Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-30
MUNICIPAL CONTROL
Of Street Sweeping and of Other
Public Work.
VIEWS OF DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS
An Old Law Which Presents an
Apparent Obstacle.
OTHER DISTRICT MATTERS

AS stated In The Star several days ago,
the Commissioners have written a letter to
Chairman Mcmillan OF the Senate commit
tee on the District of Columbia favoring
the municipal control Of the collection of
garbage. and Of street sweeping and other
work of that character.
The full report of the Commissioners
upon the subject, together with the reports
OF the heads OF the respective departments,
is sent with the letter. ...-..
The only apparent obstacle the Commits
SIGN see to the performance of those
works by the District are the existing con-
tracts therefor. and the following provision
in the organic act of the District of Column
bia. which requires them to be done by con-
tract:
THAT hereafter when any repairs of
streets. avenues. alleys or sewers within
the District of Columbia are to be made.
or when new pavements are to be subsu-
tGted In place of those worn out new ones
laid or new streets opened. sewers built. or
any works the total cost OF which shall
exceed the sum of 81 .O00 notice shall be
given in one Newspaper of Washington, and
IL the total cost shall exceed 5000. then in
one newspaper in each Of the cities of New
York, Philadelphia and Baltimore also for
ore week. for proposals. with full specifica
tons as to material for the whole or any
portion OF the work proposed to be done
ana the lowest responsible proposal for the
Kind and character of pavement or other
work which the Commissioners shall de-
termine upon shall in all cases be accept
ed Provided. however. That the Commits
SionerS shall have the right in their dis
erection 10 reject all of such proposals.
The contract for street sweeping will ex-
pire June 30. 1897. The contract for clean
iEg paved alleys will expire June 30, 1S,6.
The contract for unpaved alleys will expire
June 30. 1896.
The contract for the collection and dis
p"sal Of garbage and dead animals will ex-
pire June 30. 1900. unless sooner terminal ed
by rea ion of the contractors laches. or his
consent and the concurrence therein OF the
! authorities
There are other kinds of public works
Where days labor may at times. IN the
discretion OF the Commissioners, be ad-
vantastousy employed, such as the con-
struction Of sewers sidewalks and certain
kinds of paVements. Water mains are al
ready laid by days labor under the di-ec-
ton and control of municipal officers
Grading and filling of streets and any
other improvements where the main in
terest of the government is the amount and
not the quality of the work done may be
DONE ii is said. by contract with as much
if not more, advantage to the public than
by days work.
The Commissioners satisfied that it
would be to the advantage of the public
to construct all public buildings by days
work. They believe ii is impracticable TO
maintain system of supervision that will
eHtltely prevent improper work on Sucn
structures under the contract system.
While an honest contractor will dc good
work as well without with supervision.
a dishonest contractor can readily find OPP
portunitieS to evade the surveillance OF the
most vigtlant overSeerS.
Under the date of January 81, 1896. the
Commissioners. in response to a request
Of your committee for their views upon
Senate bill 1il1. to regulate the employ
ment of labor on public buildings and
public grounds in the District of Colum n,a
expressed the opinion that while in their
Judgment IL Is better that certain public
works should be executed under contrac ct
system, * would be for the public interest
if they should be vested with discretion TO
cause other works to be performed by
days labor. They take this occasion to
inclb;e a draft of a bill designed 20 give
them this discretion, and of the opin-
ion that the public interests would bc sub
served by its enactment, or the enactment
of some measure substantially of the same
effect.