The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-10
DOHRMANN VS.. ASHWORTH
Serious Accusations Made In
the Committee Rooms Last
Night.
BOTH MEN GREATLY EXCITED.
Why the Street Superintendent Re-
fused Work OF the Merchants
Association.

Mr.. Dohrmann's fist under the nose of
Street Superintendent Ashworth was one
of the visions revealed to the elect that
gathered in the committee-rooms of the
Board of Supervisors last evening.
The gathering was not especially for that
purpose. Nevertheless the spectacle was
enjoyed, perhaps more keenly because not
dulled by anticipation.
''You did not employ 1873 men in clean
ing those streets! said the Street Super
intendent. That was the practical be-
ginning of it.
81 can prove it." said Mr.. Dohrmann,
who is president of the Merchants Asso-
citation that has been cleaning the streets
so successfully for the past six months.
''You can't prove it. Your work is not
done thoroughly; the streets are not
clean.'
1t was these statements that brought
Mr.. Dohrmann's chubby fist within a
dangerous proximity OF Mr.. Ashworth's
face.
"You know that is falsehood"! said
Mr.. Dohrmann. He spoke at once with
conviction and good lung power and all in
the committee-rooms could hear.
A crowd gathered. 1t looked serious for
moment. But Mr.. Dohrmann is at heart
a man of peace. Had the scene been laid
elsewhere Mr.. Ashworth might have acted
differently. But he, too, was peaceful last
evening.
During the day he had rejected forty-two
blocks of street-sweeping performed by the
Merchants Association. 1t was this which
yloht ah lac eft
"You did wrong" began Mr. Dohrmann,
mildly, when he first met the Street Super
intendent.
81 did just right" said the other.
''Several blocks were not cleaned at all.
Others were not cleaned properly. l shall
not accept the work"
II can convince you that that statement
is all wrong and untrue" said Mr.. Dohr-
mann, and it was when Ashworth declined
the proof and continued his bare assertions
that Mr.. Dohrmann lost his temper for
moment. Mr.. Ashworth lost his also.
IB'You don't employ as many men as you
account for" said the Street Superintend-
ent and this false statement troubled Mr..
Dohrmann all evening, for he wanted
to prove its falsity to everybody,
including his accuser. and nobody
cared to have the proof. Most of
them believed it without the proof. and
the others were satisfied in the knowledge
that since the Merchants Association IN
dertook 10 clean the streets, they have
been cleaned as never before in recent
years
"You are setting yourself up as very big
man in this City," said Mr.. Dohrmann,
when his fist was near the Street Superin-
tendent's nose; "but you can throw out all
the work you choose. There is higher au-
thority in this City than you. We have
done our work conscientiously and will
not be beaten out of the pay by any of your
skuldudgery."
OF course, the last remark was not par
liamentary, but Mr.. Ashworth seemed to
know whgt it meant. He raised both his
bands threateningly handicapped them
again. But his eyes rolled fercely and his
mouth said:
"You will get no money for that work.
won't accept it,"
"We will get money for that work, said
Mr.. Dohrmann, the fist being still in evil
dence, "and you can do your worst"
"Well We'll see."
ave will see. You are trying to throw
discredit on our work so as to get the ap-
preparation for street sweeping into your
department. That's what's the matter
with you, sir. And everybody knows it."
"They know what's false them" retorted
the Street Superintendent and again his
hands went up threateningly.
"You want to get the plum for yourself
and your friends" said Mr.. Dohrmann, who
was reused now to the point of speaking
quite plainly. you want to have the
spending of that money. You -"
II wouldn't have It'll" roared the Street
Superintendent, with less dignity than
that of Caesar when he put away the crown,
but with even more emphasis.
sob, yes; you would have it. That's
what you're working for now. And it will
be sorry dav for the City when you get
tiff you ever do"
II wouldn't be bothered with the work
in my department. l wouldn't take it for
a gift. But if l had it I would do the work
better than the Merchants Association has
done it, and with less money"
Everybody knows how you would do it,
But you'll never get the chance to do it if
the taxpayers of the City have their
wishes followed in the matter"
81 wouldn't do it; but | could save them
money over your figures"
1.-The money would be squandered in the
Street Department"
"You don't know anything about the
Street Department"
you don't know anything about clean
ing streets"
1t is uncertain just who had the last
word, but sadly enough, that last word
was not worthy of living in history The
fight had not an heroic ending. It
dwindled away into back talk that was not
even interesting to those who heard it. So
the members went out to the Supervisors
chambers and presently the Finance Com
mittee was in session.
1t is fact that the Street Department
has not looked with official favor upon the
efforts of the Merchants Association to
keep the streets clean, and it is true that,
rightly or wrongly, the Street Superin-
tendent has been of late making the con-
ditions exceedingly difficult for the Mer-
chants Association.
I'VE do not want to continue sweeping
| I. NJ n