Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-02
Continuing the Hearing of Charges
Against Contractors.
EVIDENCE FOR BOTH SIDES
Witnesses Testify as to Dealing at
Company's Store.
EMPLOYEES ON THE STAND

the District street cleaning department,
was resumed before the Commissioners to-
day. As heretofore stated in The Star,
Mr. Stutler charged that the contractors
have failed to properly clean the streets:
that they require the men employed by
them TO go over larger territories than the
men are capable of properly caring for,
and. among other things, that the men are
required by the contractors to deal at a
store conducted by them
When the hearing was adjourned yester-
day Messrs. Wilson and Hoehfng, the at
tcrneys Of the contractors. had been fur
nished with reports made by the police de-
pertinent as to the character of the work
done by the contractors since the LIST of
July. at which time the contract went into
or ration When the hearing was resumed
today Mr. Wilson said that he did not re-
gard the reports of much consequence, as
the policemen seemed to have seen things
which the District inspectors did not see
Mr. Stutlar then introduced his chief in
speCtO-, Mr.. Doyle, who stated that the
work done by the contractors has been in
his opinion. generally bad. the dirt not be-
ing promptly removed. the streets not be-
ing swept by noon, and the spTinkling not
being properly done.
OF course. said MIR Doyle, this does not
apply to all the streets. and he pointed out
tn, s.. to which he more particularly re-
ferred in his reports He said he has found
that the contractors are requiring, a
rue. more "tTh out OF tHelr men imam they
can properly perform, the result being in
feIior work One man, he stated, quit
working for them because he could not DO
the 11.WO square yards required of him
The work being done by the contractors,
said 4iT- Doyle. does not compare at all
favorably with that done by the District
last year. when the average area cleaned
by man was about 800 square yards.
To Mr. Wilson Mr.. Doyle explained how
the street cleaning department makes de-
auctions for bad work or for work not done
on time. the contract requiring the men
10 sweep the entire surface by noon. and
said that Mr.. Stutler has directed his in
srsetors to merely see that the streets are
Well cleaned, and promptly, and not to
make any unfair deductions.
Employees Testify.
William Coleman. colored. who formerly
worked for Messrs. Dasgett & Dugan. and
who stated that he left them because the
area assigned TO him was too large for him
L. go over properly. was called by Mr. Slut
Ter for the purpose of showing that he had
been told by one of the contractors inspec-
tors. Mr. Luther Mckenney. to skip over
the work. Coleman said he had been so in
s{ructed by Mckenney, and not to bother
about sweeping every bit Of the street He
was ais" told, said Coleman. that he would
be discharged if he did not do as he was
toiG about skipping over the area. Cole
man also said that he quit work because ne
could not do all that was expected of him
the area, he declared, being too large
FRANK A. Jones, another cOlOred emplOye
OF the contractors, was directed to make
a statement by Mr. S,utler and said that
ihe oflVrS gwen on the firm store were
taken from his pay, and that he had to
Lay more at the store than at other places
Clte tune. ne SAID MI La Rowe, the FIRMS
SUPERINTENDENT, got after him for not deal
ing with the store when he told Mr. La
Rowe thar his wife. who was working for
Hhlee folks, always brought home enough
Tor both of them. He said that the 18th of
4tst month was the only time he ever fail
ca IN seven years to get his money prompt
" from the firm, but stated THAI he has rot
peen pad since the 21st Of last month
George Hawkins. colored who works for
Iiie contractors. said that he has been in
structed by their inspectors TO skip over
ne WORK He said they have told him TO
clean thoroughly while the District insrec-
gone.
nesses several OF their forernen and inspeC-
lots VINO denied emphatically that they
nave ever told the employees TO skip over
thelr work or neglect II in any way
fhiiip Kraft. one Of the District insDer-
Tors SAID he has heard the forerneu of the
irm solicit orders for the store from their
men. and 1t seemed the firms inspectors
competed among themselves as 10 which
man could turn in the most orders
Mr. Stutler offered in evidence a state
IntEt signed by twenty-Ore Of the men ern
PIoyed by the firm to the effect that they
nave Deen instructed by the firms inspec-
Tors 10 skip over their work MIR. Wilson
objected TO the statement being filed sug-
costing that 1t would be better to call the
men "
Inspectors and Foremeu.
John W Ladd. one Of the firms inspect
o's' TESTIFIED mat he has never told the
Ilen 70 skip over or neglect their work. but
20 go over u thoroughly and to sweep
Wherever they found any dirt To Commits
sioner Ross ne admitted that some of the
-, 1iiiS. MN are doing more than was
Zt~lte" oi mem last year by the District
anu % MT Stutler h. stated that dust
ARISES at times, and that some of the mn
~. ~, i''I' I" get over their areas by noon the
I'm tIihe IetIire4 py the terms Of the contract
tie denied that he has ever required tn
men 10 deal with the firms store but said
that the orders are taken from their nav
m II ms ltSt lincny yesterday, as reported in
he star. Mi Daggett denied that tbe ~
ders have ever been taken ONT of H. -,
pay and also stated that the firm mas never
lau any trouble in collecting the orders
" m A. Davidson. another Of the FIRMS
inspectors or f0remen, gave testimony sfmi-
!dr 10 mat of Inspector Ladd admitTinp
that IL Is very difficult L. get their me-, -,
properly sprinkle the streets and also al
hitting that he has told thu, men fhat !,
@ou!d De 10 their benefit to deal at the
urn store Some Of the men under him
nave areas of 1u.o'0 square wards ana ot-ar
one man doing 13.U0O yards He has aiII1
toIG ms men not to talk with the District
inspectors about their work Some of his
men, he stated, do fail TO get over their
areas ny Room.
Luther Mckinney one of the firms FORE
men testified In a like manner saving to
Mr. Ross that some Of the men are re-
q4lFed 20 <" over an area Of IUOCp SQUARE
yards or more. and that some of them do
not hnish II by noon. Mr. John 5 IaRowe
the nrnl superintendent and his son one
81 is inspectors also testified in favor of
the contractors, the former saying that the
sure mas been more trouble than II is
worth. and that not one-half of the men
zeal With IL. and none of them are required
70 :" 10 Last winter. he said the store
as a soGSend to the men during the bitter
Medlhsr. and some of them, even when
thSy could do no work. were allowed to run
bills as high as so I'll
10 an inquiry Of Mr.. Daggett Mr. La
N""e SAID that about $3.50 Of bad accounts
ar now on the store books, and that most
OF the men owing the establishment do nor
now work FOR the firm
understood you To say yesterday. Mr.
DaSgett. said Capt CraighiH the acting
ENGINEER Commissioner that Won never
had any difficulty in collecting from the
] FOUND l was mistaken about that cap
tain. replied Mr.. Daggett