Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-20
CLAIMS MORE MONEY
The Garbage Contractor Figures the Dis
trict in His Debt.
Asks More Than the COmmissioners
Can Pay-The Potomac Electric
Power Company's Bill.


The Commissioners are indignant over a
claim made by the garbage contractor for
a sum Of money in excess. 1t is held. of the
contract price fer the service, and Several
board meetings have been held upon Che
subject. Briefly, the contractor Is claiming
from the District $65, 7G1. 46 for one years
work, when the appropriation for that
service is but $50, OOO and he contracted
to do the work for s57. 900. In other words,
he wants the District to pay him s., I61. 4G
more for doing the work of collection and
destruction than the amount originally ap-
propriated He bases his claim on the fact
that. while he was paid $27. 761. 46 for doing
a four months service before the present
contract was executed, he Is entitled to
eight-twelfths Of his bid of $4,000 for the
remaining eight months of the year. Eight
twelfths of s57, 900 is $4,000. and the Dis
trict has on hand only $50, 23s. "a. But he
wants all that he claims, and his lawyer Is
making a fight for it.
To Amend the Highway Act.
The District Commission today adj
dressed a letter to Chairman Babcock OF
the House District committee giving their
views, as requested upon House bill 1919.
to provide for the payment Of final de-
crees of the Supreme Court of the District
Of Columbia under the highway act, for
continuing the system of trunk sewers
in the District of Columbia, for complet-
ing the system Of Sc wage dis posal and pro-
lection against floods, and for other pur-
poses. The Commissioners state that TINS
bill is the same as Senate bill 1l2', win
the exception of section i, which section
ha 'rrp mi SonprS do not consider ncceS-
sary or desirable and recommend that 1t
he stricken out. They explain at some
length the various sections of the Senate
bill which was drawn by them with the
assistance of Mr. A. S. Worthington, as
special counsel for the District, in order
to meet the objection to the highway act
set forth by the decision of the Court or
Appeals in the case of the District Of Co
lumbia, appellant, against Charles II.
Arms ct al. The main provision of the
new bill Is the third amendment, which
strikes out entirely section II of the high
way act, providing that benefits resulting
to the part not taken for the opening of
the highway shall be deducted from the
amount to be paid to the owner for the
part which is so taken and also an amend
ment striking section Is Of the act pro-
viding for the assessment upon the land
beE Gifted.
Garbage Matters.
Manager Bayly Of the garbage company
appeared before the Commissioners this
morning to protest against being compelled
to remove the garbage from the commits
sion houses which went up in flames last
Monday night. He maintained that it was
the duty of the owners of the property to
remove the debris to the crematory. where
it would be taken care Of. After some ar
gument Mr.. Bayly was directed to proceed
with the work Of removal, and If the Com
Ia hot +,
PEELED to do the work under the terms of
his contract he would be compensated
therefor.
Manager Bayly also called attention to the
action of the health officer in threatening
to fine the contractor If one of the collec-
tors left the cover Of his cart open. He
argued that 1t was the duty of the health
officer to arrest the collector, and not fine
the contractor. The latter was doing all in
his power to remedy the evil 1t was de-
cided to bring the collector into court and
fine him under the police regulations if
violations occurred.
Adverse Report.
the attorney for the District an adverse
opinion upon Senate bill 1885, which has for
Its object the incorporation of the Anti
Saloon League of the District Of Columbia.
The opinion of the attorney, it is under
stood. is to the effect that the passage Of
this bill would repeal the present liquor law.
He is also opposed, it is said, to those feat
ures of the bill which provide for the s.p
pointment of agents or inspectors, who,
clothed with police powers, may search
premises for liquor where 1t Is believed the
same is sold contrary to law. He Is also op-
posed, it Is stated to that portion of the bill
which provides suits In the Supreme Court
of the District against any violators of the
of Low y1N fpf1
enforce the same. That section which pro-
yides that one-half of the fines collected
shall go to the league is also criticised as
unnecessary and unusual and would result
in diminishing the revenues of the District
In conclusion he does not think that bill
is necessary to effect the object of the pro-
posed organization.
1t is understood the Commissioners will
approve the opinion OF the attorney and re-
port adversely upon the bill.
Potomac Electric Company.
With few minor amendments the Com
missioners today recommended favorable
action upon House bill s776. which author
ICES the extension of the lines of the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company. The Com
missioners say the proposed legislation is
regarded as advantageous to the public
interests; it provides means for the electric
lighting Of the streets and roadways and
public and private buildings and for fur
nishing electric heat and power in the
parts of the District outside of the city of
Washington, where such lighting or cleo
trio service cannot now be had; rates be-
low those now prevailing in Washington
are named in the bill and the right is re-
served in Congress to fix from time to time
the maximum rates for private as well as
public lighting. Therefore the bill, with
some changes, Is recommended for favor
able action.
SENATOR BLACKBURN.