Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-15
Superintendent May Be Rep
resented by Attorneys.
WITNESSES UNDEROATH
COMMISSIONERS HAVE AUTHOR
ITY TO so INVESTIGATE.
Anticipated That Hearing Will Con-
sumo Several Days-Policy OF
District Doing the Work.

IT is understood that Warner Stutler.
superintendent of street cleaning. who has
been charged by Royal Robinson. for
mer street sweeping contractor. with NAL
administration in office as reported In The
Star yesterday will be represented by At
torneys Cole and Donaldson at the hear
ing on the charges to be held before the
District commissioners beginning Monday.
July -. 1t is not definitely known at this
time whether Mr.. Suffers attorneys will
take part in the examination of witnesses,
and that matter will probably not be de-
termned until after the hearing begins.
1t Is anticipated that the hearing will con-
sumo several days.
Superintendent Stutler has made an ur-
gent request that all witnesses testifying
before the Commissioners at the hearing
shall be placed upon their oath. The Com
missioners stated today that this procedure
will be adopted Corporation Counsel A. h.
Duval will probably be present at the
hearing In the capacity of legal adviser TO
the Commissioners.
Mr.. Suffers Statement.
Mr. Stutler said to a reporter for The
Star today. in speaking concerning the pro-
posed hearing:
II am really glad to know that thor
ough investigation of the street cleaning
department is to be made. for l am con-
fident that 1t will result in setting the
mind of the public at rest concerning the
insinuation and yelled charges OF mlscon-
duct of affairs that have been made against
the department for several years by vari-
parties.
From the nature of its work the de-
partment is not particularly popular with
the public. and my policy to have the DIS
trict do all of It's street cleaning itself
has not been received with great joy among
the contractors who might otherwise get
the work at good profit. The ,investiga-
ton will reveal whether or not there Is any
foundation for the implied charges and In
situations made against the department
and against me its official head
The Commissioners. 1t Is pointed out have
authority to summon witnesses and place
them upon their oath in any examination
or investigation of any municipal matter
This authority was granted to the Commits
sioners by Congress in 1902. when clause
to that effect was inserted in the District
appropriation act for that year. The au-
thority to administer Oaths and summon
witnesses given the Commissioners In
connection with the investigation of the
affairs at the Washington Asylum. which
was proposed at that time.
The investigation into the affairs OF that
institution. however. was later conducted
by the board of charities. which was al
ready empowered to administer oaths and
summon witnesses. instead of by the Com
missioners. The only investigation In which
the Commissioners have exercised the au-
thority given to witnesses was in
the case of the late school board inveStiga-
ton
1t Is stated that a number of inspectors
and employees In the street cleaning de-
partment will be subpoenaed to appear be-
fore the Commissioners and TESTIFY at the
hearing.
Form of Subpoenae.
The form of subpoenae to be used by the
in this WILL he fol-
lows:
Form Of Subpoena.
In re the examination and investigation Of
charges against -
The Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia to --, Greeting:
BY virtue OF the authority conferred upon
the Commissioners of the District of CO.
iumbia by the act of Congress approved
July 1, 1902,
You are hereby commanded to appear in
your own proper person before the COM
InissiOners of the District of Columbia at
their board room. in the District building.
No 464 Louisiana avenue in the city of
Washington. District of Columbia. on -.
the - day of -, 1904. at - O'Clock. to
testify the truth touching the above mu-
nicipal matter. now under investigation and
examinat ton by the said Commissioners,
and not depart said board room without
leave.
Hereof fall not under the penalty OF the
law.
witness: Henry b. F. Mcfarland. pres-
dent of the board of Commissioners of the
District of Columbia. this - day of -,
A. ID. 1904.
Advocated District Doing the Work.
During his service superintendent of
street cleaning Mr.. Stutrer has been Wig
orrus advocate of abolishing the practice
of having the machine street sweeping done
Ey contract with outside parties. he mas
been in favor of having the work Lore en-
tirely by the District. the same as the
j.. nd-sweeping IL now done. In his annual
reports for the past few years Mr. Stut!ef
has repeatedly recommended this PROPOSE
ten. maintaining that the District car do
it's own street cleaning cheaper than by
hiring outside contractors to do the work.
The system OF rand cleaning was adopt
ed in Washington July !. 1897 The daily
area cleaned during the first year. accord
ing to official reports. was @12S square
yards. at contract rate of ~ cents per
1.oO square yards The second year the
daily Misunderstanding schedule was Increased
from :}94 l2S to TO2G4O square yards. or
which :OS.5l2 square yards was cleaned d.
rectly by the District at an average cost of
IL cents per 1000 square yards. as against
81 cents per 900 square yards paid TO the
contractor.
During the fiscal year 1900. 1.2%a..1S
square yards of pavement were cleaned
daily at the rate OF III. cents per 1000
square yards. Last year the ave;aGe daily
area cleaned by hand was about 2H0sU
square yards. at the rate of IA cents per
1000 square yards. All the Misunderstanding
1. now done by the District direct. Last
year the District by doing its own hand
cleaning saved SD.OOo. these figures based
on the lowest contract rate ever obtained
for that class of cleaning. During the past
five years the District has saved approx
mately So 900 by doing its own hanl-clean-
Ing outside of contract. These htureS are
Il ind in the annual reports of the depart
ant nd he "A n .
administration of the department by Mr..
Stutler who has advocated the proposition
that the District do all of its street cleaning
itself
Sheehan Calls on Judge Parker.
ESOPUS. n. Y. July 15.-William
F. Sheehan accompanied by a stenog-