Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-18
EXTENSION OF SERVICE
BUSINESS MEN WANT ASHES AND
REFUSE COLLECTED.
Hearing Before the Commissioners To-
day, When Arguments Are Ad-
vanced-Legislation Required.

Several business representatives and local
hotel keepers appeared before the Commits
sioners at a public hearing this morning
and advocated the extension Of the ash and
refuse collections In the District to hotels,
large business houses, apartment houses,
etc, which are not now given the benefit
of the city's collections. There are two
congressional acts regarding this matter
one providing that the Commissioners may
enter into contracts for removing ashes
from hotels, business houses, etc, and the
other limiting the Commissioners to ex-
tending the service only to private dwell
ings and apartments not exceeding four
families in size.
Conrad Syme, as representative for the
Hotel Mems Association, in his appeal to
the Commissioners for this extension of
service, admitted that his clients want this
privilege from purely selfish motive, but
declared they are deserving OF considera-
ton, and he suggested that the Commits
sioners take advantage of the wording OF
the first act and enter into the contracts,
and that Congress would be compelled to
honor 1t and furnish the necessary money
to lidudate the expense incurred by the ex-
tension. He declared that the Commission
ers, by the terms of the first act mentioned,
have congressional direction to extend this
service, and should do it at once.
Mr.. West Explains.
Mr.. Syme was Interrupted at this pofnt
by Commissioner West, who explained that
the Commissioners are perfectly familiar
with the terms of both of the acts, mas
much one was framed by them. and it
would not be becoming on the part of the
Commissioners to do anything after Con-
gress had deliberately pointed out that they
should limit the collections to private
houses and should not extend the service to
hotels and other large business places. He
1l,~ L. s,,%~ Sc 10
Commissioners to entrap Congress and en-
ter into contract for which no appropria-
ton has been specifically made. He
stated that Congress is especially opposed
to extending this collection at the present
time.
Commissioner West added that the Com
miSSionerS are now and have been anxious
to extend this service to hotels and bust
ness houses, and would be glad to do any
thing which would bring about the neces-
sary legislation and appropriation to make
the extension possible. Commissioner Mac
farland. who presided at the hearing. said
the Commissioners have anticipated this ex
tension for some time. and have done much
toward its success. but, according to the
present condition of affairs, 1t is up to the
business men and hotel and apartment
house owners and managers to obtain the
necessary legislation, and assured his audi
tors that anything they did in this respect
would have the hearty approval and CO.
operation of the Board of Commissioners.
meant the laying out of no small sum OF
money. At first it thought the extern
sion of the ash service would not cost the |
District more than $4,000 a year. but he
has beben informed that it will cost at least |
$4,000.
Mr.. Lancaster's View.
c. c. Lancaster made an address before |
the board In advocacy of this proposed ex-
tension. He said he represented a large
number of prominent business men and |
that they are particularly anxious that the
Commissioners pave the way for them
to benefit by the collecting of ashes and
refuse at the municipalities expense, such
as is provided in one of the acts previously
mentioned. and for which there is no pro-
vision for an appropriation to carry it out.
Mr. Lancaster said he agreed with Mr..
West that the Commissioners should not
entrap Congress through the wording of
the first act, but suggested that the Com
misSioners advertise for bids to do this
work at once. and then send the name and
price of the lowest responsible bidder to
Congress as an accurate estimate Of what
the extension will cost. BY doing this he
said there would be more chance for the
much desired legislation.
In connection with this hearing for the
extension of the ash service the Commits
sioners received a communication this
morning from w. ]. Hicks of 1917 33d street
northwest in which he declared that the
Commissioners should not think of ex-
tending the ash service until they have
bettered the present service. Mr.. Hicks
stated that the ashes have been removed
from his premises but once in four months
This complaint is being Investigated by the
superintendent of street cleaning.