Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-15
SECRET METHODS.
The Health Office Conoealing the
Number Of Garbage Complaints.
MAKING SECRET INSPECTIONS.
Still the Garbage Complaints Roll
in at a Great Rate
THE COMPLAINTS TO-DAY.

'GarDage Contractor" was written on an en-
velope that had been left in the garbage COM
plaint book this morning. 1t was similar to the
regular daily envelope in which are put the
numerous garbage complaints made each day
to the health Office through various channels.
When STAR reporter picked up the book
this morning the envelope was grabbed by q
clerk and handed over to Chief Clerk Tracy,
who was careful to see that the reporter did
not see its contents. On the slips of paper left
there for the contractor are all
the complaints made. but they arc not
all put on the book that is open to inspection
by the reporters. The consequence is that the
exact number Of complaints cannot always be
ascertained. All along the police and sanitary
inspectors have been making reports con-
cerning the neglect Of the contractor to
make the proper collections. but in only q few
instances have these reports been put on the
book. In the reports Of the house-to house in
epectors statements Of neglect or failure to re-
move garbage are also mentioned but, like those
OF the other inspectors and the police, they are
not put on the book.
The cases brought in by the inspectors,
Health Officer Hammett says, are not COM
plants, although when the inspectors were
sent out last summer their reports were SO
regarded and were so reported to the Comuts-
sionerA.
COMPLAINTS TO-DAY.
30 far as could be ssoertained there were
thirty-two complaints received early this morn
Ing, including twenty -one that were entered on
the book, six reported by the police and seven
by the inspectors.
The secret method Of giving out news has
been adopted by Health Officer Hammett, snd
the mouths Of the clerks are closed - tight e.
clamA
THEY CAN'T TALK.
II can't give out any news" said one Of the
clerks. "The order has been issued that all in
formation is to be given out by the health
officer or chief clerk
1t often happens that the health officer and
chief clerk are away from the office at the same
time, and then. perhaps, the garbage contractor
viii be glad to know that in that way the num-
Der Of complaints may be kept concealed In an
envelope and not given out for publication.
Not many weeks ago there was a complaint
from the Executive Mansion of the non-removal
Of garbage. and yesterday the British minis
ter's residence WAS mentioned among the places
where the collector had failed to appear.
MANY COMPLAIN.
1.-THE garbage man has oslled but twice this
month at the house Of I. n. Richardson, IIS Il
street," was one complaint received this morn
ing.
''He seldom calls" was received from @.
Horigan, In the same neighborhood.
Gertrude Phillips, 3S1 Maryland avenue says:
II wish to call your attention to the fact that
the garbage has not been collected from here
for over two weeks. 1t is certainly great an
aoyancs and | would like to have 1t attended to
Immediately"
The garbage man has not been to nv resi-
dence this week. 1t is getting very offensive, "
writes r. d. Darden.
Mrs, Barnes. 1919 Vermont ayenue. eornnla,ns
that the garbage has not been collected for one
week. 1.-THE vessel" she writes "is overruu
and the odor dreadful The wagon passed our
house yesterday, but the man did not come in -
From J. A. Stein came this complaint: "rhe
gar bage man has not been around for about
ten days. He calls at the corner and when
ask him to call he tells me II Is not on his route
and passes on"
The cart WAS in front Of our house at
p. m. today" writes Mrs. Obold. "The in
door when our garbage receptacle was placed
In the area. All are gone but the garbage.
The garbage is removed very irregularly."
@. @. Raynsford complains that the garbage
has been collected from his house once in three
weeks and asks for better service in tho future,
aud others make similar requests-
MR.. BAYLY's SIDE.
Mr.. 8. P. Bsyly, jr.. superintendent Of the
National Sanitary Company in the garbage col
lection, said to STAR reporter today that he
had been furnished with list Of complaints is
received this week. which showed daily aver.
age of thirty -one complaints.
The list, he said, was given him by Chief
Clerk Tracy, and the highest number Of COM
plants we're received on Monday, forty five,
and the lowest today, twenty-five. These hg-
ures show only the complaints put on the book
and does not include those made through the
police and inspectors.
Mr.. Bayly said he had received fifteen letters
from persons who had complained, in which
they said it was their own fault; that they were
satisfied that the collector had called when there
was no one at home, and in two instances the
persons in the house were deaf and said they
could not have heard the man. even if he had
called and knocked on the pate