Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-14
Mr.. .STUTLERACCUSED
Charges Preferred Against
Street Superintendent.
TO BE PUBLIC HEARING
MALADMINISTRAT SAID TO
BE THE ACCUSATION.
A Former Contractor for Machine
Street Sweeping is Author of Charge
Presented to the Commissioners.

the District Commissioners by Royal Rob-
inson. a former contractor for machine
sweeping in the District. The charges also
imply that there is coliusion between Mr.
Stutler and H. V. Rusk, the present con-
tractor for machine sweeping. In fact, 1t
is insinuated in the charges that Mr.. Slut
ler is interested with Mr.. Rusk in the street
sweeping contract
The Commissioners today ordered that
hearing on the charges be held Monday,
July 25. The hearing will be public, and
opportunity will be given Mr.. Robinson to
substantiate his written charges, and Mr..
Stutler will be given like opportunity to
refute them.
The reason for the delay In the investi-
cation Is that Commissioner Biddle Is now
absent from the city and will not return
until the latter part of next week, and that
besides time should be gwen MIR. Stutler 10
sift and prepare his answers to the charges.
1t Is considered necessary that all the Com
missioners be present at the investigation
into the charges.
At First Verbal Charges.
Mr. Robinson made verbal charges
against Mr.. Stutler to Commissioner West
several weeks ago. He was requested TO
put his charges in writing and submit them
to the Commissioners. Mr.. Robinson did as
requested and presented the charges to
Commissioner West during Mr.. Suffers
absence from the city ON vacation, about
two weeks ago.
When Mr. Stutler returned Mr.. West
referred the charges of MIR. Robinson
to that official with request for written
report Mr.. Stutler. 1t Ia stated, after re-
viewing the papers, requested the Commls-
sioners to make thorough investiga ton.
The charges preferred by Mr.. Robinson
cover about eight typewriter sheets. When
Commissioner West was approached by
reporter for The Star this morning with
reference to the matter, he admitted that
Mr. Robinson. had preferred charges OF
maladminstratiOn against superintendent
Stutier He declined, however, to permit
said that they would not be made public
until the day of the hearing.
The Former Contractors.
Mr. Royal Robinson is asnember of the
firm of Lilly & Robinson. who for four
years prior to July /, 1903, held the con-
tract for machine street sweeping in the
District. Messrs. Lilly & Robinson. both
came here from Indianapolis. In July. 1893,
the contract for machine sweeping was
awarded by the Commissioners to Mr.. III.
V. Rusk for period of three years from
that date Mr.. Rusk purchased the teams,
wagons and machines used by the former
contractors from Lilly G. Robinson, since
which time the latter firm has not been In
business, although the partnership Is still
MIR. Robinson was seen by a reporter for
The Star at his residence, 1852 Yale street
northwest, shortly after noon today He
admitted that he had filed charges against
Mr.. Stutler, but declined, out of courtesy
to the Commissioners. to discuss them.
While both Commissioner West and Mr..
Robinson decline to give out the exact
charges to the public, yet 1T is understood
that the general charge of maladminis-
tration Is made against Mr.. Stutler, and
also that several incidents are recited in
the charges which are calculated to show
that Superintendent Stutler is interested
in the contract now held by Mr.. Rush.
Mr.. Robinson has also furnished Commits
sioner West with list of witnesses by
whom he expects to substantiate his
charges against Superintendent Stutler.
Statement by Mr.. Stutler.
When asked for statement relative to
the charges preferred against him, Mr..
stutler said to a reporter for The Star:
Mr.. Robinson was one of the bidders in
June, 1903, for the machine sweeping con-
tract. He was not successful in his bid.
The charges against me were filed by Mr..
Robinson during my absence from the city,
and uron my return to Washington Com
missioner West called my attention to the
charges and asked me for written report
on them.
After considering the charges instead
of making a written report to the Commits
s1oners, l asked Mr.. Wvs.s,o have Mr.. Rob-
1nson confront me before the Commissions
ers with his witnesses where and when the
matter could be thoroughly investigated At
that nearing 1t can be shown whether or not
there is any foundation for the charges.
without entering into detailed denial
OF the charges preferred by Mr.. Robinson,
wish to state that deny every specific
ana Implied charge made by him. have
not the slightest fear that can prove every
specific and implied charge against me to
be absolutely without foundation
Commissioners Refuse to Talk.
Since the Commissioners are to sit In
Judgment in the matter. they decline to
make any statements regarding the case
at this time.
AS previously stated, Lnly & Robinson
helo the contract for machine sweeping in
the District for four years prior to July l.
1903. During the fiscal year ended June 80
19OO. Lilly & Robinson were awarded the
machine sweeping contract at the rate of
ID cents per thousand square yards.
The following July this firm was awarded
the contract for period of three years
at the rate of Is cents per thousand square
yards.
In June, 1903, it is learned there were
but two bidders for the machine sweeping
contract, Lilly & Robinson and H. v. Rusk.
Bios were asked on sweeping for terms of
one, two and three years. Lilly q Robinson
bid 70 cents per 1,00O square yards for one
year; 2O1a cents for two years, and 21 cents
for three years. Mr. Rusk bid only on the
three-year period, his bid being 18 1916
cents per 1000 square yards. The contract |
was awarded to Mr.. Rusk in July, 1903.
Mr.. Suffers Term Of Service.
Mr.. Stutler has been superintendent of
street cleaning in the District for the past
seven years. He came to Washington from
his home in West Union, w. Va, In 1880 to
accept position as clerk in the census |
office. Mr.. stutler entered the servine of
the street cleaning department in 1893, and |
In 1884 was made inspector In the de- |
partment He served In this capacity until
about the middle of 1895, when he was APP
pointed assistant superintendent and chief |
clerk of the department |
In 1897 ne was appointed to the position
or superintendent OF the department, sue
ceeding Major McKinxy
When Mr. Stutler became superintendent
OF street cleaning the salary of that Office
was but $I.S00 a year. During his incum-
Dency. upon the Recommendation OF the
been increased to $500 year.