Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-02
The Subject Discussed by Contrac-
tors and Commissioners.
AN IMPORTANT DECISION
Alley Gates Must Be Numbered
Like Houses Without Delay.
LAWS TO BE ENFORCED

Their, was a change of front at the Dis
trict building today, and the Mystic Three
deigned to take the public into its con-
fidence and admitted the press to the dis
cussioE of the garbage question. When the
time arrived for the meeting the represen-
tatives of the contractors, Messrs. Bayly
and Warfield, and the health officer were
called before the Commissioners.
Mr.. Bayly set forth the position of the
contractors. They We're willing, he said, to
cancel the contract for collecting garbage
on the 1st of next July. If the Commits
soners desired them to continue for three
months longer and provide additional CARTS
very material increase in the allowance
would be necessary. 1t would be mani
testify unfair to expect the contractors to
Increase their force for three months and
then cancel the contract. Then, again, the
work would be double during the month
of August and the apportionment for May
and June would be nowhere near the
amount required for August. Briefly, con-
tinued Mr.. Bayly, the contractors would
have to provide at least twenty more carts
and twenty-e:ght or thirty additional
horses. which would Pe thrown on their
hands when the contract expired, unless
they succeeded in getting the new con-
tract. He said further arrangements had
been made with a man six miles down the
river to dispose Of the collections.
Objections to the New Regulations.
The question was asked If the present
contractors would, If the new contract for
three months at an additional compensa-
ton were awarded to them, operate under
the new specifications and regulations.
Generally speaking, said Mr.. Bayly, the
contractors would not agree to such
proposition. 1t was his opinion that the
new regulations and specifications imposed
such hardshipS upon the contractors that
it would be impossible for them to do 1t.
AS an Illustration there was the section
which related to fines in case the con-
tractor failed to collect garbage. This was
manifestly an unjust requirement, for no
matter how hard the contractor might try
to collect the garbage, there woufd always
be some people loathe to comply, and the
contractor would be fined for his derelic-'
tion.
Commissioner Ross replied that this could
easily be remedied If householder failed
to comply with the regulations. and make
the garbage accessible, he would be arrest
ed and taken before the Police Court and
fined. A few such cases would bring the
public to the realization that the regula
tions must be complied with. The Com
missioners were determined to enforce the
regulations, and there was ample law on
the subject 20 properly control the gar
bage matter.
Alley Gates to De Numbered.
Another and more serious embarrass-
ment. observed Mr.. Bayly, was that section
of the new regulations which required the
contractor to furnish in duplicate every
morning to the health officer list of those
who failed to make their garbage accessi-
BILE. If past experience counts for any
thing, there will he upward OF 15,0UO COM
plants every morning from the contract
ors, and the preparation of such a list re-
quires immense amount Of tine. Then,
again, the collectors would be put TO the
necessity of going from the rear of the
house to the front ~ get the proper num-
ber. This also would consume time.
I'VE have ample authority under the act
of Congress TO make regulations" replied
Commissioner Ross. land your last point is
a good one. This afternoon the Commits
sioners will issue regulation requiring
every householder 10 properly number his
alley gate. If that is done, and it Will be,
there will be trouble from that source"
Mr.. Bayly reiterated that the contractors
were willing to give up the contract July l,
and the health officer asked If. at the same
time, the contractors would give an option
on their plant, SO that new contractor
could buy 1t up and proceed with the work.
The reply of the contractors was in the
affirmative, but the Commissioners stated
at cnce that such thing was unnecessary
The hearing closed with the assurance of
the Commissioners that they would give
their decision on the matter by Saturday.