Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-08
CITY AND DISTRICT.
How Government work should be Dom


To the Editor of THE EyENISG STAR:
After reading the evidence given by number
of persons in the Clark investigation, as to the
good and bad quality of the material and
Workmanship of the Capitol terrace, wish to
call the attention of your readers to the fact
that just as long the government lets out
their work by contract to the lowest bidder
and does not have a competent inspector TO
oversee the work during its execution, the con-
psftgs viii put in The P59T mink akna fbe OF
can get away with. Take a. ship, for instance;
After she IS an painted and seasoned she will
look all right, and perhaps ma may make e. the he
few months But before she is five years old
the expense for repairs will amount TO more
thar would have built good one. all from the
fact OF not having man competent to inspect
the work during its progress.
himself do the work he Overiooks. If he has to
take the work when the contractor says 1t is
good enough as was the case In some OF the
government granite contracts under the Is per
cent system, such q man Is of great benefit to
the contractor, but of no use to the government.
A government agent who does not Know when
respect to mis- face, but when not present his
ignorance is laughed at by those who deceived
him.
My experience teaches me that under the
most rigid inspection OF all kinds of material
and workmanship, by man who understands
the business from practical experience the gov
eminent will have all it can do to get the work
done as good as agreed upon by the terms OF
government to do all its own work; hire the
men or women by the piece, where practicable;
appoint practical foremen and superintendent
to oversee the work, and will venture to say
that it will have its work done for as little
mOney.and in place of a few growing rich off the
contract system, (by paying their labor in some
cases, to my certain Knowledge less than %
per cent of what the contractor gets for the
work. the money would be equally diStribu ted
among the people who do the work, and the
workmanship and material would be far
perior to that done under the present system.
June 80, 1885. EXPERIENCE-
The HOgg Family at the Opera.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
VIII you be kind enough TO inform the public
what right a theater party-lades and gentle
men (?)-has to disturb other persons sitting
near by with their incessent talking and laugh
ing. The other evening, as has been my custom
each week, since the opening of the summer
season at Albaughs, / went to hear the opera,
but it was simply impossible to hear either the
almost endless chattering and gfggling of
party, including several foreign gentlemen (?)
no doubt attaches OF legations, who occupied
row of seats directly back of section NJ, orches-
ira circle Now, if this is the custom in their
native land. they certainly must not be allowed
to carry it out here. but should be taught to pay
some respect TO the customs of the land in which
they temporarily reside and when in q theater
learn TO be quiet while the performance is going
on. If they must giggle and parade their small
talk aloud let them stay at home or shire
hall Other persons pay the same price for the
have right to get the value of their money in
the amusement which they seek, but cannot
when disturbed by such boorishness as that
above mentioned. OSCAR.