Evening star., 1896-10-14
CONTRACTOR SUSPENDED
End of the Trouble Over Building the
Stevens School
Orders Issued Today by the District
Commissioners and Notes eff In
terest to Taxpayers.

Worn out by the constant delay of Con-
tractor Cabell and the many contentious
that have arisen over the contract for
building the Stevens School building, In
spector Brady has decided to take drastic
measures and suspend him from the work.
1t is understood that a twelve-hour notice
has been issued the contractor, and after
its expiration the bondsmen will be directed
to proceed ct once with the work and prose-
cute the same to a satisfactory completion.
And this is not all. 1t is understood that
there is rot enough money in the hands Of
the Commissioners upon this contract to
pay the outstanding obligations, and once
more it seems the poor laborers and ma
terial men will have to content themselves
with a small percentage Of what is due
them.
The history of this contract has been
market by Lelays and contentious. Sew
eral hearings have been had before the
Commissioners by striking workm-n. who
have not been paid. and altogether 1t is
considered CEe of the most unfortunate
bargains the Commissioners ever entered
into.
Building Inspector Brady has done every
thing in his power 10 hurry the work on.
but when he found IL was impossible he
s.ecided to make a change and compel the
bondsT en- to finish the work. Ample au-
thority is given him under the specitica-
tions and II is not anticipated that there
This is another case, say District officials
which illustrates the fallacy of the Law
which requires the award of contracts 10
the lowest bidder without any other con-
sideration, and if the Commissioners dc
not succeed in getting authority from Con-
gress to construct the public buildings Of
the District by days labor they will make
strong effort tc get legislation touching
the award of contracts that they may
use their judgment in the matter.
Sweeping by Hand.
From the figures and results attained by
the experiment of hand-sweeping the
streets, there is every reason to believe the
Commissioners are satisfied, and will ex-
tend the work.
The first days trial was satisfactory in
every respect. The streets have been well
swept, and the Commissioners have re-
ceived several commendatory letters from
merchants on the new system.
Two streets were swept as an experiment
F street, from 9th to 18th street and q
street, from 9TH to 18th. 1t cost the District
to do this work exactly $l1S5. Those fig
ures include the employment of laborers
and carts. To sweep them by machines
would cost $lo.26, or a difference of 81 30 in
favor Of machines. This experiment Will
likely be further tried before anything final
is decided upon by the Commissioners
There is one feature of the work which
commends itself, and which has the unqual-
ihed Endorsement of the laborers The Dis
trlct can aHorO 10 pay Sl.2J per day for
their work, which is said to be considerably
in advance of that paid by others who en-
ploy this class of labor.
Bids Opened.
Bids were opened by the Commissioners
today for building an eight-room brick
school house at the northeast corner of
9th and K streets northeast. The bidders
were: j. NJ Dunn, 5000; Melton * Watts
S2o,Ju9; r. w. Bachus, S;2,ooO; Peter Nc
Cartney, 81 ,6I5; &. Thomas az Son, $2S,uo0,
and w. p. Beers & Co., s2s,3i5
The Time Extended.
Owing to the fact that the representa-
tives of the new Dental College which
seeks license to do business in the Dis
trio have been given an audience before the
committee appointed TO investigate the
matter, the Commissioners have extended
the time for making the report one week
More Pay for Excise Board. -
In their new estimates to Congress for
the support of the District during the next
fiscal year the Commissioners will include
an item of $1,000 each per annum for the
members Of the excise board. This board
| 1t will be remembered, is composed of the
members of the board of assistant asses
! sors. The onerous duties of the excise
work. however. takes up a large portion of
| their time, and often they are compelled to
4 work after hours. The Recommendation
i Tor this increase will be supplemented by a
personal appeal to Congress-