The evening times., 1899-08-04

scONA
final action in the matter of the contro-
versy between the District Superintendent
of Street Sweeping, Warner Stutler, and
the hand-cleaning contractors, Messrs.
Daggett & Dugan. AS forecasted in The
Times this morning, the charges against
the contractors have been sustained in the
opinion of the municipal authorities, but
the agreement between the District and
the contractors has not been annulled.
The latter will be permitted to continue as
the hand-sweeping contractors, provided
they carry out their contract, but should
there be any repeated and willful disre-
gard of the essential requirements of this
agreement in the future the Commission
ers will not hesitate to take such prompt
as the interest of the service may seem
to require.
The views of the Commissioners are en-
bodied in a statement prepared by Com
missioner Ross and which was Immediately
approved by the entire board just
after It was submitted to the members, in
dividually for consideration this morning.
This statement is clear and suecinet and
gives an admirable understanding of the
various features of the recent controversy.
1t reads as follows:
..On. July II, 1899, written statement
was submitted TO the Commissioners by
the Superintendent of Street CLEANING, con-
tanning specific allegations that the con-
tractors for the hand cleaning OF the
streets and avenues of the District for the
year ending July l, 1900, had failed to per-
III, OF nrdf inc tn re
and recommended that the contractors be
called upon to show cause why the con-
tractors should not be suspended and other
parties employed TO do the work.
by order Of the Commissioners, copy
of this written statement was duly served
upon the contractors with notice to them
to show cause, as requested, by July Il,
1899.
ION that date a written reply to said
charges was filed by the contractors. with
request that they be heard before the
Board of Commissioners The hearing so
requested was had in the Board Room of
the District Building on August l and z,
1899, at which hearing Judge j. Nj. Wilson
appeared for the contractors. and witnesses.
not under oath, were examined IN behalt
of the contractors and of the District re-
spectiyely. An argument in behalf OF the
contractors was submitted by Judge VIII
son. and on the part of the Street Clean
ing Department by Superintendent Stutler.
Substantially the charges were. as fol-
lows First, that there was a want Of
proper equipment OF bag-carTiers, etc.
with regard TO this charge, il was ad-
mitted by the contractors at the hearing
that bag-carriers had not been fully sup
piled to the force until about the 18th OF
July They stated, however, that they had
given an order to a manufacturer approved
by the Superintendent in time for proper
delivery and that the manufacturer had
failed TO deliver at the time expected. IL
is not considered by the Commissioners tina;
any valid excuse was given for the nom
equipment of the force with bag-carriers
prior TO the 1st of July, inasmuch as the
contract was awarded to Messrs Daggett &
Dugan on the 18th of April, seventy-seyen
DAYS prior to the time of the institution OF
the work under the contract. But, mas
much as these bag-carriers are now prae-
ticaily supplied, it is not deemed nee
essary TO devote more attention 10 thls
charge.
The second charge, that not enough
men are employed to properly perform the
work is in the opinion of the Commits
sicners, fully sustained, by the proofs re-
lating TO that and to the third allegation,
with regard to the large area assigned TO
some of the employees of the contractors.
1t was shown at the hearing that one OF
the patrolmen paid another man out OF
his own wages in order to complete his
work on time The foremen OF the con-
tractors admitted that many of the men
failed to thoroughly clean the area assign
ed to them by noon as required by the
most liberal construction Of the contract
and the reports of the District inspectors
and by the police force show that large
areas have not been cleaned at all ON cer-
tain days.
"As TO the fourth charge, the contrac-
tors admit that they did not supply the
men with the appliances known as squee-
gees.
'As to the fifth statement, that certain
foremen had instructed the contractors
men to skip over certain spaces, the evil
dence is conflicting. An employe who haC
resigned, because, as he stated, he could
not obey the orders given him, testified
that he had been so instructed. The fore
men employed denied that they had giver
| such instructions. The Commissioners dc
not regard this charge as proven beyond
| doubt.
charge No. 6, that the contractor.
| had failed to pay weekly, as had been the
| custom under the former contract, was an
swered by the contractors with a state
ment that they had notified the men thai
| only two payments per month would bt
/ made under this contract; and that tn,
payment due on the 18th Of July, was post
| poned by the failure of the District to pay
| on that date, about which time strik,
had occurred among the street cleaning
! employees. This matter is not deemed b!
the Commissioners to be of great momen
in this controversy. An alleged part pay
ment to the men in goods was admitted
| by the contractors, who declared their in
| tention to pay only in cash hereafter.
| aside from the formal charges pre-
! ferred, the fact developed at the hearinf
that there had been a constant failure OF
the part of the contractors men to sprinkle
the street surface, as required by the con
| tract. The contractors alleged that thei
instructions in that regard had been per
| sistently violated by their employees.
The facts so found by the Commission
ers upon the issues presented would, il
| their opinion. justify an immediate suspen
| sion of the contract; but, inasmuch as onl,
one month of the contract year has ex
! pired and in view of the statements o
Judge Wilson and his clients that tht
contractors are desirous OF avoiding tn
shortcomings shown in the hearing re
ferred to to have thus far occurred. an,
that they are willing to accept the con
struction Of the contract placed upon Il b.
the Commissioners, il would seem that n
valid interest of the District would be in
jured by giving the contractors an opportu
nifty TO redeem the pledges so pnblicl
made.
"A clause (section fve) OF the contrac
specifcat ons reads as follows: The sweep
er or patrolman will thoroughly clean sue
area as may be assigned to him. going owe
the entire surface in the morning. afte
which the area shall be patrolled and al
droppings or other street refuse gathere
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