New-York tribune., 1920-06-14
Accuse City of
Bad Faith i'm
Subway Work
Statement of Contractors
Association Says Board OF
Estimate Has Swindled
Those Relying on Integrity
PromiseCood for Nothing
Upwards of S7,O0O,OOO
Spent From Own Pockets,
1t Is Said. on Extensions

ACCOMMODATING request to the
Board Of Estimate that it carry out its
promise TO pay the increased costs
caused by the war to the subway con-
tractors who completed their contracts,
the General Contractors Association
issued a statement yesterday imputlng
had faith on the part of the board and
the city in the matter.
The Board of Estimate. in refusing
TO carry out its agreement, has swim
dled those who relied on its intcgrity'
nc statement said. The disgraceful
admission must be made that the word
or the City of New York. as given by
the present administration, is good
for nothing; that the Mayor and
Comptroller are willing converts to
the Berlin idea that promise is
merely a scrap Of paper.
The situation is one in which the
good faith Of the city, as pledged by
tho Board Of Estimate, is involved.
Accepting the promise as made in good
faith, the contractors went ahead with
their work and many Of the sections
we're completed and are now in opera
ton. To accomplish this they spent
upwards Of $7,000,O00 of their own
money, largely by acquiring credit from
the banks, because of the city's prom
Only -Four Settlements Made
"Thus far only four settlements have
been made, two of them on the large
contracts and two on small ones in
volving less than 100000. For some
reason, best known to the Board of
Estimate, some thirty other subway
contracts, equally meritorious, have
not been settled and efforts to secure
settlement. either under the promise
or through legislation have persis-
tently been blocked by the city ad-
ministration."
The letter to the Board of Estimate
IS signed by c. a. Crane. secretary of
the General Contractors Association,
ard called attention to the report of
of the Board, May %, in regard to
dealing with claims for supplies, labor
and materials furnished to the Board
of Education in the year 1918, pay
ment for which had not been made
because Of no request for appropra
tions to cover them, in which it was
said:
g. aside from the injustice 10
those who have furnished property and
services 10 the City OF \ eW 1Ork with
out, thus far. having been compen-
sated, condition has been created
that reflects upon the entire City Of
New York and raises questions as to
the good faith and fair dealing of its
accredited officials"
View of Subway Contractors
Nr. Crane said that these sentiments
met with the hearty approval Of the
subway contractors, and that they
would appreciate being informed if
they might take this as an indication
that some action may now be taken to
carry out the promise of the city to
compensate the contractors.
The promise referred to by the Con-
tractors Association was made at the
meeting Of the Board Of Estimate June
Is, 1918, when it was agreed, among
other things, that the subway con-
structon work should be carried to
completion and that the contractors
should receive the compensation which
'it is admitted is just" 1t was further
agreed that contractors. who had no
claims for damage or delay and whose
time for performance had not expired.
might have their contracts modified or
supplemented upon agreeing to COM
plete their work within shorter per-
lod than then required, and as a con-
sideration "to receive therefor a sum
Of money that Will equal the increased
cost of labor and material made nee
essery by the war
The contractors contend that they
have carried out their part of the bar
gain and now appeal to the board 10
carry out It's part.