Show CANCELED THEIR CONTRACT Crimp Put in Rascally Firm by Philadelphia Director of Public Works Philadelphia March alch of the first offIcial acts of Thomas L Hicks who was today sworn in as director of public works of Philadelphia succeeding A Lin Lincoln coin coln Acker who resigned yesterday was to annul the five contracts held in iii the name of Daniel J 3 McNichol for the con construction ot of several parts of the filtration s The reason given by the director for the of the contracts is collusion irregularity and fraud In tile the procuring and execution of the contracts whereby the city has been wronged and defrauded i in its right and property The total value of time the cancelled con contracts contracts tracts Is The McNichol firm which includes former State Insurance Commissioner Israel W Durham and State Senator Tames James P F McNichol has already completed work on the filter plant amounting to more than 12 S The Tho action taken by DIrector Hicks is the result of an investigation made by bythe bythe the board ot of engineers of which Major Cassius E Gillette chief of the bureau of is the head I Senator McNichol has turned the mat matter mattar tar ter over to his counsel and declared today that he will at once Institute legal ac action action tion against the city to compel the di dire re or to rescind the order ardor |