Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-08
REACHES ACUTE STAGE
WITH STREET
SUPERINTENDENT.

The trouble between Superintendent Std
ham of the District street cleaning depart
ment and Mr.. Leo Simmons over the mat
ter of splitting dirt from wagons on the good
clean streets of the District has reached an
acute stage. Mr.. Simmons is a lawyer and
rot AN excavating contractor" as he has
been described in some quarters. He is
having a foundation dug out on Staughton
street and he has employed an excavating
contractor for the work. 1t is alleged that
of the drivers of one of the teams en-
pioyed by the contractor who Is employed
by MIR. Simmons spilled from the wagon,
or caused to be spilled, or at any rate did
not prevent the splitting of dirt, more or
less on the concrete paving. This Is SAID
to be contrary to law and all the regula-
lions by which the capital city Is governed,
and Superintendent Stdham, whose official
duty it is to see that the streets are not de-
filed with dirt of any character whatsoever,
made objection, and, 1t is alleged, offended
Mr.. Simmons.
so easily, and declared in response that
Mr.. Stidham lacked that one great accom-
plishment-common sense. This last sally
reached Mr.. Stidham today and he replied.
Caustic Language Used.
Over his own signature he says
'fMr. Simmons. by personalities and mis-
representation, is endeavoring to becloud
the real issue. If, as 1 must assume, he
is correctly quoted in his statement that 1
told him 1 would not allow one speck or
dirt to be spilled, and would even insist
upon the horses hoofS being cleaned, either
he is uttering deliberate untruth or he
is the sort of person who will not hear
what is told him when it does not agree
with his prejudices. very clearly stated
to him. not only once but several times,
that dirt dragged out from an excavation
by the wagon wheels or horses hoofS could
not be helped, and that all this department
required in such cases was to have the con-
tractor keep such dirt swept up. I also
told him that my inspector reported that
his driver was arrested for strewing the
street with dirt all the way from the eX-
cavatiOn to the dump, although the fore
man and employees had been warned by
both the police officers and my inspector.
The fact of such warning and of the recall
citrancy displayed by Mr.. Simmons work.
men can, l am told, be easily established
by the testimony of the lieutenant of the
precinct and of two of his officers.
Suggestion Made.
Mr.. Simmons also had patiently ex-
planned to him that all he need do to avoid
trouble was to spend little money in see
Ing that some one brushed off the loose dirt
from around and underneath the bodies of
the wagons before they left the dump or
excavation. Also that what this depart
ment was trying to overcome was the wan
ton Httering of the streets by few at the
expense of the many. Mr. Simmons un-
Goubtedly pays less taxes than the COM
bined hundred or more residents along the
route of his dirt splitting
This department is almost daily in re-
cefpt of complaints from all parts of the
city as to dirt wasting. The practice is
unnecessary; it is an expensive one, to the
taxpayers, and it can and should be rea-
sonably controlled. / mean to do my best
towards such control, and long as we are
upheld by the courts. tas so far has invar-
iably been the case, to continue proSecut-
ing all offenders, with privilege to none.