Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-10
FOR IAM OF FUNDS
STREET CLEANING FORCE oBLIo-
ED TO cuarA11 WORK.
Sweeping to Be Done Hereafter Every
Other Day-Appropriation
Was insufficient.

No street cleaningywork Is in progress In
all the District Of Columbia today. Not
only have the regular white wings in the
employ Of the District, and engaged in hand
sweeping been laid off. but the contractors
in charge Of the machine cleaning have
also been notified to suspend The state Of
the current appropriation for sweeping the
streets makes this action on the part Of
the Commissioners necessary. Last year q
deficiency appropriation was made to pro-
vide against the discontinuance Of the
cleaning work. This year the appropriation
was supplemented by a clause which pro-
hibited the making of a deficiency.
The appropriation is now insufficient to
last the fiscal year out Work will have to
be suspended no less than thirty-five days
between now and June 30. 1t was decided
by the Commissioners that 1t would be bet
ter to stop work every other day during
February and March rather than to walt
and suspend work over long period during
the warm weather Of the spring or early
summer. Superintendent Stutler Of the
street cleaning recommended that clean
ing be done on alternate days Of the week
at the present time, and the Commissioners
adopted the suggestion. 1t was deemed
only just that all sections Of the District
should suffer alike for lack of street clean
ing, SO all work is stopped at the same
time.
Serious Aspect Of Case.
One of the serious features of the situa-
ton is the reduction Of the income of sew
eral hundred families by one-half The
white WINGS" who have been receiving 50
a week for six days work in the past, are
now receiving but $3.50 week, which
amounts to only $1S a month. The contrac-
tors for machine sweeping are not paid in
lump sum for working all the year. Their
pay is based upon the number Of square
yards cleaned. Thus, with the dwindling
Of the appropriation 1t was necessary to
stop the machine work as WELL The en-
ployes Of the contractors will also lose
three days pay each week. The contrac-
tors are feeling very badly over the situa-
tion as they are compelled to employ a
number of horses and the cost Of the man,
tenance of these goes on whether the work
does or not.
One Of the serio-comic features of the
situation was the arrest last week of one
Of the idle white wings on a charge of
vagrancy. The street sweeper was about
to be sent down for long term for having
no visible means OF support when he was
rescued by an employ Of the street sweep
ing office. There Will be several hundred
Idle men in the city every other day for
some time to come. The street sweeping
officials are hopeful that rain may come to
the aid Of the department. The annual
appropriations for street sweeping are
made by Congress with q view to the CO.
operation Of the elements. During the
| first six months Of the fiscal year the Ell :
| ments aided but little. Usually there Is
snow during the winter and the street
| sweeping men are then employed out Of the
snow and Ice appropriation. which is held
separate and apart from the general funds.
! This year there has been practically no
snow at all. 90"