The herald., 1897-10-17
Sweeping Contractor Runs
Against a Snag
NO WET WEATHER WORK GOES
ESPECIALLY WHEN ORDERED TO
CEASE SWEEPING
Councilman Toll and His "Man Fri
day'-Street Signs Galore-City
Hall News and Notes

When the demands of ". I. Hollirgs-
worth for street sweeping between Octo-
Der 1st and 10th were presented to the
finance committee OF the council yester-
day morning, some startling facts and
figures became known for the first time,
for, accompanying the contractors de-
mands, was statement carefully COM
piled by Clerk Reed Of the health office,
showing the amount of unswept streets
for which money had been paid. This
statement showed that the city council
has been paying for some 1000 more feet
of sweeping nightly than has actually
been swept during the last two years,
making an excess expenditure druing
that period of nearly $4,000.
In view of the above facts, Mr.. Toll
moved that the first demand for S5l6 4o
be reduced to $4S992, and the second, de-
mand of $4S75S to $407.12. About S5l of
the latter cut was for the rainy night on
Wednesday. when the city inspector
notified Hollingsworth not to sweep the
streets on account of the weather.
The contractor took especial exception
to this latter cut, on the grounds that
his first orders on the afternoon of that
day were to go ahead, and that, in spite
Of the fact that the specifications dis
tinctly stated that he could be ordered TO
quit work at any time when thought ad-
visable he did not think that the exer-
else of the city's prerogative was in
keeping with just treatment such as
contractor should expect. When the
matter was inquired into. however, by
Mr. Toll, it was discovered that the or
ders for Mr.. Holiirgsworth to go ahead
were conditional on the state of the
weather; and UP to that time Mr..
Drummond, the inspector, stated dis
tinctly to the contractor that he had No
orders to the contrary, but that he could
not say al that time exactly what the
head Of the department would decide.
Later on, when Hollingsworth had put
his men and machines to work, he was
notified that in consequence of the heavy
rain, it would not be necessary to pro-
ceed further with the job. as all work
done would be useless and ineffective.
The contractor then refused fatty to
stop his men from working, and put in
his demand for s4S7.5S as before stated.
when in reality the city was only legally
obliged to pay some $4275S, after the de-
duction for the disputed rainy nights
work.
Mr. Toll pointed out here, that. rainy
night or rot, the city had a perfect right
as stated in the specifications to order
the work to be stopped al any time the
authorities saw fit, and that all the dis
al Ill v,cfo 1ta.vt no
decision Of the committee, which was
based on the legal opinion of the city
attorney.
At this Hollingsworth promptly pro-
tested against the treatmen which he
was receiving at the hands Of the coun-
Gilman and his mar. Friday" pre-
suma bly, referring to Health Clerk Reed,
whose Investigation gato the state of
affairs had resulted in the exposure Of
the large sum paid by the city for streets
which haG never been swept. AT this
remark the hitherto quiet councilman
grew wrathy and heated discussion
followed.
Don't you see Mr.. Hollingsworth,
what baby act you are indulging in by
making such nonsensical protest
about nothing? What complaint have
you got, any way? Where does the
swindling on our part come in? Can't
you see that it's only exercising the
city's prerogative to order you to stop
work at any time, rainy season or no
rainy season, and that the weather
doesn't cut apy figure in the matter at
all?"
mo, I DON'T" said the irate con-
tractor sharply, "and I'm going to carry
this thing right through if it costs me
every cent I've got. I insist that my
rights are established by precedent asld
I can see plainly that l am merely be-
ing made the object of somebody's per-
sonal spite. But Well see who is in the
wrong, and it won't be me, either"
This enGad the discussion for the
time being and the contractor left the
committee room in an. indignant frame
of mind at the way In which every one
in the city hall had ii in for him." The
committee then took up routine business.
The petition of ]. H. Martin ct al,
asking for the enactment of an ordi-
nance appointing Capt. c. H. Clark as
humane officer TO the city, was denied,
in view of an already existing ordinance
wherein the city allows the society $40
per month towards the expenses of
ma in tanning such an official.
H. B. Sargent was allowed rebate
of $11.S7 on double assessment.
The petition. of Fl. L. Bacon for return
OF restaurant license unnecessarily
imposed was referred to the city tax and
licerse collector.
In regard TO the return Of a bond de-
posite0 with the city treasurer by e. r.
Fox, the petitioner being Addie de B.
Mitchell, the matter was referred to the
city attorney for an opinion as to the
legality of such transaction The
meeting adjourned at noon after numer-
Gus small petitions had beer disposed
OF.