South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-04-20
GARBAGE CONTRACT
RUNS INTO SNAG
AT COUNCIL MEET
Opposition of Farmers and
Local Citizens Causes Two
Weeks Delay.

Due 20 the opposition Of local
citizens. and farmers OF the vicinity
Of South Bend. together with pros
poets Of a better bid from other
sources the William Goebel ring OF
city councilmen were sidetracked
last night from voting on the adop-
tion of the contract with Conley
Bros, of Kalamazoo, for the dis
posal Of South Bend garbage, back
of which there is said to be an at
tempt TO rifle the city treasury OF
$4,000.
Opponents OF the alleged grab
farced a two weeks adjournment
OF action on the contract. on the
grounds that further investigation
was necessary before a final decision
could be reached.
Consider Contract.
Technically, the only matter un-
der consideration was the contract
by which COnley Bros. would pay
the city 80 cents a ton for all gar
bage delivered at the city incinera-
tor. and Councilman Maurice Ven
nett, president Of the committee of
the whole, saw TO il that there was
little discussion permitted concern
ing the unpopular contract OF the
board Of works with Joseph Hall,
Of Logansport, for collection of gar
bage within the city limits.
T. H. Morris, former member of
the board OF works under the Keller
administration. threw a monkey
wrench into the Goebel machine
when he cited several cities which
in 1916 and 1917, were dispOsing or
their garbage at an actual profit 20
the cities instead of the contractors
Mr. Morris. who represented sew
eral citizens interested in the mat
ter. asserted that the $4,000 which
Mr.. Hall would realize from the 10
cents per capita tax allowed him for
collecting the City's garbage was eX-
cessive.
This statement caused Pres't Ven
nett To call attention TO the fact that
the collection contract was not under
consideration.
Cites Facts.
Mr. Morris asserted that In Den
YER. Colo. a company collected the
garbage for nothi1S. that Worches-
ter. Mass. used their garbage in a
municipal piggery at an average
profit per ton of $6.S5; and that at
colorado Springs. Colo, a company
paid the city for the privilege OF
collecting the garbage.
Mr. Morris. who has made a study
Of the question during and since his
Eerm of office in the board of works.
offered 10 give three or four days or
his time To the council in making
further investigations as 90 how the
city could adopt some plan by which
the 45 cents per capita tax would
he unnecessary. and as 10 the meth
DDS used by the cities who dispose
If garbage without any cost, anc
even at profit
The GOebel councilman faled 10
make any wild rush 10 avail them
selves Of this opportunity TO secure
some expert advice on the question.
Alr. Norris offer of aid was not ac-
cepted
No Collections
The contract with the Coniey
company. if adopted. would prevent
farmers in this vicinity from col
leCting garbage within the city Em-
its and taking il 20 their farms. and
10 IS on this point that some OF the
opposition 20 the Goebel plan is
based
one OF the delegation OF farmers
who attended the meeting last night
told The News-Times that the farm
ers have stocked up their farms
with the idea that they would be
allowed 10 collect garbage as they
have done in the past. and that
adoption OF the Conley-Goebel con-
tract woald be "a serious handicap TO
stock raising
Tells of cost
Mr. Nennett, in attempting 10 JUS
tify 20 The News-Times the ap-
parent high figure name in the pro-
posed Hall contract. pointed out that
the cost Of nine men and four teams
CONTINUED oN PAGE FOUR)