Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-04
QUESTION SETTLED
Contractor Warfeld Has Signed the
Garbage Papers.
THE SMITH FURNACE ASSURED
An Official Back Down, Which
is Only Apparent.
MAJOR POWELL'S STATEMENT

AS predicted in The Star last evening
Mr.. Warfield, the successful bidder for col
Letting and disposing of the garbage of the
city for five years., signed the contract as
originally drawn, leaving the system for
disposing of the garbage practically in the
hands of the Commissioners.
That the Commissioners will insist upon
the Smith furnace as one, and leave the Sc
lection of the other to the contractor there
is little doubt. They have already notified
Mr.. Warfield that the Smith system would
be acceptable to them. and hat they would
require 1t as one of the plants to be erected.
Yesterday, however, matters took on
different aspect, and the Commissioners re-
treated from their position. But, according
to one on the inside, they merely did it to
throw the Smith representatives off their
guard. Mr.. Warfleld insisted before finally
signing the contract yesterday afternoon
that the Commissioners agree to reconsider
the matter of selecting a system. He urged
as his reason that the Smith representa-
tives, knowing that their plant was bound
to be introduced, would put the figures up,
and compel him to pay the price.
This, he urged, was not fair to him. So
the Commissioners agreed to reconsider.
That is what they said they would do, but
1t Is certain that they will not go back on
tfeir original order and allow the csntrac-
tor to put up anything else but the Smith
system as the first plant. They will allow
elects as the second plant, but will insist
that the third plant shall be the result of
the experience gained from the operation of
the two.
the Smith representatives lad long con-
ference over the matter, and while it is
understood the terms of the agreement be-
tween them were settled, there were some
minor matters yet to be arranged
1t was stated also that the Smith furnace
Would be ready within sixty days for opera
ton, and that the South Capitol street site
would be the one upon which it would be
built.
Has Been Settled.
Commissioner Powell when asked by a
reporter of The Star if the whole garbage
matter had been settled, said:
Yes, the contract was signed yesterday
by Mr.. Warfeld This is primarily what
the Commissioners desired. The selection
OF system however, has lot been finally
determined
Then is it true that the Commissioners
nave retreated from their position regard
ing the introduction of the Smith crema-
tory?"
No. cannot say that is the case. Upon
the earnest solicitation Of Mr.. Warfeld we
agreed to reconsider the matter. You see
the action of the Commissioners in decid-
ing upon the Smith system as the best
nietnod Tor dlSposirg OF the city's garbage
put the contractor in bad position Prac-
ticaily it put him in the hands of the Smith
people, and allowed them to put their own
lgure upon their system. This is exactly
what the Commissioners did not want, and
II would not have happened had not The
Star FIST published the fact which was
suFplemented by the reading of the letters
IN the board room by the garbage peoule
themselves"
AS Tar as you are concerned, major.
nave you changed Your mind about the eff
cacy of the Smith SYSTEM"
NO, l cannot say that I have but that
Is only one mans opinion"
But considering the fact" suggested the
reporter, that the other Commissioners
mace the action of the Commits ssh oaers in
agreeing 10 reeonsider amounts to prac-
tically nothing
.Oh, well, let's wait and see what the re-
suit will be- and the major went out to
lunch.
Commissioner TruesdeIl would only say.
when asked about the matter. that the con-
tract had been signed but the system to be
used had not been finally agreed upon
Later this afternoon, it was stated that
the contractor would accept the Brown Gre
matory as the second plant to be erected.
A Conference Today.
The garbage contractor and his attorney
We're in conference with the representatives
of the Smith crematory all this morning
ard the necessary papers have been drawn
up for signature, insurins the contractors
against infringement suits and guarantee
ing the successful operation of the furnace.
At the conclusion of the interview this
morning, Mr.. Smith, the patentee, drove
with Mr.. Warfeld, the contractor, to the
site of the old reduction plant on South
Capitol street and made an inspection of
the ground in order that he might be better
informed as to the exact situation there
when drawing the plans for the crematory
Unless something unforeseen happens, the
contract between the contractor and the
Smith people will be signed this afternoon
and the furnace will be erected within
sixty days.