Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-06-13
UNDERGROUND WIRES.
A sharp Debate On District Affair." i'm
the Semale.

THE CLAUSE IN REVERENCE TO UNDERGROUND WIRES
IN THE DISTRICT APPROPRIATION BILL LEADS TO A
LIVELY DISCUSSION or CORPORATIONS, ETC.
In the Senate yesterday afternoon the District
appropriation bill was taken up, and all the
amendments recommended by the appropriations
committee were concurred in. Mr.. Chandler re-
served the right TO call for a yea-and-nay vote in
the Senate On the amendment to strike out the
House provision requiring telephone, telegraph
and electric wires TO be placed underground. The
House appropriated $4,000 for putting District
wires underground, and provided that all wires on
streets, whereupon District wires have been or
may be removed, should be placed underground
at the expense Of the corporation owning or using
the wires
Mr. CHANDLER PROTESTED
against striking out the House provision. He con-
tended that the wires here ought TO 60 under
ground but said that would never be done until
compelled by law. He favored the House provi-
sion IL was In the right direction, and the Senate
ID striking II out was going in the wrong direc-
Mr.. Plumb, chairman of the subcommittee that
prepared the bill, said the amount OF $2j, 900,
which the Senate committee propose to appro-
pirate, was the amount recommended by the Com
missioners He said the House proyision was in
effective, that IL contained no penalty TO make IT
eHectlve Besides IL only required that wires
District wires are so placed Hence 1t did not pro-
pose comprehensive system. Mr.. Plumb ex-
ploihcu tudL 10 seek out ana report a complete
system OF underground wires was a. task not TO be
accomplished In connection with the preparation
OF the District appropriation bill
Mr.. CHANDLER RAISES STORM.
Mr. Chandler insisted that the House provision
should be maintained. 1t was easy enough to at
tach penal clause II that only were needed. Mr..
Chandler aroused the Indignation OF members of
the appropriations committee by the remark that
he did not suppose the corporations In this city
"were so powerful that they could strike out OF a
bill OF this kind clause inserted by the House OF
Representatives, going In the right direction, as
easily as they appear 10 be striking this clause out
OF this bill"
DENIALS BY Mr.. BECK AND MR.. PLUMB
Mr.. Beck wanted TO know IL the senator insinu-
ated that the action OF the committee was taken
at the dictation OF corporations. II he had he
wanted him to state it, ~ say 1t is not true"
added Mr. Beck.
Mr.. Chandler replied: 81 stated that the cor
poratons had been successful in getting the clause
out OF the bill. Is that untrue?"
MT. Plumo-"lt Is untrue, decidedly" Mr..
PUMP declared that no representative OF any
Coz poratfon had appeared before the committee or
made any request or any suggestion. The action
had been taken because the committee were salts
ned the House provision would not accomplish any
good.
Mr. GoRMAN's REMARKS AS TO CORPORATIONS AND
THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS.
senator German said he was not present when
the action was taken in committee but he heartily
approved It, He said it very desirable to have
pliShed by a system fair and just 10 ALL Senator
German continued "Dut let Inc say to the Senator
from New Hampshire that while IL was not ill.,
tended by the authors OF this provision or by the
committee who reported IL in the other House, the
provision as 1t stands In the bill and as now pro-
posed to be stricken out would place all the piop-
erty OF all those corporations which have oD-
tained rights In the hands OF two or
three individuals In this District. III the
senator from New Hampshire is seeking TO
prevent monopoly and to prevent injustice
he has taken the wrong course. II so happens
that within this District the Commissioners have
granted to two or three individuals, not lncor-
and as think, in violation OF the law, the right
10 dig up these streets and place trenches and
make conduit for the purpose OF putting the
wires under ground. do not impute any bad mo-
tive TO any man, but say the provision as 1t
stands now would have the effect to place In the
hands OF two or three individuals the entire mo-
nopoly Of this business In the District Of Columbia
only know of their pubic acts) / for one am not
content 10 leave with the majority OF the board
the right to give such a monopoly as they have
gwen 10 two or three men, and force contributions
from all the people who have invested and been
engaged In telegraph telephone and electric light
business In the District OF Columbia. 1t is unsafe
and II is unwise. When provision Is made by
Congress requiring all the wires 10 be placed under
ground IL ought 10 be done under such regulatiO ns
that all will be treated alike"
MR.. CALLS AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Call offered an amendment to provide for the
appointment OF supervising inspector OF build
ings and sewers at $500 a year. After some de-
bate 1t was agreed that the amendment should be
voted upon In the Senate. The Senate then ad-
journed.