Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-15
CUSTER LAW MAY APPLY
. TO Superintendent COIN
Street Cleaning Head Admits Fail
urc to Enforce Ordinance as
to Receptacles.
BURDEN OF EXPENSE ON CITY
Two or Three Men Now Accompany
Each Garbage Cart, While in
Other Cities Driver Alone Empt1es
All Cans Into Cart.


the size OF receptaclcs used by citi-
zens in which to place garbage 10 be
| removed by the Street Cleaning De-
rartment Is not enforced, and has no,
been for many years. the provisions
of the recently enacted custer law
may he called into service to find out
| why the measure is ignored. The
custer law provides for the removal
| from office of any official whose duty
1t Is to enforce :he law ana who fails
| TO do it.
The question was raised yesterday
| by members of the Administrative
Board, after Commissioner Graham Il.
| Hobson had offered a resolution, unan-
imously adopted by the other members,
calling upon Superintendent of Street .
| Cleaning Henry Cohn for report and
| recommendations as to what additional
equipment, If any, is necessary to inn
prove the efficiency of his department.
! This action was the outcome Of iume-
rous complaints lodged by citizens be-
cause the Street-CleaninC Department.
| during the summer months, dies not
collect kitchen waste from residences
| more frequently than twice n week.
| TWO OR THREE MEN NOW
GO WITH EACH CART
| IL the ordinance in question were en-
forced, it was pointed out. there would
| be more men available for garbage col
lection. The ordinance provides that
| citizens must supply themselves with
| garbage containers Of not less than five
! nor more than twenty-four gallons ca
| pacity. Reccptaclcs of this character,
| 1t is said, could be easily handled by
| one man, and would not necessitate
| two and three men for service with one
| cart. With the addition Of more carts
TO the department and the enforcement,
of tho law. this would free more men
and enable the department TO make
| more than twice-a-wcek collections.
When the law was enforced many
years ago offenders brought into po-
| lice Court pleaded poverty. they swore
| that they could not afford TO buy con-
tanners such as the law prescribed In
every case they We're acquitted. With
the nonenfOrcemcnt OF the law citizens
have formed the habit OF using re-
ceptaCleS from shoe box To a tobacco
hogshead In size. The result is that
II is impossible for one man to handle
many of the barrels and boxes used,
and this causes two and three men to
be detailed with each collection cart
CITY MAY PROVIDE
RECEPTACLES FOR INDIGENTS
Commissioner Hobson said that he
repeal the law, and in this he was
supported by Chairman HirschhcrE. 81
would suggest" said the latter. that
the city provide the proper rcccptacles
for citizens who are too poor to buy
them The city requires water and
sewerage connections on all promises,
and in cases where the consumers are
too poor to pay for them, they take n
pauper'S oath and the city pays for
the service. The city can supply suit
able containers for garbage to all per-
sons who cannot afford to buy them
without any great expenditure OF
money" The number of paupers using
water is negligible. 1t is said.
Mr.. Hirschberg added that by this
method the city ordinance could be en-
forced without causing distress among
the poor.
If il is not enforced" said Mr. Hob
son, the custer law can he used with
| effect"
1t is certain that the board will take
| no further steps in the matter until the
| report asked for is received from Su-
| perintendent Cohn.
| AINsLIE WILL. CALL
CONFERENCE on SUBJECT
Mayor Aiuslic is also deeply inter
| eSt"d III III" question Of increasing the
efficiency of the STRENGTHENING he
partm"nt. 81 am anxious" he said
yesterday. ito go carefully into this
matter with the Chief Health Officer.
| members of the Administrative Board
ana MIR. t"hn. and will arrange for
conference with them upon this sub
| j.'t AT an early date"
II Is admitted that under existing
conditions the STRENGTHENING force
| canno; do much more work than is
now being performed There are nu-
mcrous questions which officials re
sponsihlc for the efficiency Of the de
| rartmcnt are anxious To solve. II I; is
round necessary. the Council will he
asked Tor an appropriation to increase
the size Of the department and 10 pro
wa" for additional equipment
In some quarters. ii is maintained
mat tn" removal Of trade waste refuse
from business houses and big office
buildings. should not he incumhc,i,
upon the city. An ordinance 10 com
pei this waste to he removed ut the
expense of individuals was passed
| several years ago by the Colonel. hut
on account of the vigorous protest rails