The evening times., 1899-12-20
NOT UP TO TIE STANDARD
Fuel and Feed Contractors Called
to Account by Commissioners.
The Quality Furnished In Both COM
the Agreed Grade-Threats of Can
collation. ant of Listing the Of
tenders Produce Better Results.

For some time past the District Commits
holders of the contracts TO furnish the va
rious District departments with fuel
and feed for the horses. The contract for
the present fiscal year was let TO S. s. Daish
6s Sons, and their record has been anything
but the best. according to the statements OF
the heads OF the different departments, who
have had dealings with the contractors. The
trouble has been brewing for some time
and II is probable that unless the materials
furnished improve in quality and in meth
cd OF delivery, the District officials will
purchase their supplies in open market. and
charge the excess cost 10 the firm holding
the contract.
Some time ago the attention OF the Chief
Engineer OF the Fire Department was called
to the quality of feed which was being fur
nished to the various engine companies, and
an investigation was ordered. At the same
time a similar complaint was received from
the Police Department. and an investigation
was started there. the papers in both in
stances reaching the Commissioners at the
same time.
Straw Filled With ChaM.
IT. was found that much of the straw
which was delivered at the stables of the
various engine house and police precincts
was filled with chaff and in some in
stances was unfit for use and had been re-
turned to the contractors. The attention
Of the Commissioners was called to the
same trouble which had been experienced
by the officials in charge Of the District
stables some time ago. and the same rem
edy was applied. In the former instance
the contractors were notified that unless
the quality Of feed improved Immediately
the District would go into open market
and purchase the materials needed and
charge. .the-cost against the bond OF the
contractors. In addition to this the name
of the firm would be placed on the falling
contract list, and they would thereby be
debarred from receiving District contracts
in the future.
the penalties to be inflicted
were not to stop here, however.
The list of contractors failing to
trict Government is furnished also to the
General Government. and the restriction
from participating in competition for sup
plying such articles as may be needed
would also apply to the various depart
ments. In this manner the failing con-
tractors would not only lose the District
contracts, but would. in all probability,
lose the awards of the General Govern
ment also. When this statement was
made to the delinquent Arm. they imme-
diately improved the quality Of the goods
furnished the District and there has been
no complaint since then.
Complaints About Fuel.
This was in the Engineer Department.
however. and it was thought that the hold
ers Of the feed and fuel contracts for the
other District departments would attempt
to work the same game on these divisions.
The number of complaints which have
been received seemed to bear out the theory
and led Commissioner Wight to suggest
that the same treatment be applied. The
result was that the food has improved in
quality and the service is now giving sat
isfaction.
The most recent complaints that have
been filed refer to fuel, which is furnished
by the same contractors. The first COM
plant was made by Superintendent Nc
Farland. of the Water Department. He
reported to the Assistant Engineer Com
missioner that the coal which was deliv-
cred at the pumphouse on U Street was un-
fit for use and the contractor would have
to haul the last load away. This occurred
over a month ago. Captain Gaillard i'm
mediately purchased 100 tons Of the coal
wanted. in the open market and sent that
which was in the bunkers to the contrac-
tor. He also informed the representative
Of the firm that the District required him