Evening star., 1896-08-15
An InyestiEation-By Request.

About TWO weeks ago the -street-sweeping
contractor. In a communication to The
Star Insisted with much emphasis that he
lived up to every specification of his con-
tract and in connection with that declara-
ticn requested The Star to investigate for
itself. y reporter was sent out with the
representative of the contractor on a pre-
arranged tour of inspection. and the re-
suits which were highly satisfactory to the
Cortractcr were printed in The Star But
the time for q thorough investigation of the
manner il. which the street sweeping
was ordinarily and custOmarily performed
had not arrived. so the invitation was
temporarily shelved. Last night it was
taken up and given that attention which
matter of so much Importance to the en-
tire community UnqUeStonably deserves.
\ sufficient force of reporters watched care
fully the visible operations of the
tractors equipment and gathered together
the testimony which is set forth in the
news columns of this issue. 1t may be that
the public does not need this Information
TO satisfy il that the contractor has been
at the least careless but the publication Is
deemed necessary in the public interest
and in view of the anxiety of the contractor
to have The Star investigate this matter
for itself and those whom it serves.
The specifications require that each
street to be swept shall first be sprinkled;
that sufficient water must be used in
sPriakling 10 prevent the raising of dust in
sweeping; that the sweeping must be done
between the hours of 10 pm. and 6 am.
in the summer, and that should any of the
sweepings be thrown upon the sidewalks
those SweepinSS must be removed by the
contractor. Every one of those spectica-
tions was grossly violated last night. The
streets were not properly sprinkled; they
ware not properly swept; sweepings Were
thrown upon the sidewalks. and We're not
removed by the contractor; sweeping COM
menCed at about 13O o'clock. instead of at
1p. and wGS continued until after 6 O'Clock
this morning. There were no extraordi-
nary conditions that rendered any devia-
tion from the specifications necessary or
jUstifable; the night was clear and cool,
and the streets were in better than aver
age condition before the sweeping com
menced, because of the heavy rains of the
day previous. If there ever was night
when the sweeping forces could have done
good work. had they been SO inclined, it
was last night
The details of the expensive inefficiency
for which the District of Columbia is
taxed are fully set forth in the report of
the Investigations statement of unprej-
udAd facts TO which the attention of the
Commissioners of the District of Column
bia is respectfully directed. The Commits
sioners should be much concerned as to
this matter. for in the contract, and follow
ing the specifications to which the con-
tractor has subscribed, is this proyiso:
NO payment will be made for any work
wherein strict compliance with the above
provisions is not observed" 1t is a reason
al Ela firroaf
last night .ess than one-half of the amount
winch he will be paid for the miserable
work done by his sprinklers and sweepers
But the Commissioners should be con-
cerned for more than mere financial rea-
sons. There Is in the employ Of the Dis
trtct-appointed and controlled by the Com
missionerS themselves-a force of inspectors
whose sworn duty it is to report upon the
character of the work done by the street.
sweeping contractor. Last nights opera
tions may be viewed as fair sample of the
work done during the present contract
term The Commissioners can test the eff
Cheney of their inspection force by compar-
tEg their reports of the character of the
work done last night and previously with
thase supplied by disinterestea representa-
tives OF The Star.
1t Is the common thing to find contractors
WHO are WlillnS 10 eVaQe contract REQUIRE
ments whenever such evasion promises to
be profita bic. and it is frequently the case
that inspectors are to be found who would
rather be on good terms with a contractor
than do their duty by those who employ
them; but there is good reason why
there should be any such inspectors in the
District of Columbia. Such contractors we
are liable TO have so long as the unwhole-
some municipal contract system continues
to exist. but there ought not to be any
trouble in securing force of inspectors if
any present lack in this regard should de-
velop. which can be depended upon to pro-
tect the community against those whose
business it is 10 make as much money as
possible out of their bargain with the
municipality.
IL the street-sweeping contractor desires
to have The Star look up any of the other
details of his business relations with the
District his suggestion will receive due
consideration.