The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-21

w. c. Severn. of 20 First Street north
east, has sent a Communication to the
Commissioners, in which he complains Of
the failure of the employees of the con-
tractor to collect ashes from barrels and
asks for q ruling as to whether the driY-
ers can be required to remove ashes from
barrels. MI Severn says it would seem
from the methods employed by his en-
pIoyes that the sole object of the con
tractor is to so disgust householders with
their lack of attention, insolence, and
poor service that the latter would prefer
to pay for the removal of ashes, and al
low the contractor to draw pay for ser
vices his employees do not perform
Mr. Severn states that he complained
once in the Office Of the Superintend mt of
Street Cleaning, and that the latter caused
the driver of wagon No. 19 to do his work
properly for a few days, when it ended
He tells the Commissioners that he went
once more to the Office OF the Superintend-
ent Of Street Cleaning and was told by one
Of the men in the office that ashes 10 De
collected must be put in metallic recepta-
cles He states that he was also informed
that there VAS no objection to MS going
moved by private parties. But Mr.. Severn
hesitated to dc that when a contractor IL
paid by the District for the service OF re-
moving the ashes
The Commissioners are informed that
during the first month under the new con-
tract system no service whatever was
rendered in Mr.. Severn's nelghoorn0od,
and he declares that the service is row
avoided whenever possible. Mr. Severn IS
in doubt whether the service is leased out
on sanitary grounds or is intended 10
promote the public safety from fire, or
whether it is done in the interests OF
uniformity and cleanliness, but ne IN
sists that if it is done at all 1t ought 70
be well done
Mr.. Severn explains that ne mas a
steam safety boiler and q kitchen range
which combined yield about three or four
twenty-gaIIon cans Of ashes each week,
and he asks whether If he is TO receive
attention. he must purchase that number
of cans He says that the men who nan
die them are not at all careful IN DONG
So and he fears that the life OF an ash
can would be very brief
IN closing his letter Mr.. Severn asks Tor
4 ruling on the point of the obligation OF
the collector 10 tshe Up ashes deposited
IN barrels.
Warner StutIer- the superintendent Of
Street Cleaning, IN reporting upon Mr,
SeveTn's complaint, states that the regu-
lations as well-ss the contract for collect
ing ashes provide that the householder, IN
order to receive the service, must place
ashes in metal receptacles that can be
lifted by one man capacity of said recep-
tacIe not to exceed twenty gallons Mr.
-StutIer further states that from the re-
port of his inspector as we'll as that of the
contractor it is evident that the collec-
lions have been regular, and that all ma
terial placed in proper receptacles has
been removed Under the conditions OF
/ the contract Mr.. Stutler says, I'VE can
not force the contractor to collect ashes
from barrels or boxes. as il is shown was
done on one occasion il the report of the
inspector
Commissioner Ross has approved the re-
port OF Mr.. StutIer with the recommended
ton to his associates that the complain
ant be Informed in accordance herewith
P. D. Vinson, the contractor who is con-
structing the sewer beginning at Twen-
tieth and L Streets southeast, has re-
guested an order from the Commissioners
detailing police officer for duty at the
place OF construction. to warn people
away and thus avoid danger The Com
missioners are Informed that 1t is nee
essary to keep teams and wagons of the
street for the distance of & block. and
that this cannot be done without the pres
ence Of a man with the authority OF the
law
The Superintendent of Police in report
ing upon the application, says that an off,
Ger whose health has been poor mas been
detailed for duty along the sewer in
course OF construction, but the SupeTin-
tendent states that as soon as his health
improves it viii be necessary = recall
him for service elsewhere, as the de-
ulands upon the force at this time of the
year requires that every man shall he
ready for duty Major Sylvester suggests
that the contractors have one or two men
commissioned as additional privates and
that they be provided with police badges
which would enable them to accomplish
the ends sought.