Evening star., 1918-07-31
HACKER I0D|REcT
! REFUSED|SPOSAL
Takes Position When Chief Of
Street Cleaning Work Ac-
eepts Post Elsewhere.

Norris " Hacker. inspector Of the
District and secretary Of the board Of
appesis for the draft. tomorrow will
become supervisor Of refuse disposal
Of ths District. new position created
by ths Commissioners which will pay
$1,000 year.
He SUCCEEDS J. W. Paxton, super
intendent Of the District street clean
ing department, who has resigned to
accept an important position with an
engineering firm in Philadelphia.
J. P. Healey. principal assistant in
spector. will take Mr.. Hackers place
at the head Of the building inspection
office.
The appointments are temporary,
Mr.. Paxton's resignation came unex-
pectediy. and the Commissioners ask
ed Mr.. Hacker to take over the work
at once. The building inspector is un-
derstood to have accepted the appoint
ment with reluctance, but deferred to
the Commissioners wishes.
An Important Problem.
: AS the District has recently taken
over the garbage collection and die
posal contract. and there Is an acute
labor shortage, efficient administra-
tion Of the street cleaning department
problems facing the Commissioner.
Whether Mr. Hacker will continue
permanently at the head of the ONCE
VIII depend upon developments, but
principally upon his own wishes In the
matter, it was explained.
The position now pays $1,000 per
annum. Because Of the taking over
Of the garbage contract the Commis-
sioners have decided to change the
title of the position to that of SUI
pervisor Of refuse disposal and In
crease the compensation to $4,000. q
year. The increase will be paid out
OF funds for expert services, carried
In the refuse disposal appropriation.
Mr. Hacker will retain his connection
with the District draft board. at least
for the present.
One of the first difficulties that will
confront him iI> his new work will be
shortage OF lSbor. which IL interfer-
Ing seriously with refuse collection
and disposal. Assistance Of the bu-
reau Of labor in overcoming this
shortage has been requested.
Efficiency Recognized.
Mr. Hacker is regarded as one of
the most efficient engineers in the
District service. He was appointed an
assistant engineer in the engineer de-
partment- July II. 1898. June 3, 1901,
he was made superintendent Of county
roads. In 1907 he-seyered his connec-
tion with the local government, but
returned two years later to become in
spector of buildings. He has held
that position since July /. 1903.
The Commissioners expressed re-
gret at losing the services of Mr..
Paxton, also an engineer of recog-
ntxed ability. He had been ut the
head Of the street cleaning depart
mant sincs February ], 1911.
+ Mr.. Paxton directed the taking over
by the District OF all garbage coliec-
tfon and disposal at the beginning of
the present fiscal year, when the con-
tract OF the Washington Fertilizer
Company for this work expired.
He left Monday for Philadelphia,
where his future work, 1t fs under
stood. will be Of q much better com-
pensatory character. with greater op-
pcrtunities.
The new building inspector, Mr..
Healey,. Il. another engineer Of long
service in the District He went into
the once of the building inspector as
an assistant inspector November 2.
1900, and has received many promo
tions. His present position Of princf-
pal assistant he has filled since July
1, 1910.