New-York tribune., 1920-01-24
a Builders Compliant
Hardship Worked Upon Sub
Way Contractors by War

10 the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue of January l8
long statement is published by the Hon.
J. II. Delaney, Rapid Transit Commis.
sioner for Construction. in which he
states his satisfaction that 69l2 more
miles Of new subway would be in opera.
ton in 1920. The commissioner neglects
to say that to obtain this 69ia miles
the city authorities arc holding the
contractors to their pre-war contracts
and exacting their pound Of flesh.
On June Is, 1918. secret conference
was held by the Board of Estimate and
Public Service Commission, at the cor.
clusion of which the following statement
was given out:
1t is the sense of the Board Of Estimaa
and Apportionment and the Public Service
Commission, participating in a Joint con.
ference
l. That unfinished subway construction
work shall be carried to completion forth
with
'hHe NHt hi'H 'ii%st-'' 'tti'0 Eir WIN
shall receive the compensation which it Is
admitted is Just
. That there shall ho 10 general cancel.
lation of existing contracts or release Of
sureiies
4. That in the case Of any oontrso'os
who declines to proceed according TO the
plan hereinafter set forth the Public Ser.
vice Commission Immediately proceed to
complete the work under the terms of
such contract, employing me Necessary
labor and utilizing the available plant Of
tho contractor
y That contractors having claims pre-
sent them forthwith FOR consideration ard
adjustment
6. That contractors Who haze no claims
for damages or della and whose lime tor
performance has not expired. may have
their contract modified o. -uppemented
upon their agreement to complete the woTS
within shorter period han now required
and consideration 10 receive there
for sum Of money that viii equal the
increased cost Of labor and material made
necessary by the war
I That all agreements Of any krd
modifying existing contracts must be con-
sented to by the sureties.
8 That any contractor who desires other
or different relief under the lockwood Law
may apply therefor without prejudice ~
reason Of any OF the foregoing on oond'-
tion that he diligently ,ontinues Sls
work
Several contractors borrowed large
sums on the faith Of the statement
quoted above. and those completing thsif
contracts are ali losing heavily, through
no fault of theirs. Wages were raiseu
frequently. In accordance with para
graph 2. which required tha. "the men
engaged upon the work shal! receive 'he
compensation which It Is admitted 5
Just Al the time the contracts weie
made the rate Of pay o. he lowest grace
WAS sl.6O day. and now it IS -
day. Paragraph 3 pointed clearly to no
relief Of contractors who diligeh"'
continued their work Bur 10 relief hNs
ever come. No compensation has oee"
given for the increased wages 'he IT.
creased wages paid have never failed "
be just in accordance With the require,
ment The contractors have gone ahe"'
with their work in good faith, though
some have unfortunately had 10 fail a.
no relief was given. Should not 'a'
compensation of the contractors also ~
just? Should the city taAc adYan'ass
OF contracts made before war f0n1''
mentally revolu.lcnized all forms OF ''''
dusiry 4 CONTRAOlV"'
New York. Jan. 20, 1920