Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-18
ALLEGED ExTRAVAGANCE
Criticisms on the Action Of the District
Commissioners
What the Law IL and How 1t Has
Been Construed Against the
PabJic Interest.

The specifications and regulations which
are to govern the bids for collecting and
destroying the garbage under the provi-
stons Of the fve-year contract have been
printed, and advertisements inviting pro-
posals have been inserted in the newspa-
per5. For long time prospective bidders
have been closely examining the situation.
damper, however, was put upon them
when the Commissioners awarded without
competition a four months contract to the
present contractors, at figure which they
claimed was far in excess of q pro rata
division of the appropriation.
1t will be recalled that the Commission
ers-or a majority Of them-voted to COM
pensate the present contractors for this
49,. The prospective bidders complained
bitterly that this amount was unjust and
would leave but a small balance for the
work during the first year. and if they
erected plant it would take all of the re-
mainder during the first year. If they OBJ
tanned the contract, to pay for the same.
There is considerable diversity of opinion
regarding the law. and there have been any
number of interpretations of its provisions.
The law is as follows: For collecting and
removing garbage in the cities of Washing
ton and Georgetown daily, and in their
| more densely populated suburbs three times
week, and daily from hotels and other
like places. from April Is to November 1,
ana ana. r3 9 collecting and removing dead ami
daily. Including Sunday, during the entire
year. $4,000
For destroying by cremation or reduc-
ton or otherwise disposing of all garba se
and dead animals collected as above speci-
fed or brought to the establishment for
cremation or reduction by private parties.
$20,OO: crowded, That from the amount
appropriated for the cremation or reduce
uon or otherwise disposing of garbage and
dead animals there may be deducted a sum
not TO exceed g per day. to be paid to a
no Nnv,, -.-s<~
OF the District of Columbia, whose duty IT
shall be to weigh and keep record Of all
garbage brought to the establishment for
cremation or reduction and to have gem
eral oversight of the sanitary condition of
this establishment.
Provided. further, That said Commission
ers may, on and after the passage of this
act, enter into contract, after due adyer-
usement as required by law, under such
regulations and specifications as they NAV
establish, for the collection and removal of
garbage and dead animals, as hereinbefore
mentioned, for period not exceeding five
years and for incinerating or otherwise dis
posing OF the same, for a gross sum of not
ton and disposal
Provided further. That before any con-
tract shall be entered into by virtue of this
authority the existing contract with the
District OF Columbia for the collection and
disposal OF garbage shall be terminated by
mutual consent or otherwise, and until
said contract shall be entered into and the
the said appropriations herein made shall
in the discretion of the Commissioners be
aFallabIe Tor the purpose OF paying for the
increased service as hereinbefore provided
ana said Commissioners are hereby au-
thorized to make necessary regulations for
the collection and disposal of garba &c in
| the District of Columbia, and to annex to
sadu reguiations such penalties as will
secure the enforcement thereof; and pro-
Vided further. That said Commissioners
shoH report to Congress at its next regular
session fully their action had under the
PROVISIONS of this paragraph.
By some of the folks who criticise ,he
stand taken by the Commissioners and
who differ from the official construction of
me law 1t Is urged that by fixing the COM
pensation of the garbage contractors at
S2S.:IS2 for garbage coIlec ton and removal
during four summer months the District
Commissioners have left themselves with
less than $4,000 with which to pay for
service during the remaining eight months
of the year.
This conclusion is on the assumption that
the temporary contractor will not cremate
or reduce the garbage, but remove 1t, as
at present 1t is admitted, of course that
there is more of garbage to collect during
the summer than at any other season, but
1t is insisted that the ratio Of contractors
remuneration is a long way ahead of the
ratio of garbage production; so far ahead
that people who claim some knowledge
both OF garbage matters and law are out
spoken in condemning the Commissioners
! action in this most important matter.
On behalf of the extremely liberal off,
Gals it is urged that the appropriation is
100000 instead of $4,000. but when notice
Is taken Of the fact that $4,000 of this
amount is, II the spirit of the law is
obeyed. set apart for assisting those who
may make new garbage contract with
the District in the erection and mainte-
nance Of a garbage crematory or reduction
works. then it becomes evident that he
amount available is. after all, but $4,000.
A citizen who has no present or pros
pective interest in a garbage contract said
today: 1T is possible. of course, to so
juggle the language of the act as to frame
spectral authority for doing what the Com
miss.oners have done. but in so doing there
Is violation of the congressional intent,
and that the Commissioners well know It
is barely possible that by taking advan-
tage of the somewhat loose provisions of
the law the Commissioners may be able to
spend the sum Of 100000 in one year for
garbage collection and its removal in the
ordinary fashion without cremation or re-
6uction and still keep within the literal
letter of the law. but the spirit of the law
will be violated, the public interest injured
and the city's money wasted"