
Z rector Twining properly Cancelled my
contract. Mr.. Dorney's contract pre-