The Washington herald., 1909-11-05
REFUSE PROVIDES
MEANS OF GRAFT
Drivers of fDistrict ScaYenger
Wagons Are Accused.
THE THEFTS MAY REACH $4,000
SuPt. J. NJ. wood. OF street-CIecninE
Department. Decia1rs Diners oG
Junk Carts Are Selling Their
GIean7ngs 10 Their own PrOht.
Police May Make Arrests.

Supt. James NJ Wood. OF the street.
cleaning department believes drivers OF
District refuse wagons have been reap
ing g rich harvest by a novel system OF
graft for several months
Drivers under suspicion. II is claimed.
have been selling property owned by
their employer. ana can be prosecuted
for embezzlement. According 70 Supt
Wood. drivers have been selling Junk"
TO dealers and appropriating the pro-
ceeds TO their own use. The extent
OF the system has not been ascer-
taind. but II IS believed the drivers have
obtaind hundreds OF dollars.
Superintendent Wood regarded the stu
alton so seriously that he asked the aid
OF the police as soon as he became
cognizant Of the prevailing conditions
and it is likely a number or arrests will
be made unless the alleged Illegal prac-
tice is discontinued.
Isaac T. Brown. Of New York City.
Is under contract to the District govern
ment to collect and dispose Of rubbish
and refuse For this work he receives
$4,000 a year Brown employs about
forty drivers 10 collect refuse and cart
it to a crematory in Bladensburg road.
Here the bulk OF the collections is de-
stroyed. while the valuable junk is as
sorted and kept until sold. The pro-
ceeds from the sale of junk Is said 10
enable Brown to clear profit on the
transaction.
How 1t IL Worked.
According to Wood. the drivers have de-
vlsed and perfected a system whereby
they assert the collections before cart
ing it TO the crematOry Instead Of car
ying the salable junk to the crematory.
they sell il 10 dealers and keep the
money. BY this method the drivers
have obtained a large amount Of money.
which should have been received by
Brown
The denOuement came with a petition
from residents of Northeast WASHINGTON.
The petition contained no mention OF the
unlawfulness of the practice OF the
drivers. 1t complained Of the practice
because It was ''unsightly and insani-
tary,' and explained in detail how the
drivers stopped teams in the street. as
sorted the rubbish. throwing refuse about
the street. and causeing much dirt and
stencil, and sold the junk. carting the re-
naming refuse TO Bladensburg road.
Wood was startled when he read the
petition, and decided a personal investi-
cation was necessary to reach a decision
in the question The official began an
investigation. He learned. he saws. thar
a settlement OF fiOUTishing Junk" shops
in Florida avenue had been established
with the inauguration OF the system. and
that most of the goods was sold in
this thoroughfare Taking a post where
he could see without being seen. he
watched. A refuse wagon was driven
10 spot about 100 yards from a shoD.
and the driver began asserting the rub
bish in the wagon. He collected the
junk and threw il in sacks. the work
consuming nearly an hour. When the
negro had pilfered the most valuable
part of the load, he jumped to the ground.
gave the sacks TO negro who appeared
without notice, and drove away. The
negro who took the sacks from the driver
walked TO the junk shop and disappeared
inside
While Wood watched, the performance
was repeated several times. and when
May Robson. CoIUmbia Thea. To-pI-ht
The Rejuyenation OF Aunt Mary 500
to S.50 O'O