Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-13

The action OF the Commissioners In authorizing
he overhead system OF electric street railway on
New York avenue In spite OF previous Official rep
resentations the subject OF precisely opposite
tendency, Is OF special importance in that IL may
be viewed as constituting a precedent for similar
action In respect TO all other lines which are
authorized by legislation TO use electricity as a
motor. The lexington and soldiers Home
railway will be largely suburban, and
It was on suburban lines and on
them alone that Capt Griffin, when thinking
disnterestedly for the people Of the District, de-
cared the overhead electric system might properly
be tested The ugly feature or the present case is
however, that the railway occupies city streets
Wen as suburban roads, and that the decision OF
the Commissioners In respect 10 the occupation OF
these streets by new poles and wires is based upon
grounds which Will place the whole city at the
mercy OF the railway companies desiring to the
overhead electric system and authorized TO cleo
treity II the provision In this railways act OF in
corporation declarngit lawful Tor the corporation
with the approval OF the Commissioners "to make
all needful and convenient trenches and excava-
lions In any OF said streets .. and
place In such trenches and excavations all need
ful and convenient devices and machinery for op-
Grating said railroad" does not authorize an open
ing OF the designated streets for the purpose OF
laying conduits for electric conductors it will be
difficult to discover any words which will convey
III
annul an act Of Congress to require a road, which
Is authorized 10 use horse, cable or cleo
trio power under q certain supervision
by the Commissioners, to exercise its
option OF employing electric power in such
manner as not to contribute 10 the pole-and-wire
nuisance, then any exercise OF the discretion con-
nded 10 the Commissioners will annul such legisla-
ton The railway could. under its act OF incor-
porstion, use horses, cable, storage batteries un
derground electric conductors, the overhead
electric system, with the approval of the Com
mssioners; yet IL Is claimed that the legislation
would be annulled II the Commissioners should
IN pursuance OF the discretion granted them re-
fuse to assent to out OF the i've forms OF motor
and that one the most Objectionable OF all TO the
people, and. hitherto, to the Commissioners
themselves II any part OF the railway legis-
lsIiOn Is being annulled it would seem
70 be that part which attempts to give the Com
misSioners discretion TO be exercised for the pro-
lection or the public. 1t had been supposed By
by those who favor the burial OF the overhead
wires and the adoption by the street railways of
various modern inventions for the convenience
and comfort OF the public, that II regulation of
these matters were gwen TO the Commissioners
the desired ends would be accomplished as well as
II specifically required by legislation. But II the
presumably settled policy OF the District govern
nent against overhead wires does not suffice TO
prevent the Commissioners from adding new va
nety 70 the existing network It viii clearly be
necessary TO ask from Congress specific provisions
for the public protection In such legislation in
stead OF general provision placing the interests
or the city In the discretion Of officials who not
outstanding the expectations based upon pre-
VioQs utterances, may cnange their minds.