Delaware gazette and state journal., 1900-01-25
CONTROVERSY OVER GARBAGE.

CITY Councilman Fisher Asks the Crsma-
TORY Comneittee why the Contracts We're
Not awarded to the Lowest Binders.
Much of the session Of City Council
Thursday was devoted to a discus
sicp over the recent award OF contracts
for the collection OF gaita9e. Mr.. Fisher
the member from the Sixth ward, asked
the crematory committee some pertinent
questions, but received no reply.
Tho controversy followed the presenta-
tion of the report of the COMMITTEES,
which announced that, having been
given mower to act, it had awarded the
contracts as follows: First DISTRICT
To George G. Slaughter, at ", 400 a
year; Second-Martin 4. Neough,
81, $50; Third-Henry Witsil, SO, l0o;
Fourth Riley & Mccormick, Sl5, 500.
After the report had been read Presi.
dent Alexander announced that IL
would be filed. ,,
Mr. Fisher evidently thought this
was q summary disposition OF the mat.
ter, as he was quickly en- his feet and,
after stating that he thought the
custom was for Council to formally &C.
| cent reports OF committees, asked the
crematory committee why the contracts
had not been awarded to the lowest
bidders; why the bid of one OF the
parties to whom q. contract had peen
awarded had not been read at tine last
meeting when the other bids were read,
and why another person mad been
awarded contract at something ike
| S7O0 less than the figures read at the
meeting when the bids were opened.
He said he believed il the members uf
the committee had work to he done Tor
themselves they would have it done as
oheaply as possible, and he thought
they should be just as careful with
other peoples money. The difference
OF several thousand dollars between the
lowest bids and those OF the persons
receiving the contracts looked to him
like throwing money away.
4 Nobody appeared 10 have any reply to
4 make and President Alexander pro.
ceeded with the regular routine oi
business. This did not suit Mr.. Fisher.
who asked the president why no die
not give the committee time to explain,
to which Mr. AieSanuer replied that u
was getting late and as nobody Rp
peared to be inclined TO say anything
there was nothing to do but proceed
with other business. 1G-
This matter hud scai cely been dis
posed Of when communication ad
! dressed "to whom it may concern" wa
read. 1t was signed by the officers ant
members of the Board of Health anS
, set forth that Andrew j. Travis, one o
the present contractors, who was al
unsuccessful bidder, had doneshis worl
satisfactorily.
! Mr. Monaghan moved that the com
: munication be accepted Mr.. Smitl
: objected, ON the ground that it wa
, not addressed to Council. Mr.. Monagha
] insisted. He explained that Mr.. Travis
t who. is resident of his ward, felt tha
!, an injustice had been done him by th
q committee, an impression having gon
out that bis bid had not been consdere
! because his work had been unsatis
g factory. Mr.. Monaghan thought ths
Q as the committee was creature {
t Council, it was due to Mr.. Travis tina
d Council should retract anything said b
the committee which might reflect uIo
# Mr.. Travis as business man or
Q citizen. Mr.. Fisher agreed with hin
!, Mr.. Smith said the committee ha
: never issued signed statement to thi
It effect and Mr.. Stewart, who is men
y ber Of the committee, said he had new,
n heard anything in committee meetir
rejecting upon MIR. Travis worl
% President Alexander upheld Mr.. Smitl
IS that the communication was not pro-
T. erly before Council, and his rulir
,, closed the incident.
l. Several spectators were in the room
including attaches of the Board
le Health.