Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-08-16
AT THE CAPITOL TO-DAY.
OVERHEAD WIRES IN THIS CITY.
The Subject Discussed in the Senate.
WhiteDepositors Of Freedmen's Bank
BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE.
The Fortif1cation Bill Passed.

The Fortiacation Bill Passed.
OVERHEAD WIRES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
In the Senate to-day the communication from
the District Commissioners (printed In The STAR
yesterday in relation to permits issued lately for
the erection Of overhead electric wires, was sub
mitted and read.
MR.. EDAUNDs SURPRISED AT THE ACTION OF THE DIS
TRICT COMMISSIONERS.
senator EdmundS expressed his surprise, and
said no doubt all other Senators were equally
pIlsed at the action OF the Commissioners, in the
face OF the declared will OF Congress against over
head w1res that In the very face OF congressional
the commissioners should grant such permit
He said Congress had fixed September Is as
sher,d she cate .s Wnen permits for overhead wires
anticipate that date. The Commissioners had, he
foreign goods would in anticipating rise in prices
or Increase OF tariff duties by laying In heavy
stock OF goods Mr.. Edmunds severely arraigned
the commissioners. charging that they had vio-
lated the la and def1ed the will OF Congress He
moved the reference or the report TO the District
committee with Instructions to report resolution
to compel the commissioners to stop that sort Of
business.
Mr.. SHERMAN DEFENDS THE COMMISSIONERS.
Mr. Sherman was opposed to any SUCH instruc-
tionS, saying the Commissioners certainly UNDER
stood their business. He did not believe Mr. Ed
mundS or any body else would regret the carrying
out OF this permit. He (Sherman) had once, on a
similar question, placed himself In the attitude
Mr. Edmunds occupied. He had opposed the char
terlng and construction OF an electric railway in
his own city, Mansfield, Ohio but the project was
carried out, the road constructed and 1t Is now a
great success. II might be better to put the wires
underground, but as yet no system has been dis
covered by which the motive power can be trans
mitted 10 the cars from underground wires Mr..
Sherman thought it well to let the experiment be
tried.
Nh. HARRIS EXPLAINED
that the railway company proposed to erect a line
OF poles In the space between the two tracks, poles
would be erected at intervals OF 100 yards and the
wire carrying the motive power would be strung
on these poles. BY that plan the poles and wires
would be distant from the ordinary roadways on
the two sides or the tracks.
Mr.. Sherman remarked that while Congress has
the power to regulate the mode OF erecting wires,
this corporation by Congress TO revoke or cancel
this permit; the experiment ought to be tried.
ELECTRIC ROADS AND THE UNDERGROUND wrREs
Mr.. German instanced an electric road in Balti-
more where the cars were propelled with as much
regularity as by steam, and yet there was not q
he understood that the same experiment had
proved equally successful In New York.
Mr.. CHANDLER HOPES THE PERMIT WILL BE REVOKED.
Mr.. Chandler said that no doubt the electric
railway is great contr1vance, but be asked Mr..
Sherman II the electric motor did not necessarily
and property? Mr.. Chandler had supposed that
no more overhead wires were to be erected and he
sincerely hoped tnat the permit conferred on the
corporation would be revoked.
Mr.. Plumb stated that the paragraph in the Dis
trict appropriation bill relating to overhead wires
applied only to electric light telephone and tele-
fyra IN hvrfro
he was entirely ignorant until now that such q
railroad company had been Incorporated.
Mr. Edmunds moved to refer the communication
to the committee on the District OF Columbia with
Instructions TO report resolution requiring the
Commissioners TO revoke the permits already
given, and TO destst from granting such permits.
FAVORED THOROUGH INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Harris Favored the reference OF the matter
objected to the proposed Instructions. He con-
tended that the subject was one Of sufficient I'm
portance to demand thorough and exhaustive
investigation, and he hoped one would be ordered
to be conducted by the District committee. He
objected, however, as member OF that committee
TO the Senate pre1udging The question and issuing
its nat before thoroughly understanding The
matter.
THE HORsE-CAR SERVICE INADEQUATE.
Mr.. Manderson knew nothing OF the merits OF the.
particular road In question, but he held that no
obstacle should be placed In the way Of any CON-
pany that has the enterprise to improve the street
Ice he sad is entirely inadequate The cars ssr are
moved at a rate OF speed that Is slow, and the
service ought to be improved. Mr.. Manderson,
city cut up and disngured by poles II 1t were
contemplated to permit the erection OF poles that
ought to be stopped. Mr.. Manderson said he had
railways
THERE WERE THREE SYSTEMS,
the one most in use being that OF stringing wires
for the motive power on poles. This was objection
able, not only because OF the unsightlness OF the
poles and wires, but it was constant danger to
the lives OF passers-6y. Another system was by
wires underground. This was less Objectionable,
but not so ericient The third system and one he
believed destined to supercede ali others was that
known as the storage-batterJ system.
DANGER FROM THE OVERHEAD WIRES
Mr. Morgan said that in Montgomery, the capt.
tai OF Alabama, there was an electric railway op-
Grated by power from wires strung on poles It
was constant source Of danger and had killed
numerous animals and some human beings The
governor OF the state narrowly escaped death, the
morse In the buggy which he was driving being
KILLED. An EFFORT was being made TO substitute
Mr.. Dawes said he introduced the resolution
which brought forth the report OF Capt Grimm on
electric railways, and the commissioners had de-
clared that they indorsed that report and the
ommendation that no poles for electric motive
power be permitted here.
Mr. Manderson made q statement as to electric
expressed himself decidedly opposed to overhead
wires.
Mr.. Chandler asked Mr. Manderson whether. In
the course OF his investigation OF the subject he
had found that any electric current could be used
Tor the propulsion OF cars that would not be dan.
gerOus TO life.
Mr.. Manderson replied that he had found that
the most dangerous system was the overhead
wires and the less dangerous the underground
system where the tracks are used for the electric
current.
MI. Chandler-But is the current Of the same
strength?
Mr.. Manderson-The current il exactly OF the
same strength.
MI Chamberlain there be an electric current
kill?
MI. MandersOn-The current Will unuuestiop.
aoly Kill unless the wires are properly insulated
and unless people are very careful think that
the only safe plan Is that In which the electric
power Is within the car tseif-the storage system.
Mr.. Harris said he had been informed yesterday
py an electrician Che did not know how correctly
That 500 units OF electricity were amply suficient
10 propel cars, and that less than from 500 70
LOCO units Is not dangerous to human life.
Mr.. Edmunds spoke OF the danger to life and of
the or the trees in the parking of New
York avenue, which would follow the erection OF the
overhead wires; and he thought IL due to the
Commissioners and to the street railroad company
that they should be notified now that the thing
would not be permitted. He read the reply
OF the Commissioners, showing the several per-
m1tS they have granted. He said IL was
proposed TO run this line along New York avenue,
one OF tie main thOroughfares OF the city. He
wanted "a mt IRA m v,nf