The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-24

REFUSE.PLANT
IND.C.COURTS
N. E. Citizens Say Contract Was
Let in Violation of Organic
Law of District.
By BILL PRICE.

Inc Dl6lElCL commissioners ia z
before them a mighty difficult legal
and civil problem in the strong pro-
test made by citizens of the north
east against the location on West Nir-
GINA avenue OF a plant for disposal
of miscellaneous refuse collected in
the District.
The legal aspect involves the claim
that the Commissioners gave the per-
nit for location in contravention of
existing regulations of the municipal
government; in violation of pro-
visions of the organic act that con-
tract involving more than $4,000 should
be properly advertised, and without
requiring the contractors to submit
as the contract calls for, all their
plans for disposal.
A further legal complication is the
fact that the permit has been granted
and that the contractors have spent
considerable money in getting ready
TO carry out the contract. UndOUbt-
eddy the Commissioners have the
right to revoke the permit but the
District will be liable to claims by
the contractors.
Contractors Face Litigation.
The contractors also are facing
sure legal trouble in the event the
commissioners should stand pat and
let the work go on. An organization
OF citizens interested has been formed
the purpose of which will be to pro-
coed legally at every opportunity
against the refuse contractors or
whenever District regulations are
violated. They will be harrassed in
other ways, according to hints thrown
out at the hearing yesterday. Repre-
sentative citizens of Ivy City said no
residents of that locality would ac-
cept employment with the contrac-
tors. The proposed plant is a greater
menace TO this community than to
any other.
Chauncey l. witherod, president Of
the Ivy City Citizens Association,
made a strong appeal to the Commits
sioners to CO justice to his people, who
are among the most industrious and
thrifty Of the coIored population,
nearly all Of them owning their homes.
He said these homes would not COM
pare with the splendid homes Of white
citizens in the northwest, but they
were, nevertheless. the homes Of peo-
pie OF good character and with aspira-
tions for the future OF their race.
On Proposed Park Site.
Evan H. Tucker, veteran president
of the Northeast Washington Citizens
Association, declared in strong terms
that the proposition to locate there
was beyond Fesson, ridiculous. He said
the location is in the heart OF the re-
gion agreed upon by the Fine Arts
Commission for one of a chain OF
parks for Washington.
Considerable resentment was mani
Tested today among people Of the
northeast and southeast sections OF
the District that Objectionable con-
Germs like this refuse plant have in
the past been placed among them.
They do not wish to see these things
placed near the property of any citi-
zen anywhere, but do point out that
an attempt to put a plant like this
in the northwest section would raise
a storm, the like OF which was never
known in Washington. They feel that
all sections OF the District should be
included in the idea Of a beautiful
and cleanly Washington.
That the citizens of the northeast
have raised objections that are prac-
tically insurmoUntabIe is felt today
by all who attended the hearing. Many
OF those present pointed out to the
Commissioners that il is better for
the contractor TO lose little money
or for the District to lose a few dol
lars than to have the property ami
civil rights Of thousands Of people in
fringed upon and injured.
Several property holders. one a
widow, declared that the location OF
the plant would mean ruin to her
property, which represents as much
TO her as the dollars of the contractor
or those OF the District
OeeOquan IL Suggested.
It seemed practically impossible to-
day that the Commissioners could
take any other course than to revoke
the permit and make good with the
contractors in some way. a dis
posaI plant Of this kind should go to
= remote section out OF the city, where
II was located recently. OcCOquan
could be utilized for such work as
this.
Congress easily can remedy the sit
uation. 1t is recalled that some years
ago the District Commissioners made
a contract for the establishment Of
public comfort station near DUPONT
circle, in the heart of the northwest
residence section. The contractor had
more than haIf-hnished his work when
Senator Tillman had placed in a Dis
trict appropriation bill an item can
ceiling the contract and providing pay
ment to the contractor for his losses.
II Congress regarded a public com
fort station around DUPONT circle as
= prospective nuisanse il will have
no difficulty in concluding that
dump and incineration plant for the
worst sort Of miscellaneous refuse
has no place close to a residential
Congress could then, upon advice OF
the Commissioners, make suitable
provision for a location at OccoqUan
CT elsewhere outside the District.
aErerz blade Of Erass IL q studxI