Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-17
SwEEPi& , STREETS
Commissioners Submit a Proposition
for Municipal Control.
WANT CONTRACT SYSTEM ABOLISHED
Statement by Superintendent Slut
|. Ter in Support Of Measure.
TIL REL ATIVE ENPENS f

The District Commissioners today trans
mitted to the House committee on appro-
priations an amendment which they de-
sire incorporated the next District APP
preparation bill, authorizing them, at the
expiration of the pending contracts ter
sprinkiing. sweeping and cleaning the
streets. avenues, alleys and suburban
streets in the District, to have all of said
work done by day labor. under their dt-
rections. without contract.
The work Is now done under contracts
which will not expire until June 30, 1850,
and If the amendment proposed by the
Commissioners be adopted by Congress,
the work cannot be done by day labor be-
fore July l, 1899. The proposed discontinue
ance OF contract work is recommended by
the Commissioners first Of all because they
have become convinced that the work can
be done by day labor not only much cheap
err but also much more satisfactorily to
the people of the District. Another rea-
son urged in support of their amendment
Is that not only will the discontinuance OF
the contract system give employment 10
many more men than are now employed,
but 1t will also enable the Commissioners
to pay the men higher wages than they
receive now.
In support of the amendment, the Com
missfoners transmitted a report on the
SuDJcCl HdIe ny MI w dillSI StNtASt, eAAS
superintendent of street sweeping and
cleaning
Mr.. Suffers Statement.
The report of Mr.. Stutler is as follows:
Il have the honor to submit herewith
comparative statement of the cost of street
sweeping by hand, under contract, at the
rate now paid. and the cost of same work
II done under District control exclusively.
The statement is made in support of the
recommendation hitherto made, and now
before Congress, for legislation comforting
upon the Commissioners the authority to
have the work done under their own super
vision a proposition which l greatly favor,
and in support OF which 1 most respect
fully present the following facts, in con-
rection with the tabular statements
The most important matter to be con-
sid2red in discussing the subject is whether
or not by municipal control the work can
he as well and as economically done as it
now Is under contract. Reference to the
tables herewith will show, l submit, that
the cost will be less if the cleaning be done
exclusively by direction of the Commits
sioners than it is or has been by the other
method. and experience and observation
prove that more satisfactory results may
he expected by municipal supervision di-
rect.
1T is also true, in addition to securing
better work, and making allowance for
larger number of men at advance in
wages. that the District will save money
annually. The saving the first year will be
at least enough to purchase the necessary
plant. after which the balance can be APP
Piled to extending the system and giving
tie public better service.
investigation proves that the contract
ors profits may be employed to increase the
fierce at higher wages and still keep well
within the estimated appropriation for 1899
Thus larger proportion of the worthy Ia
boring men of the District can be employed
at living compensation: and by increas-
Ing the area to be swept by hand give
greater satisfaction TO the people.
a Main Advantage.
"A principal advantage of the proposed
plan over contract work is that the en-
ployes will be under direct control of the
District government, so that when any sec
ton shall require special attention any de-
sired portion or all Of the force may be at
once transferred to the work, with 10 con-
tractor to consult no liability to infringe
upon anothers rights. ard avoiding con:en-
ton to compensation for extra work.
another point in favor of municipal con-
troll is that but one set of employees will be
under supervision, with no clauses Of con-
tract to interpret in cases where the work
may be sighted; the work of supervision
can he brought within smaller compass
and inferior work reduced to the minimum
because, largely, of the absence of motive
or interest to do inferior work to wholly
neglect any part of the area. Under mil
nicipal control there will be no conflicting,
interests, and the prlncipai ehurt may then
he to insure the best work possible at the
least expense consistent with justice TO the
labor employed If an cmploye then no
G,ects the duties assigned to him the REM
edy may be applied direct. l would
specially suggest therefore. that. though
the cost of the two methods be the same
municipal control is far to be preferred
and when it is demonstrated, as l maintain
is done In the figures representing the rel
alive expense that the Commissioners can
have the street cleaning well done at less
cost than is incurred under the present
system, at the same time employing labor
q. a better rate of compensation than is
now given. there would seem to be no rea-
son why Congress should not authorize the
change asked for. At the same time, Il
may be said that hand cleaning. which is
much more satisfactory in its results than