Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-06-29
Trouble Ahead Over the New Gar
bage Contract.
SUIT IN TIE COURTS PROBABLE
Columbia Supply Company's Bid
Was $1,000 Lower.
A VIGOROUS COMMUNICATION

All is not quiet along the Potomac today
regarding the garbage question. The oppo-
sition to the action of the Commissioners
in awarding the contract to Joshua War
field is cropping out on all sides, and sew
eral protests have been filed with the Com
missioners.
A representative of the Merz system
(Which reduces the garbage) appeared be-
fore Commissioner Truesdell this afternoon,
and desired to know if the Commissioners
had finally determined to have the gar
bage of the city cremated. He was inform
ed. that such was the case, the Commission
ers believing, after investigation, that the
hest way of disposing of garbage under
the conditions in this city was by crema-
ton. BY a system of reduction. the plant
would have to be located outside Of the
city limits. perhaps in an adjoining state.
and the laws in force there might conflict
with the regula tons of the Commissioners
and make muddle of the matter.
The Merz representative said he believed
the system Of reduction was less objec-
tionable than that Of cremation, and was
positive that site for plant could be
obtained in the city. The Commissioner
stated, however that cremation had been
decided upon, and that the crematorics
would DE located within the District.
Strong Protest.
During the day the following protest was
filed with the Commissioners by the Co.
lumbia Supply Company, through George
c. Demo. secretary:
WASHINGTON. D. c., June %, 1895.
Hon. Commissioners Of the District of Co.
lumbia:
Gentlemen-The Columbia Supply Com
pany beg leave to protest against your ac-
ton in awarding the contract for the COL
lection and removal of garbage and dead
of nd
eight months from November l, 1895 10 Mr.
Joshua Warfield, because. they say
That Mr.. Warfeld was not the lowest
bidder for said work; that his bid exceeded
that of the undersigned by s., $50.
The hid of the company was made upon
the proposals furnished by you and was
accompanied by the proper deposit of
5000, and conformel in all respects to the
requirements of said proposal.
This company stands ready to give a
good and sufficient bond satisfactory to
YOU by citizens of Washington, D. c., that
have large property interest to secure
proper fulfllment of the contract.
Mr.. Warfield, to whom the contract has
been, or is about to be, awarded is viz
tually the same party VINO has the contract
at the present time and represents the
the present contract.
1t is well-known fact that the late de-
fault.ns contractor nor his bondsmen, has
never performed single provision of the
In the bid made by this company it was
left entirely to the discretion of the Com
nissiorers fer their selection is to the
method to be ad opted for the final disposl-
ton of the garbage
The BID made by me for the company was
under para graph &C" of which proposal
states that 1t includes all of paragraphs
A and e. subject to all restrictions and
conditions applying thereto" and section
b states cremation. reduction or other
wise disposing of all garbage and dead
animals
l called at your request June % and in
answer to your questions stated that the
EnEle system of cremation was the one the
company preferred to use also that they
would place the same on James creek canal
southwest, on land owned by member of
the company. and ! also stated to You that
the company would prefer to cgemate or
utilize the ma terial twelve or thirty miles
down the Potomac, as crematory world
depreciate the property 80 per cent in any
other part of the city 1t was located. None
OF the three Commissioners present object
ed to James creek canal
Tie place selected by Mr.. Warfield, as
stated in his bid is as follows: South
Capitol street. Boundary street between
LIST and Tth streets northwest and Rock
creek. 1t would be impossible for him
to locate the crematories as stated. as the
owners of property in those locati will
apply to the court for an injunction based
on the fact that he was not the lowest
bidder for the work by sa.Som. as pro-
Flded Tor by the organic act, which pro-
vides for permanent form Of government
for the District of Columbia which is
manda tory, and states all work. shall be
given to the lowest responsible bidder. but
the Commissioners may reject all bids
The Commissioners have selected crema-
ton as the system, and I am Informed
that they are about to make contract for
$4,000 more than the bid / Submitted for
the same service by cremation and for the
same period: and this IS to be done in the
face of the mandatory provision of the
organic act herein before quoted.
Under ali circumstances this company
respectfully protest and will, If it becomes
necessary. take such legal steps as will pre-
vent the awarding of the contract il the
manner above indicated at $500 above the
amount of their bid.
Respectfully submitted.
COLUMBIA SUPPLY CO,
o.