The Washington times., 1895-04-24
D0INGs OF THE DISTRICT
Contractors Object to Provisions
of Garbage Specifications.
EXPENSIVE AND COMPLICATED
Exceptions Taken as to Requirements Touch
ing Age Of Employees, Distribution Of
Monthly Notices and Collections in Win
ter Months-What the Commissioners Say
oolored Citizens Interview the Board.

There are certain provisions in the speci-
fications recently prepared for future gar
bage contracts that bidders criticise as
very objectionable, and it is said that the
representative of Philadelphia firm, who
came here for information, with the view
of submitting a proposal, returned to his
home in the evening of the day he arrived,
declining TO consider the matter.
one objection urged is to the requirement.
that none but adults shall be employed TO
handle the carts. 1t is urged against this
that young men between the ages of seven
teen and twenty years are more easily OBJ
tanned than older men, the majority of
those above the adult age, it is claimed,
have settled employment, and in cases of
emergency, such cannot be employed for
day or two at a time. Young men can be
obtained who are quite competent, physic-
ally, and in the case of colored men, that
class is to be preferred because they are as
rule educated.
One serious objection that is urged is
against the provision for the monthly dis
tribution of cards TO the householders.
The requirement is that these cards shall
be printed and distributed at the expense
Of the contractor, who shall also keep the
health office at all times supplied.
This viii necessitate the printing OF about
$4,000 cards monthly. The lowest bid
yet suggested for the work is a the rate
of $500 per month, the many changes CT
the form to supply the siXty-fiye divis-
ions, making il much more expensive than
the printing of the requisite number Of
cards without change. The annual ex-
peuse OF printing and distributing the cards
will be not less than $1,000, aud this will,
il is claimed, necessarily form an element
in the bid, and ia the end come from the
taxpayers, since the contract price viii
be increased by SO much.
NECESSARY CHANGES IN SERVICE.
The natural Increase in garbage on Mon
day, il is alleged, causes weekly change
in the service by reason OF the increase IN
the number OF carts required, and this will,
of course require notification To many house
holders every Monday, in case the spcci-
ficauons are rigidly adhered to, so hat tine
sum stated as aggregate expense is the
minimum, rather than the maNlllin.
Another provision objected to IS that
requiring the garbage 10 be conveyed by
hand through alleys so obstructed by ice
anu SHOW dS 10 Dt llidtNtcNilhG ~ NAAC
carts. There is proYisioni thelaw Ggaiust
having cart standing alone on the street,
and prohibiting the driver from going any
distance beyond where he can keep his
team in view.
A driver who violates this regulation IS
subject to a heavy fine. What the pro-
spective contractor wants to understand
is how he is TO conform 10 The garbage
! specifications and yet keep within the I'o-
| lice regulations.
4 representative of one of the firms hav-
! ing the proposed contract under consider
/ alton conferred yesterday with Comnis-
sioncr TrueS1ell concerning these prob
| lens, aud was Informed that at the proper
4 time the specifications would be carefully
| gore over ard any Inconsistencies would he
| reTnedied. The object OF the specifications.
he said was TO cover the entire ground ard
! to secure an efficient service, but II IS HOt
| intended TO exact impossioilities. At the
| same time. the Commissioners say, tEere
| VIII be no charge ordered in the speeIfica-
tions except for the very best OF ryeispas.
RIGHTS OF THE PEOPLE.
The District Commissioners addressed
letter yesterday to the Attorney General
! transmitting copy of the opinion rendered
| by Assistant Attorney Duvall concerning
the failure of the lexington and Soldiers
| Home and the Belt Line rail way companies,
respectively, to operate certain branch
lines, and say:
The Comm issioners have taken the
liberty OF presenting the matter to your
! attention in view of the fact that what
i ever action may be taken in the premises
| toward maintaining the rights or the
| people must be taken through your office. y
| Representatives of the commission hav-
| ing in charge the interests of the colored
| people of the District in the matter OF
| collecting the exhibit to be made at the
| Atlanta exposition called upon the Com
! missioners yesterday and requested that
an appropriation of So 600 be made to
assist the commission in its work. Com
| pliance with this request was decided f.y
the board to be entirely beyond their
| powers, but the delegation was assured
! OF the cooperation of the Commissioners
in every possible way.
The commission has been assured by the
! exposition managers that a building VIII
be provided for the exclusive use of the
colored race, which VIII incur no expense
in the matter of entrance fees or rent.
TIE local commission proposes - make
a coed showing, and in order 20 :'alse funds
a series OF entertainments viii be given
shortly IN this the aid of the hoard of
| school trustees. so far as can be consistently
granted, will be solicited.
The delegation consisted Of Prof. Jesse
Lawson, c. A Fleetwood, II. E. Baker,
| h. h. cooper, ". W. COOK, a L i1lliyef,
| J. +. Johnson. The other members of the
commissioners T L. Jones, j NJ. Meriwether
! and Hugh NJ. Browne
Building permits issued yesterday:
| Arthur Copeland, brick dwelling, No. GOT
! North Carolina avenue southeast, So, 500.
Edward Harrington, private stable, No. ia
! Sixth street northeast, $500. For improve
| ments: B. Frisby brick to bakery,
! No. 151 Harrison street, Anacostia, 81 600.
H. A johnson, rear addition to dwelling,
| No. I449 Corcoran street northwest, $3.50.
CR Dodge. frame carriage house addition,
No. I28 Harrison street, Anacostia, $500.
Arlington Fire Insurance Company, minor
repairs to dwellings, Nos. BOA to sos Tenth
street southwest, damaged by fire, $40.
1t was ordered yesterday that water
main be laid on B street, between Sixth and
/ Seventh streets northwest.
Taylor Trapped by Letter.
John W. Taylor, twenty six years old, q
/ ~ tod yoafa o. Z