Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-06
OVERHEAD WEES AGAIN.


rHn RESOLUTION 10 REVOKE nm rxRnrr or I'm
scuS0foH oohPANv DD0uAKp.
IN pursuance Of the notice given yesterday, the
resolution reported adversely from the District
committee 70 direct the Commissioners TO revoke
any permit granted for the erection OF Overhead
",,es was taken up in the senate to-day.
MI. vest said he would much prefer that the
resoiouon should 60 over until the return OF Sen
ator Edmunda He SAID he had supposed that the
question OF overhead wires WA settled by the
passage OF the District appropriation bill That
o.u containeo clause passed by both houses OF
Congress pronloiting after the 18th OF September
me me stScuon OF any overhead wires Mr. vest said
c can analoaaon was complete Congress emphxti-
wireS and in the lace Of that Inhibition the COM
nasn granted permit for the erection Of
overhead electric wires He
DID NOT WANT 10 81 HARSH upov rur oorsrssrox
heMas not partisan, for they belonged to the same
pon.lcai party that he Vesp does Nj. Vest, con-
.inuinS' SAID the Commissioners had violated an
Sxpress statutory principle laid down BY Congress
h nSao themselves 70 be the exclusive judges OF
Mr.. Vest maintained that the clause
OF the District bill should have been binding upon
sempes 70 the lSss Of Sep
prescribed date. Technically they might have
but the commissioners are the tpasrees cf me
people ana 2 decent respect for the expressed
9piniSn OF both houses OF Congress and Of the
Dill, should have prompted the Commissioners TO
observe the spirit as well the letter OF the law
ne cnaracIerzed the conduct OF the Commission
clared himself as
uNALrERABLY oPPosED 10 HoRsE-cARa
ne nao as soon untertake to defend the nint-lock
musket that went out Of use with the old arsenal
at Harper's Ferry. His sympathy g TAR as he had
any was With the corporation, for he wanted TO see
eiectrlc railroads established here. The ipcor.
porators are men OF standing, and naturally they
want TO construct their road as cheapy as possible
M Spooner asked If the law prescribing sep
TENDER 10 as the date OF the cessation OF overhead
wires did not imply that up to that time the Com
misstoners might grant permits
tained that Congress- baS % 10 main
CONDEMNED THE ENTIRR SYSTEM OF OVERHEAD
wIRHa
Mr.. Harris inquired II the intention had been to
condemn the system, as Mr.. Vest construed, would
not the appropriation bill have prohibited any
permits from the date OF the approval OF that act
Mr. Vest replied that he was not q member OF
tne appropriation committee and could not say
what reason or motive governed It But he would
says that the condemnation OF Congress was
oVERWHRLAIHGLY AGAINST THE OVERHEAD SYSTEM
MI. Plumb, one Of the conferees ON the District
appropriation BILL said the idea was that the sue
cess OF underground wires had not been sum-
GENTLY demonstrated to warrant them in
requiring that to be Immediately done.
II was represented that people had erected
houses In some portions OF the city In the expec-
be extended TO the streets on which those houses
are; Also that In the uncertain state OF the en1c-
ency OF Underground wires injustice would be
wires
Mr. Plumb added that the subject OF motive
power wires was not considered In the committee
had TN narA nplr ala
light telephone and telegraph wires II
"leeway," as Mr.. Plumb expressed it, should De
ieeted But Mr.. Plumb declared that the
theory OF the conferees was that the Com
mlssloners should be authorized TO grant
permits up 70 September l5, and that
the intervening time should be allowed for deci-
ding what would be the best policy to pursue.
They knew the Commissioners were in favor OF
burying all the wires, and hence did not hesitate
10 entrust them with the power conferred. In JUS
tce TO the public and the corporations It was de-
termined 70 allow little time before requiring
TIE INHIBITION EXTENDS TO AL ELEcTRIc WIRES.
MI. Vest said that no matter what the conferees
may have had in mind, he insisted that
the Inhibition, as contained In the Dis
trict bill, Is sweeping In its terms and
applies TO all kinds OF overhead wires
Commissioners Wheatley before the District COM
mittee to show that the Commissioners did not
seek legal advice In reaching their determination.
He also READ from Major kaymond's testimony,
calling attention TO the fact that the major said
he was not an expert Major Raymond, afIer say
Ing he DID consider the system proposed for the
lexington road dangerous to nfe said he was not
sumciently familiar with the subject to assert that
II was not. And yet, Mr.. Vest said, 1t seemed to
Raymond that the permit was granted.
The debate was continued at length until cut Oh
by the expiration OF the morning hour. In con-
nection with the overhead-wire subject, Mr. Vest
saio he had Information that Senator Edmunds
would probably return within two days, and he
return.