Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-09
Ware BILL GIVES
COMBINE CONTROL
I OF HARBOR WORK
Asks State for $25o,ooo to Be
Expended When Council
Gives the Word
WATERFRONT SUPERVISION
TO BE TAKEN FROM MAYOR
nv n S.og Correspondent

nv n S'o0 Correspondent
HARRISBURG. March a.-Anothcr stage
IN the war between the combine con
trolled Philadelphia Council and Mayoi
Moore was reached today.
Senator Ware offered n bill in tho
upper chamber providing m appropria =
) tion of $3.50 900 to the Department oI
, Wharves, Docks and Ferries for dredg
/ inE the Delaware and SChuylkill and
: improving the harbor. The bill. how
ever, contains this significant proviso
The moneys SO appropriated shall
cnly be expended as authorized and
directed by Council Of Philad lphia.
This provision gives Council the final
power over appropriations. taking il
away from the administrations
The bill also provides for the np.
pointment BY the Governor of an cngn
neer at $4,000 n year tu 90 operate with
the city department in tho placing of
work under contract which is to bc paid
for out of state funds
The state appropriation is only Of
tectivc when Philadelphia has con
tracted to spend AT least an cQuul
amount. The department in philadol.
phla will spend much moro than the
state amount sum, 50 the appropriation
VIII be available for Director Sproulc.
May Lose Paving Grab
The Daix Weglein bill for short term
loans for street repaving, by which tho
combine Council hopes to get a firm,
grip on the expenditures Of 81 900. 900
worth OF street repaving. is in n pre-
carious position.
The combine may lose ont after all,
Inc bill has passed the Legislature
but Governor Sproul may not sign il
furthermore, the bill was denounced
today by Robert Patterson, Of the Ru
reau OF Municipal Research. as "botch''
and mess" and ms being NOT ~ nj,
the kind Of bill approved by the Char
ter Revision Commission. Further bc
said, the Daix Weglcin bill appeared IN
De dlametrically opposed 10 the spirit
of the new charter.
Mr. Patterson made a trim hero Ia
search for the Joker" which he Is cor
tain is concealed in tho vagcu tcrmir
ology of the bill, He had hoped to get
here before the bill finally passed the
Legislature, bt when he arrived. found
the combine had virtually steam roll =
cred the measure through the ITousc and
Senate.
Holu'lp seems Certain
In view of all the circumstances il
would surprise no one here If tho Gov
ernor took lots of time considering
whether he will sign the bill; also il
you'd not surprise any one II the
Governor sought advice from Attorney
General Alter as to the inner loyal
Significance of the bill.
1t was recalled today that tho Gov
ernor in his message 70 tho Assembly
expressed the feeling there Should he
rs little tinkcring as possible with the
fundamentals of the new charter ut the
present time.
Mr.. Patterson snid tho bill as passed,
IN its amended form. looked like the
worst kind of tinkcring. ''
IT looks to me- ho said. "thet il
the bill is made n part of tho charter
in its present form il vii nr plunged
into litiga tion
Litigation would block for time the
combines plan TO do the rcpavinC To
avoid this it is possible suggestions NAV
be made TO havc tho bin recalled from
the Governor and rcamPndcl 10 suit nil
hands.
The Questionable Section
Mr.. Patterson said there was n great
deal Of mystery in Philadelphia as Ia
the precise language Of the bill as finally
passed. The language which is rogar rded
as debatable is as follows:
Section =. II shall be lawful for
such city TO borrow money or incur debt
in accordance with the terms of existing
law for the purpose Of acquiring prop .
'rty, erecting buildings, bridges or other
structures (but not for the rppnir oi
the samel. paving and rppaving street.
lbut not repairing tho samp) or for any
other improvements Of permanent or
n temporary kind or for capital OUTLAY
of any kind provided that all of sucn
proposed expenditures or for rcpayirr
or improvements of n tcmDorarv kind
are certified to the Council bv the CITY
controller to be capital expenditures ms
distinguished from current expense,
prior TO the authorization If such debt
and provided further that in cases Of
loans for repaving and improvements ot
temporary kind the estimated or guar
anteed life to N" city Of such repaving
or such improvements 90 temporary
kind for which the money il proposed
10 be borrowed, shall also be certified
by the city controller. The certificate
of the city controller shall be final and
conclusive as to the character OF th-
timated or guaranteed life 10 the CITY nj
such repaving or improvements Of 4
temporary kind, and provided furthcr
that all money borrowed and all debt.
otherwise incurred under the provisions
Of this section for repaving or i'm.
provcments of a temporary kind. shal
be payable within the estimated o.
guaranteed life to thc city Of such re-.
paving or such improvements as certl
fed TO the Council bv the city controller
provided further that this amendment
shall in no wise affect or pertain :,
loans authorized or issued before tn
passage thereof
Mr.. Patterson thinks tho dIstinc
tions made between repaving, cor i'm
provemcnts Of n temporary kind" an,
capital outlay of any kind" indicat
inherent danger in tho bill and that tn
door may be opened for using tho meas
ure TO provide for current expenses,
EX.PATROLMAN ON TRIAL