Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-19

PonTER-ENPLoYEs RETIcENr on THE SUB
JEcr-No Law IN THE CASE
Two men in q boat made q discovery . few
nights ago which has resulted in lengthy in
vestigation and considerable comment upon
the manner in which the garbage is be-
ing disposed Of. Under the terms Of the
contract it is in the power of the contractor
to remove the garbage outside the District or
incinerate the same. At the last session Of
Congress an act Was passed giving the con-
tractor fifty cents for each ton Of garbage
incinerated, and now all the garbage
collected is weighed by man detailed at the
wharf by the District for that purpose. But
according to the story Of the two men in the
boat some Of the garbage has been dumped
overheard, and this within short distance Of
the Washington barracks.
DUMPED INTO THE RIVER.
These two men. John Evans and the other
named Walker. were out in a small boat look
ing after their fishing nets when they saw
tug drawing a barge leave the Sanitary Com
pany's wharf and start out in the direction OF the
main channel Of the river. When only q few
hundred yards away and within five hundred
yards Of the barracks (arsenaD grounds the
wheel Of the boat stopped and men on the scow
unloaded the garbage. throwing 1t in the water.
Policemen Smith and McKie. who had sus-
pected that such thing was being done, heard
the statements OF the fishermen and determined
to take the case into court, if possible, and
wash their hands Of it. Before do
ing SO, however. one Of the Off
GERS called at tine health Office to see Chief
Clerk Tracy. who has charge Of the garbage
service. NJ. Tracy, as published in Wednesdays
STAR, had just notified the contractor
that u0ess better service Der
formed there would be trouble about the
vouchers, and the report made By the police
gave him additional work TO do He at once
sent word to Mr.. E. B. Thomas, VINO is detailed
at the Incinerating plant.
THE INSPECTORS REPORT.
This morning Mr.. Thomas reported that he
weighed abou. thirty-seven tons OF garbage
yesterday, for the incineration Of which the
District will pay nearly $50. He
about the disappearance of garbage
from the wharf AZ night. In the report he
stated that u load OF garbage at the wharf Tues
day night was not there the next morning and
he had also heard some mention OF the garbage
which is reported to have been thrown over
board Friday night OF last week.
When asked about the matter this morning
Chief Clerk Tracy said he had done nothing in
the matter vet. He had seen the police and
as they were looking after the case he would
await Developments.
THE wHARF VISITED.
STAR reporter visited the sanitary COM
pany's wharf this morning, where the inciner-
ating plant was in operation. Superinte ndent
Arnold was not On the premises but Mr. A.
Morris. the foreman, was seen.
IF there has been any garbage thrown
away, he said, Il know nothing of it. l don't
believe there is any truth in the story Of gar
Dags being thrown in the river, for We can't
get enough TO use now.
There was a scow at the wharf and its coudi-
ton showed that not many days had elapsed
since it WAS covered with garbage.
Persons abou. the wharf had heard rumors
afoat concerning the dumping OF the garbage
overheard AT the wharf or taking it out and
throwing it in the channel, but none OF them
were able or willing TO tell ny;hing further.
Mr.. Thomas, the weighmsster, was also seen
but he said he preferred not to say anything
true. he said, that he had heard re-
por:s TO the effect that the garbage
hal been thrown into the river, but he had no
direc; proof that such had been done. Then,
too. he said, he was only on duty in tie day
time and if there WAS any garbage thrown in
the river at night there was no way OF his
learning it.
NO LAW TO COVER IT.
Policemen Smith and McKie spen. some time
investigating the case. Two days ago. after
calling at the heath office. the matter was
laid before Attorney Pugh. who was to
have issued the warrants today. but when
Oficer McKie went to have information
made out against the contractor he was in
formed that there was no law covering the case
and be could therefore not issue = warrant.
Mr.. PuSh afterward stated to STAR re-
porter that he had examined the laws bu. failed
to find any tina: would cover the throwing OF
garbage the river.