Evening star., 1896-11-12
MORE COMPLICATIONS
Garbage Factory May Cease to 0pe-
rate This Winter.
TROUBLE OVER PAYMENTS
Contractor and inventor Are at Odds
Regarding Price.
9TH Err LOCAL NE W 8

Unless the garbage contractor and the
owners of the garbage crematory come TO
some understanding today concerning the
price to be paid for the crematory, the lat
ter will be shut down, and once more the
District will return to its old-time fayorite
system Of transporting garbage down the
river in scows.
The owners Of the crematory, having full
filled all conditions under their contract, as
they represent It. claim the fun price for
the crematory. and unless the garbage con-
tractor carries out his part Of the contract
there will be no more garbage cremated
at the foot of South Capitol street This Is
the ultimatum of the owners of the crema-
tory. and from the differences that exist
at the present time it looks as IL contractor
and owner would never adjust matters.
This trouble. which directly affects the
interests Of the city and makes the gar
bage contract the laughing stock of the
community, comes from the agreement be-
tween the owners of tie Brown crematory
and the garbage contractor. The latter
agreed with the former to pay certain
price for the crematory provided 1t op-
Grated satisfactorily Among other condi-
ticns the destruction Of the garbage was
to cost 2S cents per ton, and it is right here
that the trouble began. 1t is agreed on all
sides that the crematory does the work in
nave put their stamp of approval upon
the system, and all that was needed to
II sure for the District one crematory at
ieast was the acceptance of the plant by
the contractor But, according to the state
ments OF one who is in a position to know
ne IS not ready to carry out his part OF
the agreement.
1t is true the owner of the crematory
cialms that his system does not destroy
the garbage for % cents per ton strictly
speaking. But with the revenue derived
from the sale of the ashes IT Is claimed
the ccst of the operation Of the plan IS re-
duced to - cents Fer ton for garbage de-
stroyed. In other words, If the revenue
derived from the sale of ashes is applied to
the cost of operating the plant. the terms
piled with.
Ihe contractor has made the inventor
proposition. He has offered in settlement
OF his claim $l1 500. or, more strictly speak
ing. ing slo",, for he has signified his inten-
ton of Withholding $3.50 until certain
Changes ara made in the crematory The
owner or the crematory rejects this propo-
sNlon as preposterous He says the plant
cost MIN $2ipo to erect. and there is no
reason why he should not be paid in full.
He argues further that the contract is
silent regarding the disposition Of the ashes.
ana a liberal construction would make the
money which accrued from their sale an
pilcable to the cost of running the plant
This the contractor denies. And that is
the case in full. The contractor wants to
submit the matter to arbtra ton. but the
owner OF tie crematory holds that there is
nothing to arbitrate. That he has carried
out the terms of his contract. and having
done this. Is entitled to his money.
Yesterday afternoon the contractor and
MS attorney appeared before the Commits
stoners and told his side of the case in
private. The doors were closed and the
press excluded. This afternoon or tomor-
row the inventor will appear before the
Commissioners and state his side of the
case. The latter seems determined, and
says ne does not propose to yield step In
the matter. He also says that he proposes
10 shut down the crematory If the case is
r OF settled. -
In the meantime work is being pushed
on the Smith crematory on the obserya-
tory site. The builder says he can com
plete 1t within ninety days This it, IS
argued. would bring its operation some
where next spring, and Washin,tol wouI
be compelled to go through another winter
without any approved means of disposing
OF Its garbage. Should the river freeze
ard navigation be suspended the garbage
situation would become serious
The Commissioners when appealed to said
they had nothing to say on the subject