Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-09-03

COL ROBERT, COMMISSIONERS Ross AND AUDI
TOR PETTY on THE SUBJECT.
The crisis in the garbage question has ar
rived, and unless the Commissioners take hold
OF the work themselves, it may be some days
before there will be any collections
Contractor Draney has refused TO continue
the work and submitted the following letter
last night as his explanation:
ITO the Honorable: Commissioner, District of
Columbia:
Gentlemen: By reason Of not receiving the
compensation for the service performed by me
for the month Of August. the same as the month
Of July, for which Congress has made an add
tional appropriation. and after placing al work
the number Of wagons requested. am COM
PEELED to stop the collection Of garbage, &c.
Very respectfully,
''(signed) F. NJ. DnASEr."
LITTER TO THE BoNDsMES.
The letter fell like bombshell in the camp
of the District triumvirate. This morning as
soon as the Commissioners arrived, board
meeting was called and the question con-
sidered at length. 1t was finally agreed to
notify the bondsmsn Of Contractor Draney
that unless they took up the work on the I'M
expired contract the District would do the
work and charge the expenses thereof against
whatever compensation was due the contractor.
following letter, copy OF which was sent to
Messrs. Charles ". Hugely and Philip II.
Christman.
SEPTEMBER 3, 1891.
Mr.. Charles W. Hugely-Sir. Mr.. Felix NJ.
Draney having notified the Commissioners in
writing that he will no onger attempt 70
carry out and perform the contract entered
into by and between the District of
Columbia Of the first part and the
said Felix NJ. Draney Of the second
part-dated July 1, lss7-for the collection and
removal of garbage for period Of five years
from July /, 1887, you are hereby notified, as
one OF the sureties on said contract, that you
and your co-surety, Mr.. Philip H. Christman,
will be expected within twenty-four hours
from the receipt of this notice to take up Mr..
Draney's work and perform the same accord
ing to the terms of his contract. Otherwise
the Commissioners will proceed to do the work
and charge the expense thereof against the
compensation provided for in said contract.
Respectfully,
Acting president.
1t will be seen from the letter of Mr.. Draney
that be does not assign as reason for throw
ing up his contract his failure to get along
with the health officer, but states as his reason
the failure of the District to pay him for worl
done during August.
AUDITOR PErrr's STATEMENT.
A STAR reporter called upon Auditor Petty
for an explanation of this today and this i.
what that officer said:
II know nothing Of the District refusing tt
pay Mr.. Draney for work done during August
the health department save the regular
monthly voucher Of the money due
on the original contract. 1 assume. however
that the money MIR. Draney refers to is thai
allowed by the Commissioners for additional
services. This first happened in 1888, wher
H. 60 -.
with Mr.. Draney whereby he was to collect
garbage every day during the months Of July
and August, instead of three times per week al
set forth in the original contract. The contrac,
was continued in 1889 and 80, but THU
year the Commissioners refused to allow any
They did, however, allow him an additional
5000 for extra services during July, but, as
understand it. do not propose to pay any add
tional sum for the services during August"
TALK WITH COMMISSIONER ROBERT.
In conversation with Col. Robert upon the
subject he told a STAR reporter that the Com.
missioners were doing all in their power to
tide over the difficulty. At the board meeting
this morning the health officer had been in
structed to put on ten wagons at once and &c,
forty more ready for tomorrow. Contractor
this work, receiving $3.50 per day for
the use Of double wagon and a driver. The
colonel said, in referring to the additional com
pensation heretofore allowed Mr.. Draney fol
extra services, that he was of the impression
that the Commissioners had exceeded their au
thority in entering into such contract. The orig
inal contract was plain enough in its terms, and
it was not right to allow the contractor an,
additional compensation for work he had agreed
to perform at q stated sum. The colonel said
he had no doubt but that the money allowed
for the collection of the garbage was made
quate and the contractor should never have
taken it at such low figure, but that was hi,
lookout, and he for one was going to do all in
his power to make him comply with its terms.
THE GARBAGE WILL BE REMOVED.
Commissioner Ross said that the situation
is SO grave that the garbage must be removed
at all hazards, the expense to be charged to the
contractor and his sureties. He did not thinl
the Commissioners had the right to increase
the compensation fixed by the contract, and fell
confident that they would succeed in remoyine
the garbage after q few days trial.