The evening times., 1896-05-22

Mr.. L. NJ. Blake, chairman OF the Fedora
ton Labor committee on legislation, called
ON President Ross, OF the board OF Commits
slouefS today, and procured letter. to be
filed with the House Committee III support
OF Seuate bill ;5OUe, which has Just passed
the Senate, authorizing the employment
OF day labor in the construction OF GER
tain municipal buildings and works i'll the
District.
The Dill gives discretion to the Commls-
slouers To cauAc All Dulltiings to be erected
| by day labor Instead oil contract, ana they
may likewise cause other WORK to be Con-
structed in that munner.
This is measure that the labor organiza-
tions OF the district have been Zealously
( advocating for number Of years, and
they are now hopeful OF success, and do not
| propose to relax their efforts III that be-
| half.
The original bill drafted by the committee
made day labor compulsory, and the Com
missloners then reported upon II adversely.
The bill now on its passage leaves it 10
| the discretion or the board was re econmend-
ed favorably, aud was indorsed unanimous
! ly by the Senate committee.
THE GARBAGE DISPUTE.
In response To some criticisms that have
been passed upon Contractor Warfield in
respect to the claim lie made upon the Dis
/ trict under the contract for the collection
! and disposal OF garbage, that gentleman
| said today there is not now nor Will ehere
| be the slightest trouble between him a nd the
| Commissioners in reaching a set tlenent, and
/ that his account as presented was based
| upon what he believed to be Il Just and
| equitable construction Of his agreement
| with the District.
Mr.. Warfield said that when he made
| his bid for the work he did not consider
] the appropriation, nor take account OF
| its aggregate What he had in mind was
how much the work would be worth, and
he estimated it at S57 600 per annum.
The contract extends over eight months
of the current year, and his claim was for
eight-twelfths OF S57 900. This, he said,
he believed he was entitled TO, while the
Commissioners thought the sum allowed
under the temporary contract of four months
should be deducted from S57 900, and
the balance paid over to the contractor.
That is where the difference arose.
Mr.. Warfield says he cannot understand
why his demand should be criticised. he
had nothing to do with tile temporary CON
tract, except to execute it for his brother,
and he believes any man IN his position
would have construed the contract as he
has-that is, making his account against
the District ppo rata for the eight months.
Mr.. wARFIELD's EXPENSES.
"To carry out the contract" Mr.. War
ficlL continued, Il have expended S16,OoO
for carts, horses and harness; have bought
a site at the foot of South Capitol street
for the Brown garbage crematory, which
cost $4,000, aud have contracted with
Mr. Brown for plant of the capacity OF
one hundred tons in twelve hours, TO cost
$4,000. Besides i shall have TO erect
stable on the premises that will cost $4,000.
That is not all. ] have spent $500 in
procuring options and for search Of titles of
sites for other Crematories which the Com
InissionerS could not approve, after inves-
tigation and have bought two lots for a
similar purpose. one on wenty-third street,
beyond ~ on Rock Creek costing $1,000,
and another in square 63. by the old Naval
Observatory, which cost me $4,000 ]
have also entered into contract with the
Smith people for the construction OF a
crcmatory of the capacity of one hundred
tons in twenty-four hours, to cost 81 5000.
] have not yet commenced the erection
of the plant owing to the objections OF the
people.
u estimate that the cost of collection
and the wear and tear of my plant Will
amount to S36 600 year, and this in
four years and eight months will aggre-
gate S16s 900. In other words. the
total expense under the contract win not
be less than S22i.0O0. and a its expir1-
ton, with my figures as asis, / will
have, in round numbers, S42 2,000-cer-
tainly not more-for my work and to pay
on the plant. and will then have an outfit
that will, of course. be very much de-
preciated. Ny actual outlay. as first in
vestment, including interest at per
cent, will not be much short of Ss5 900"
AN EXCISE QUESTION.
Since the court of appeals decision re-
QuirinG social clubs to procure license for
the retail of liquors, u proposition has
been made to the excise board by several
to permit license in each case to be taken
out for the remainder of the license year,
period of six months, including May, by
the payment OF one-half the requisite
fee.
The matter was placed before the board
and an adverse decision rendered this morn
ing, upon the grounds that the clubs have
been dispensing liquors since November
l last, and are liable for the entire license
year.
For the same reason the board declined
to transfer outstanding licenses to certain
clubs applying, the original holders having
discontinued business after portion of
the term had elapsed, the point being that
the club business was progressing during
the life of the license under which 1t was
proposed to continue.
No applications for club licenses have
yet been filed, though it is presumed that
before the 1st Of June all will be in.