Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-07

During the debate in the senate yesterday after
noon on the resolution directing the District Com
missioners to revoke any permits for overhead
electric wires granted by them since the District
appropriation bill became q law, Mr.. Morgan,
referring to the question which had been raised
to the power conferred upon the Commissioners to
grant such permits up to September Is, read from
the District appropriation bill to show that the
prohibitive language was that after thas date no
overhead wires should be "erected or maintained y
He held, as did Mr.. Vest. that the word main.
tained" clearly showed the intention OF Congress
to prohibit overhead wires after that date.
that it was not intended prohibit the maintain
ance OF wires permitted by the Commissioners
Mr.. Plumb explained that while the phraseolopy
was, perhaps, not what ought to have been
adopted 1t was clearly not the purpose OF the
conrerees to forbid, after September Is the main-
missioners He presumed 1t was intended to apply
TO wires erected without the authority OF the Com
mtSs1OnerS.
TIE DISTRICT coMNITTHE cRIrIcIzRp.
Mr. Vest contended that the District committee
had not been authorized TO conduct an investiga-
tion. He said q resolution instructing the COM
mittee to require the Commissioners to revoke any
permit granted for overhead wires was referred TO
them, and upon that they entered into an inves-
are either interested In the lexington road or In
the Thomson-Houston Company.
Mr.. Harris replied that after the resolution was
referred Mr.. HOar presented q petition from the
Thomson-Houston Company asking for hearing;
that IL was referred to the COMMITTEES, and under
all precedents that meant that hearing was to
be had.
Mr.. Vest replied that the committee was In
structed TO do certain thing and it had done just
Mr.. Chace asked what use there was in referring
the resolution unless the judgment OF the COM
mittee was wanted?
the resolution, generally knows what he wants
and what he Is doing.
ARE OVERHEAD WIRES DANGEROUS?
Mr.. Vest contended that overhead elect ric wires
are dangerous to human life, and be had read ac-
counts of deaths produced by such wires He
vent the erection OF overhead electric wires that
the preservation OF human Life should weigh
above the interests OF corporations, above the
from the Bentley-Knight Company, OF New York,
demonstrating that underground electric wires
for motive powers are,in successful operation, and
in his own home, Kansas City, underground wires
In condutts are in successful operation. With
regard to the underground electric railway In
city 70 Vs eSe saS 4Ssf Delore
Of being only mile long, as stated, that road Is
miles long, miles OF which are In the city and
Vest made an estimate that the lexington road
could be constructed and put In condition for
operation with ths undergr9uMno nc system at cost
horsecars ana the outrageous rails unsightly cob
blestone pavements &C., done away win, but he
thought Congress had better defer action until it
can procure some better system than that now
proposed.
NR. HARRIS vHwR
Mr.. Harris said that he regarded the resolution
of instruction, which was adopted, as humiliating
It put Congress in the attitude Of appealing to
executive oficers TO do something which Congress
had absolute power to command. After mature
deuberatton the District committee with entire
unanimity, had reported the pending resolution
adversely, but together with It had reported 4
joint resolution dealing with the entire subject OF
overhead w1reA The remarks OF Senator Vest he
said would be more appropriate upon the toint
resolution. which win soon come up Ior considera-
difference between the several electrical-mottye
power systemA
DuTERENcE IN COST.
He said the difference In the cost OF underground
and overhead wires was not the only considerS.
ton: that with electric wires designed for other
purposes where they need be open or exposed, say
only At the Two enos OF Q conduit-one end where
erted-there need not be any great difficulty In
burytng them. But In propelling cara &c is neceo-
sary that the power shall be exerted tnrough o
slot, where conduit is used extending the entire
wires, II destroys the power. Mr. HafTis remarks
hour.
senator Jones' Of Arkansas, on whose motion the
mead wires for telepnone telegraph, ana electr1c-
lighting purposes 0y the LIST OF next July, was
recommitted 70 the District committees. says the
planned that he nsd not been gwen any hearing.
and added that he had facts he Vas anxious q
submit In order that further testimony might
be taken III. Jones had The resolution recon-
mitte6