The Evening Critic

THE STREET-SWEEPING CONTRACT
Trouble and Litigation Likely to
Grow Out of It.

Local official circles have been agitated for some days past over the recent award of the contract for cleaning the streets for the next three years to Colonel L. P. Wright at 29½ cents per thousand square yards, while I. S. Filbert had bid to carry out the contract, with the apparatus now used by Major H. L. Cranford, at 28¾ cents per thousand square yards. The award was thus made to a bidder nearly one cent higher per thousand feet, making upward of $1,000 difference per year.

The quiet dissatisfaction among the interested parties found voice yesterday evening in the following letter to the Commissioners:

WASHINGTON, D. C., May 31, 1883.
To the Commissioners, District of Columbia:
GENTLEMEN: Mr. Isaac S. Filbert, who is a client of mine, has stated to me the circumstances connected with the rejection by the Commissioners of his proposal for sprinkling and sweeping the streets of the city of Washington, submitted by him May 28, 1883, in accordance with the public invitation for such proposals, and desires my professional assistance in the matter.

He complains that, being the lowest bidder, and being entirely responsible, he is entitled to the award of the contract under the provisions of the fifth section of the act of Congress approved June 11, 1878. I have to ask, in his behalf, that you will designate some hour when it will be convenient for the Commissioners to give me an interview on the subject, and also that, meanwhile, no steps be taken to consummate a contract in the matter with any other person. Very respectfully,
ENOCH TOTTEN.

To-day, at 1:30 p. m., was set for the discussion.

The parties interested on both sides of the question are equally positive and firm-the authorities in upholding and the friends of the lowest bidder in opposing the award which has been made, and a long controversy may be expected, probably terminating in the courts.

Major Cranford, last evening, stated that while he had no interest in the matter further than that his machines would be sold to Filbert, if he was successful, he was very deeply interested in seeing justice done and the contract awarded to the man to whom it legally belonged. There was no substantial reason for throwing out the lowest bid, as the bondsmen were good and everything satisfactory, and the work could be done as well with his machines as with those of Mr. Wright which were previously tried.

Judge Edmonds, when seen by a reporter, claimed that the action of the Commissioners had been after very careful consideration and was based upon the best interests of the community. The Wright & Cranford machines, he felt assured, were by no means equal, the former being much more thorough and satisfactory in their work, and while it was proper enough to award the contract to the bidder with the inferior machines when there was $15,000 difference in the bids, now that the difference was insignificant the Commissioners had decided that the difference in the cost should not stand in the way of having the work well performed.

The consultation between the Commissioners and Colonel Totten took place at the appointed hour this afternoon, and the subject was argued at considerable length.

Colonel Totten claimed that the Commissioners were bound by the statute to award the contract to the lowest bidder, and the Commissioners based their action upon the complaints against the present system, and claimed their right to reject any bid and serve the best interests of the District by getting the best service.

The Commissioners at a late hour this afternoon announced that after hearing the appeal from the award which they had made of the street cleaning contract, they had decided to adhere to their decision and award the contract to Wright. This action is final.