New-York tribune., 1896-10-25
NO BROOMS IN THE STREETS
WARING CARRIES OUT HIS THREAT TO
STOP WORK IN THE DEPARTMENT.

CONTROLLER FITCH DECLARES HE WILL. NOT BE
BrLLDozEp ny THE CoLoNEL-TITE ARGU-
MENT ovEE TATEs BILLS CONTINUES
Not a white angel" not broom. not a
shovel or an ashcart OF the street Cleaning
Department visible yesterday from the
Battery to the Westchester County line. Ihe
tugs which every morning start out to sea With
the big bargeloads OF street refuse renamed
fast to their piers The 1000 men on the pay
rolls Of the city employed to sweep the streets.
clean ont the cutters and culverts and collect
and carry To the dumps the days gathering OF
ashes and garbage were idle. The streets made
muddy and filthy by the previous nights RAIN,
were left untouched. In compliance with the
orders OF Street Cleaning Commissioner war
ing the whole Department was in state OF
paralysis.
The cause OF this surprising condition OF
things, as given by the Commissioner. was Con-
trollcr Fitch's refusal on Friday TO pay Colo
mel Warnings favorite contractor. Herbert Tate.
bills amounting to about $1,000. for collecting
and removing light rubbish and waste paper
Commissioner Waring. as was told by The Trip-
une yesterday. had visited Controller Fitch In
the latters office in the Finance Department
late on Friday afternoon. and requested the
Controller to order the immediate payment OF
Tate's vouchers The Controller replied that he
had doubts as to the legality Of these bills un-
der the Civil Service laws. and that he wanted
an opinion from the Corporation Counsel or the
decision OF one Of the courts assuring him that
the employ ment of Tate ana his men was valid
before making payment.
COLONEL wARING IN A PASSION.
on hearing this Colonel warinS became
indignant and declared tina. he would wholly
suspend the operations Of the Street Cleaning
DEPARTMENT until Tate's bills were paid He
hurried to his Office in the Old brownstone Cen
era Sessions building. and made good his threat.
He issued the orders about p. m, Friday.
which appeared In yesterdays Tribune. order
ing all hands except the hostlers in the Depart
rnent stables to quit work for an indefinite
i.erlod The noatlcrs were 10 continue TO care
for the horses. Every other man was or ex-
cept that he must port as usual for rolcail
three times n day. The pay Of the men goes on.
Of course. The contractors employees, about
three hundred in number. were thrown out OF
work without pay
Controller Fitch expressed no little astonsh-
ment yesterday that Colonel Warlng should
have been thrown into such a passion by the
failure to pay Tate the balances due him. Mr.
Fitch marvelled greatly at Colonel Warnings
extraordinary interest III rate w ny Snoulh
the head Of a city department take the unusual
course Of making personal and persistent appli-
cation for the payment particular con-
tractor?" the Controller asked. He has never
been worked up over my delays in paying other
contractors In his department. and there have
been scores Of similar cases.
Asked about Tate's bills. Controller Fitch said
The unpaid amount is about $4,000. one
half OF | per cent Of the $3.OOO.OOO and over
that Colonel Warng has in his appropriation
As it happens these are the only bills Of his de-
partment now unpaid. which makes the stu
alton the more remarkable. There has not been
In fact a refusal to pay Tate's bills. The failure
to pay them far has been account Of legal
questions connected with the civil service law
and the street cleaning law. and the desire Of
this Department to perform the duties for which
1t was created and which are incumbent upon IT,.
"The clause OF the Street Cleaning Act upon
which Colonel Waring claims n right TO estab-
lish a department free from civil service rules
and free from public competition. within his
own department. in the hands OF Herbert Tate. is
az follows: Provided that nothing herein con-
taned shall prevent said Commissioner. when
ever it shall be necessary. to hire such boats.
steam tugs. scows. vessels. machines, tools or
other property for a day or trip. and for sue
cessve days or trips, without advertising or con-
tract founded on sealed proposals or bids. etc.
FORM or THE CONTRACTORS BILLS.
Herbert Tate's bills are alike In wording. They
all read like this: TO service of ninety-iive