EVENING PUBLIC LEDGERr-PHIEADELPHta:, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1918 4- LJmMwtWorh W $Cp8tlytNot Criminal i 'i, . A .fUj4Jneia from I'Me On l X VV . .. . -. II.. -....linn ' 7 jungoa "not bo inucn upon mo ii"""" i accomplishment, but upon menns, fc&r'tfcethods unci expenditures." LJ- MAttMhwijhi letter from the lncstl FlLWtorn. datufl'Btnttmber 21. which tho ' 1 JMOAttornov dmefal transmitted to the ' I if ,Pre(dnt. rcferi KV, th,SSrnm Is , referring to press reports that m la fo lllmr'tiphlml nehedulo Kj FV anj calling attention to tho met thnt Br T-' tne?report was based upon conditions as & " theV"appeiirea eirly In July. K Mr General Manager Plez, of tho nmcr- appouruiK ye" i! i $ tl a " i it f J. L i. IM f t y ir tf S w O J ency Fleet Corporation, r , terday beroro mo oennio miraiiorw tv Committee, testined thnt tho Hor- Island , yard would bo completed In about sixty ' days; "that tho cost would bo about ' 6S,300,000 and that tho plant had de livered ono ship ana laiu imy koois. Contract for I.nml Fnrrlinae The report describes nt tho outlet tho contract entered Into by tho Emergency Fleet Corporation pn September 13, 1,917, under which tho American Inter national Corporation, of Now York, Bgreed to purchaso 846 acres of land at Hog: Island, to bo utl2ed for tho pur poso of tho contract upon a C per cent rental basis: to build on this tract with funds furnished by tho HmerRency Fleet Corporation a shipyard of fifty ays. r,A tn construct with funds supplied from the samo sourco fifty or moro steel v.x eareo ships at an estimated cost of tf 31.100.000 each. I ! On October 23 tho hoof corporation l & olacedan order for ucyenty additional steel snips, emim " ....v.v v each, calling for longer ivnyi and piers nnrt also more shop and storauo cap iclty On October 27, tho contractor reused tho estimate of yard construction cost, ndd liU? $2,7S0,000 on account of tho addi tional seventy ships and 33,250 0&0 on account of unfaornblo subsoil condt tlons, costly labor and necesnary exten sions of tho plant On May 7 an order tnr Itiv moro shins to cost Jl. 425 000 I'l' each was placed. All of tho ISO ships ' ... I..., i .. mtn t, J wero 10 do comimneu uy .tvuKuai. i, ww 4 rlf. TTnurrltt.n Acrpetnrnt Tho conttactlne companj's compen-'a- ,' tlon for building both tho ara and tho snips was xixea ai u jrcrcemuj;u utiuio, -estimated cost of tho ships, with pre miums for early deliveries or savings In cost and penalties for delayed deliveries or Increased cost. Tho maximum fee un der Ihli arrangement would bo $14,440,1 000 ahd tho minimum fee 38,910,000. Mr. Wez testldcd yostcrday that to -date tho company had been paid nothing AlthouRh tho contract was made with tho American International Company, tho tcport says thero was an unwritten obligation publicly admitted by all pir tles, to consider tho engineering firm of Slono nnd Webster nnd tho Now ! one Shipbuilding Corporation as Jointly In terested In tho benefits and burdens. A separate corporation, tho American International' Shipbuilding Corporation, was organized as tho agency through which tho yard nnd sblps nctually wero to bo built In a section on tho status of tho jnrcl, later modified by tho lcWcr to tho at torney general, tho report says In less than n year after tho dato of tho con tract 816 ncrcs of marBh land without railroad facilities "will bo n complete in dustrial city of 30,000 men, sired by two trunk lines of railroad nnd equipped to deliver to the Ooernment two com pleted 7500 ton steel cargo essols each week" Speaking of dlfilcultles encoun tered a blockndo of cars loaded with material extending from Philadelphia to Norfolk, Vn , Is described Tho report tells In detail of tho vast work involved In tho Investigation, of tho questioning of everybody from high olllelils to taxi drlvors and of tho ex amination of thousands of books, ac counts, bills, diaries and other papers. It recites 'at length tho charges made against tho contractors nnd tho answers on which tho Investigators do not at empt to paBS Judgment. This Is tho conclusion ns to criminal "In response to tho question submitted by tho President, our conclusion Is that tr M l V r Read Peter B. Kync's Bio Ouldomr Itomunte The Valley 1 of tho uianis yrt, 91.40 1 ,0)9PEN EVERY EVENING UNTIL CHRISTMAS i liMWSIiVION & CO.i&EM Y-tfTAS ftlFTCoTFWELHY - x$m.??zjLzzj. iiirr t i i$mmmimr'.ztxs imm tho facts do not Justify criminal process ; that no fraud or secret prollts on tho part of tho officials of either tho agency or tho Fleet Corporation has been established ! that whllo there wero soma minor frauds on the payroll, which hnvo been prosecutod, the laborers, laborers' timekeepers nnd payroll supervisors wero In the main honest. "Ono of tho accountants employed by our chief accountant criticized tho tat ter's methods as Inadequate Theso criticisms wero submitted to two leading rms of certified accountants Messrs. Hasklns nnd Soils, and Messrs. Touch?, Nlven & Co, who reported In writing that tho criticisms wero unfounded and that tho methods and scopo of tho ac counting, taken In conjunction with other lines of Inquiry, 'were so laid out as to bring to light extravagances nnd Ir regularities If any such existed.' This Investigation was conducted by us in tho midst of other olllclal labors It was given precedence until wo wero satisfied that excepting ccrtnln minor frauds no grounds existed for criminal process and that thero woud probably be no delay In tho delivery of ships If steel and Inbor wero forthcoming. Those being tho vital points, wo reported orally our conclusion" In regard to them, and thereafter pr ceeded In tho normal coureo to consider tho Issues of fact and law Involved In this complicated record." Stating conclusions as to alleged waste and mismanagement, the report pro ceeds: "In what ve hnvo next to say we do not wish to minimize the boldness of tho plan of the agent nnd tho courngo and success of thd undertaking, but we nro not able to find arrirmntlvcly that the agent hn satisfactorily accounted In tho hearings beforo us for tho expenditure of so largo a sum of money In tho construc tion of this plnnt "Waiving all minor questions of con troversy, tho outstanding fact Is that the agent's summer nnd fall estimates of 121,000,000 and Its November 27 estimate of 127,000,000 have been so far exceeded that tho probable cost of tho yard will be about 361,000,000 (Including 16,000, 000 for recent additions mado by order of tho fleet corporation). Such a dis crepancy must bo duo to somo funda mental miscalculation In tho original es timate, to superonlng conditions, Includ ing enlargement of the plant, to mls manntrement In oncrntlon. or to a com bination of these factors A discrepancy of such magnitude would seem to call for n clear explanation from tho agent, but this has not been furnished. "Considerable effort has been mado by tho ogent In tho hearings to stultify Its owri estimates by claiming that they wero mcro guesses thnt nobody could rely upon Dut tho fleet corporation did rely on them; and thero Is no contem poraneous evidence Justifying- tho agent a present position. Tho letter of the agent transmitting the revised estimate of No vember 27, mado nfter two and a halt months ot actual contact with tho work, In nowise foreshadows anything oxcept the normal variations of post which might ho expected In a Job of this magni tude. "The most significant single fact In dicating the point of view at Hog Island was that bills for material, largely lum ber, were prepaid (and properly prepaid) to the extent of over $10,000,000, but no effort was made by tho agent until our Investigation to prove whether prepaid bills wero In fact followed by actual receipt cf tho material paid for. "Another fact of strong significance la that whllo tho contract provided In express terms that tho agent should keep n detailed plant cost account nnd contained very careful provisions defin ing cost, yet the agent at an early date took the position that slnco tho Gov ernment paid for everything that went Into Hog Island, It was unnecessary to comply with this provision, Henco, at no stage of the work slnco last Decem ber, could It bo determined what any unit of plant construction cost. "It was certainly possible to super- !?2?SS?:??J????J? OPEN EVERY EVENING UNTIL CHRISTMAS) to QUICK SERVICE NO LONG DELAYS HALLAHAiY TOR FIVES Special SLIPPERS Exchanged After Xmas if Necessary kJcil rll ill . 1. li. rr I iii -otoTilu,, ; ., A, jg? am -"wwftumpsr- ,4 I z v i ' h FH, ffi if 'A C t. m HONESTY Between MEN For Friday and Saturday Christmas lipp ers For Men, For Women, For Children IMMEDIATE POSSESSION y,., Begin Payments Next Year tTnUllToii n our affrrlnca rou eiin have oboolnWr l 1I' of th "Imply; . - a. i . :.- vaaiss kjT -m t m ui i r il Durxwms inni wr, inr u.nnr-jA jr-i.v. - T ..AlilUnal liaMaltia hat us U Till'1. l.ARl JSWELRV IIOLHh IN l-mrtAIlin.l'JII. olTfr. Ilprejon set the moNt rzm Ah- Mh imirtm. l.vllllant' hli.mhU. ilnnmni u (ha Hnpyt KTAN I) Villi UiltClirA lto UIWSI Ksai .. ., iimi- iiiito ......v,...., ...i- .... . -.-' tho Terr newest Jewelry, nt prices so low that you can our mem out 01 jwur 'to l&K-wffi f . f nnd nak fV VSSSTHX 1 B one nnd t i (ItHUT roreniuit. tho llnrst STAND BI wntches, .aaIta ihaiibv rwv-r."-i"'iw-. .. . . -, i .. ,. ..-.fifr r ..- imii oi hii, tuniwui j imi fi.in i rusk r ,r,1" J - KUJir tkkuh. Mmpiy pay u ne a weeKniiuui; iu. Hiumui r hout MiiliamiNiiTTint. niir wnnl la four hoiicl-ne tnixt nt1. loiHf 111 i your XmoA parchar from our tremendou" stock -COMMKNCK rA- KEXT rKAR. HTinon'- m thn onn lilr 1IFT HUPPly house 111 town the id nnir HTnrn iniE wuitif IIINI.V HAl K II' lliu trt.l KLSKWIUKK IOK SH. Come In tomorrow. r I a IS A T NJ. w i i i I i u. - -' r ClIKATKltl Men's $4.00 & $5.00 Slippers .00 jAtggB ' MMLm .fefe -. m J 5 S f -i m l4nroAnitn Pino - VlV . I ! . " in , - xx L i "- - & m , a Trti t-: v.'Wery nami J nav i '..ji r m . & ..- ivimv i iiiiiTiiiiiii . ivcui liuiuaiu ww . ,n- - um nw - . -v. h?k .t Sk" v white diamonds and ta .jij llcautiful new net- X inorni lav- aV h K ,A Hiw i I ', i. e.XW.VSm.'S frtt'ttdSS: '"?. 'h brilliant ffl ?lll.r. Two J i M Vfe li'.-.-' J f SB "a- """ "'"" ,,lS!!lT.S,oVi " '" moSntfSi" fi Shit, ffli- f U J7"Ur-r-T-Tf J 4 I value 0. 29- !?a7J'.Sf.,on'35 jn V.lu.$42SO 1 9' ? Vl '.' "A- M J' V 60,.Wk 50. aW eel. 'V.TIrt M.fUrrk ) X";V , '. i :,Tri i iiriir jrwv m. mxv er-w i -ttttt inrrr m w i ?, r - -iB-j sw-sr ss:r - """ " at 1 M ii r w we urAfc W" I rfr SIGNET RING Solid eoM, lmnd chasefl and engraved deslsns. 350 patterns to select 7.S0 from ? Finger1, nings Hondstinjs afltl oris- esis wfi! h? ' i i i. ' v, a It- i V, i 13 i lnal deslcna set with pure wwte Cf diamonds.'.. Jt Weeltlr rannenta. A WEEK BUYS ANY OF THESE FINE IFTI OPEN EVERY EVENING DIAMOND BROOCHES The stjlefl are unlimited nnd d urn. ar. Deuiuirm Most .Terr price. 0e A WKKK. Men's Romeo Slippers g,00 Finest grades of brovm kid with best leather turned soles and broad leather heels ; custom finish throughout. De Luxe Grade, $4.50. Other Romeo Specials, $3.50 and $3.85 Daniel Green Felt Romeos, $2.25 Ladies' Tiffany Beautifully o fiorv eem. P white, handbomolv D set In 14-kt cold mounting Mn.ll Actual lO value 3S 50. ROo n Week -35&L ( nl.la tn In n..n ,111a iitti. ic ouiiic h thing new Tho ntone Is wonderful finely J cut and mounted. I One of the best val- T ueswehave fO7,S0 l$35 00 value I DOc a Week 1 A WORD TO THE T,AT)TKR Tan need not f eel. the least Lest tat Jon ronrrrn nr ntirtr nhsjnf hru YnnrP In aeeeptine oar .nrpdlt terms. fiueh word In jour bond w trust you. Choose embarrass In? details and "red tape" us now and COISIlCK l'AVIIJSTS nsuaur lounq in nimuur jcwriry Jif,vi 11-H. i, i' .HelginSStS. ) Special .Offering to Ladies! V . a xssSgiSSg-rsp "I" I ferWeek .- H- t r Onld-niled '.Kin, mt ft?. for w rw' i" ni !i St HendoutlrV Dopnlar. A 1 tlt U'liajJ'1 de,!jF'1 OZJEtl PATTEltNS.TO yBOMTsfBllr t wltli Jewel tannine ited.. (a m.IUi Kiel A t rnT HRT.KCT levrels and ad- tM.1ilon did tlmekeener. Z -.-.-- '?. o m wrcM, and , temperature. eener. rullj ruaranta Aaiandsome illttl ELGIN DE LUXE WATCH Finest watch that has ever been made to sell ni inn price. Aioiit Ix Keen to be appreciated, An AOTUrntM lim.nlana absolutely sruaranteedl 15 Jewels adjusted. 20- year ii-xarat srold uiir-u nun inouoi ca UttHt deafen. $25-75 50c week Women's Fur-Trimmed Juliets l 2-QQ A favdrite slipper with women, young or old. At $2.00, of De Luxe quality felt with leather sole and heel, or' at $1.00, of special slipper felt with chrome sole and covered heel; both styles trimmed with fur. Women's Boudoir ywA " V W " 11 J J I JS LV TZr I I AT AT S lj About 1150 pairs of opera cut slippers among our five stores, in tan or field mouse kid; blue, brown and red sued6; green and purple seal; wine Russian calf and red goat. Guaranteed ?4.00 and $5.00 quality. Men's Eft M sr ma v-zw C 1-1 It, Hg T -T-Tl ssss few r i'v A i tt c "v a? wi fcs ' ',E k 'x. . : , r x V . I . 7 ' Everett Slippers 2-00 io 39 Made of De Luxe felt in kimono colors, with padded sole. Trimmed with ribbon and silk pompom. Same pattern in Daniel Green felt, with conny soles; twenty colors. Women's quality $2.00 Motor Roots Regular $6:00 value JE5 Everett cut suppers in rich tan, nut brown ft and black kid; fine leather turned sole and uiuou uuui. J Men's House Slippers Of Oxford gray and .black felt, with chrome leather sole and broad heel. $1,50 Value 75 fmMSSSrri ' !tik 3Wil KrlwAMai' flH I .t' filr u sVk' ansVsV if II l ia tw H ftsv 4kV nhlnii Tirr ante made br tha Itousa of M- Simon A Go. stands D Qt?r Sron-Bouhd Guarantee of Money Refunded J H you eu bur chenper far ca.h, plu. abiolate aatUiactton. Yon po.ltlTely k mutt be eptlrely (atlefled with your purclin.e. Otherwl.e mitUfactory ndju.t- t Unt wAl twy 1a mrfde. COMB JIA1CU VOUH SIILKCTION AT ONCE. 1 OPEN EVENINGS VnriAPiTP TJrt7f rlPkf 'UITUJIIC jnWASM4 VC11LMU tT M I a I Every woman who rides in an automobile, or who goes to evening affairs, wants a pair of these boots to slip over her shoes or pumps. Made of fine black velvet,, with warm quilted satine lining: trimmed with real fur. Regular $6.00 value, $3.85. Hundreds of otlier styles in felt and leather slippers, for men, women, boys and girls all at equally interesting prices. All HallaKan Stores Are Open Every Evening Until Christmas Use the Hallahan Store nearest you. Stocks and prices are the same at all of them. A special force of capable salespeople on duty at every store, insuring quick service, without long wails or tiresome delays. 919-921 MARKET ST. 5604-06 Germantowu Ave., below Chelten Ave. . 4028-30 Lancaster Ave., above 40th, near Fairmount 2746-48 Germantown Ave., above LeJiigh Ave. vlso the undertaking from the standpoint of cost without detriment to Bpeed, In February, Admiral bowleg was sent to Hok islanfi to eterclso the full power of tho fleet corporation In the matter of direction nnd supervision. Uo was able to Increase tho efficiency of tho work and yet eliminate Unnecessary salaries In three departments, and rental charted for unnecessary qulpment, thereby effecting a sating of several thousand dollars a day. A similar re organization In other departments Is under way," In a footnote tho report gives an ac countant's report that, thirty-seven men who wero on tho payrolls ot Stone nnd Webster July 1, 1917, at averano sal aries of $3073 each, wero transferred to the Hob Island pay roll In September and October ot that year at an average of JB879 each. A report of tho naval technical ad visers Included In tho report says, so fs,r as tho data boforo them shows, the sen oral scopo of tho Hoc Island plant has not been changed very materially etneo the November estimate of cost, and that tho difference between (27,000,000 and $56,000,000 cannot be accounted for by expansion subsequent to November 27, It says that the November estimate Is regarde'd as Insufficient, but, after allow ing for unfavorable waather. Increased cost of labor an4 the necessity for speed, tho cost will be.hlgher than the experts are able to account for. Tho total cost of about $1,100,000 per slip atllog Isl and, Is compared. with $619,000 for the similar yard at Bristol and $300)000 at Newark-Day. The. Imestlgators refer to the con tractors' claim that tho Fleet Corpora Uon cannot claim tho contract was not compiled with, becauso all substantial acts were approved by the corporation and because orders for additional ships were given after tho charges of mis management and ertravogance had been made. This, the report says. Is regarded as serious, but not conclusive WllVSAaa''l('VC One Glance at Hubby's Suit GOODNIGHT! Next Time Hell Go to Becker's for His Clothes 1 1 WE MAKE the CLOTHES WE SEIX iiiSll -SlSBBBBBBlBBBSBBBBBBlBBBlSSlBBlMiiiJSBli SBBBBBBBlSMSBBlBBBBBBBBBBBBBlBBBlBBMMBilBmMilSlS Factory Clean-Un Sale! 2300 OVERCOATS AND UITS Just about enough time to dress up for Christmas or make a gift of a Suit or Overcoat. This FACTORY CLEAN-UP SALE offers a wonderful oppor tunity to get the highest in quality at rock bottom prices. Grouped together into 3 lots for quick selling. Remember, these Suits and Overcoats are ma'rfe to the Becker standard, which means they must be right. 450 Overcoats Former Prices $25, $27, $30, $32.50 Factory Clean-up Price . $17.50 This lot comprises lightweight Top Coats, of which there is an abundant variety in styles, colors nnd fabrics; heavyweight Ulsterettes and single- and double-breasted Chesterfields in several colors and cloths. 825 Suits Former Prices $25, $27.50, $30, $32.50 Factory Clean-up Price $20.00 Just imagine an nil-wool Suit, cut in the latest pattern nnd design, by Becker, for $20.00. It is almost unheard of, yet we have them in almost endless variety of colors, styles' and fabrics for men ana young men: 625 Overcoats Former Prices $32.50, $35, $37.50. Factory Clean-up Price A gient big ,Ulster Coat with storm collar, mado to Think of it! keep you warm on tho coldest days, worth upward to '$37.50. On the other hand a nice blue or brown melton, the latest cut-off-waist model. In addition to these there arc Chesterfields, Box Coats, plain button through and fly-front conservatives, and Raglans in blues, browns, grays nnd fancy heather mixtures. $21-75 400 Conservative Overcoats Former Price $40, $12.50, $45, $50. Factory Clean-up Sale Price Our entire stock of men's fine button-through and fly-fi;ont Conserva tive Overcoats in Oxford gray, dark brown mixtures, blues nnd blacks. Sturdy fabrics such as Meltons, Kerseys, Brookfield Worsteds nnd High Grado Cashmere. $27.50: ONLY ONE STORE AND CLOTHES. ONLY r Open Eve- nings I TUl J 9 P.M. j Satur- 1 days t Till V 10'pJiI. NO CHARGE FOR ALTERATIONS OFWr MANUFACTURERS QUALITY CLOTHES Open Till 9 P.,M. Saiurr days Till' a -WJ 'il Tii &ii li 15M-1G MARKET ST. 60th and Chestnut Sts (Juvenile btore adjoining) 13th STREET ' m li"tT3i nQ eW-.! .eSU-. M i afljrjAte n uiabiiiyillri'ian-.i HHnwoMtji IX. i' "UJ, v '. - i 139 N. hi ' r'W - t&&&$JjjMtej:, . ., 'lAueJD.... .
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers