53 Pa. Stat. § 13374
Whenever a state of war exists between the United States and any other nation, or nations, and prospective or actual hostilities bring about commercial conditions which make it practically impossible, because of continually changing prices, to obtain contracts for the furnishing of certain commodities necessary for the government of cities of the first class in this Commonwealth, the councils of each city of the first class are hereby empowered to authorize the director of supplies thereof to purchase, in the open market at the lowest and most advantageous prices, coal, fresh meats, provisions, groceries and other edibles, and drugs and hospital supplies, for the use of said city, without advertising or entering into contracts for the same, until such time as hostilities shall cease and normal market conditions shall be restored.
53 P.S. § 13374