Evening star., 1897-01-06
THE CONTRACTOR HAPPY
Money Paid for Sending Garbage Down the
River.
Talk Of Holding Up a Portion of the
Payment-The New Smith
CrematOry.

The garbage contractor left the District
building yesterday afternoon in good
humor He had won his case before the
Commissioners and was just S., 600 be tier
off than he was when he came in. 1t was
he explained, little on account of the
amount due him under his contract by the
District for collecting and disposing of the
cfty's garbage.
Since the contractor decided to transport
the garbage down the river by means Of
the garbage navy, he has refrained from
putting in a bill for services rendered.
Under the terms of his contract he is en-
titled to s4,95O.41 for the work of collec-
ton and cremation during the months of
November and December. How much he
lis entitled to for collection and transports-
lion down the river has not quite been fig
ured out. When asked from time to time
why ne did not put in a voucher for work
already completed he replied that he did
Eot need the money. Recently, however
he has suffered a change of heart and
from his argument before the Commissi on-
ers is. or rather was, in need of finances.
Durlng the early part of the afternoon
Iermal request for money was made by
the contractor. but the matter went over
until after office hours. when he was given
IL special hearing before the Commission
| ers. he was accompanied by Manager Bay
~ VINO presented the case. He explained
the situation briefly, and was followed by
the contractor, who supplemented his re-
marks with statement of the collect;ons
made and the amount due him under the
contract According to the schedule pre-
pared by the Commissioners there was due
nm MN 1or November, upon basis of eight
collections per month, 50. anA for
December. upon calculation of nine col
lect1ons per month, $2,592 50, or a total of
$1,000 II. What he wanted was tWo-thirds
OF that amount.
Then followed a discussion amono tba
commissioners upon the proposition. The
Ialiure OF the contractor to operate the
crematory at the foot of South CapitoI
s.ree. was referred to, and it was pointed
out that he had made no effort to get
possession of the plant. He replied that
Wnen the Smith crematory was completed
SWnich ne expected would be ready for
,u Mo,h w, WITHIN few days. it was estimated
tEat loo tons of garbage could be disposed
OF day If this proved to be the case,
anu the crematory was satisfactory at-
! !en'lon would be directed to the plant at
rr .rr.neo Ioon ot south Capitol street If no
arransement could be reached between the
owners and the contractor, proceedings
would begin at once to move the building
on the ground, and there would be sub
stltuted Smith crematory
There was some disposition to prolony
tne discussion. when suddenly one of the
commissioners asked Mr.. Warfield how
,nucn IN l money ne wanted. He replied that
$1'oco would do. A whispered conversation
was held with the auditor, and the health
oincer lnterposing no objec tion, the Com
mssioners voted the payment and hence
contractor Warfield's good humor.
III Is evident that there is disposition on
the part of the Commissioners to within bid
from the contractor a small portion of
the amount due him. They argue that he
cannot expect to receive the contract urice
Tor taklEg garbage down the river, when
the contract stipulates that the garbage
shall be burnt, and the appropria ton
makes specific mention of that method of
disposition.
So that now, with the 5000 paid over
there remains but 81 $50 IL in the hands of
the Commissioners. 1t is understood the
contractor will shortly make another re-
quest.
In the meantime all is not running
smoothly at transportation headquarters
which are located at the foot of street.
Here the contractor has demonstrated, ac-
cording to a report from the District in
spector, tardiness in the transportatio ton
of garbage that is inexcusable He has
made several reports to the authorities
that scow loads of garbage are sometimes
kept waiting for day or when they
could just as well have been taken down
the river