Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-15
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS.
Hearing of the Metropolitan Railway for an
Extension of Time.


Extension of Time.
The subcommittee on street railways of the
House District committee gave a hear
ing this afternoon at o'clock to
representatives of the Metropolitan Street
Railway Company upon the company's
request for an extension of one year in the
time in which to change the motor power of the
road from horses to electricity.
Mr.. Johnson. Mr.. richardson. Mr.. Heard and
Mr.. Post OF the committee were present Mr..
Thomas. Dir. Wilson, Mr.. Truesdell and Mr.
Pearson Of the company attended.
Mr. Pearson, president Of the road, said that
since October, 1889, his road had
been investigating proposed change
of motor power. The company had
concluded that the time had expired
in which horse power was suitable. Some other
power must be selected, but on account of the
TACT that there are forty-nine curves in five
miles OF the road, including two reverse curves,
II Was found that the cable would be imprac-
ticable.
1t was determined that the storage battery
was the system to be adopted Up to date
$4,000 have been expended in equipping a
plant The only drawback now is In
the equipment OF the electrical appliances.
There Is delay in getting
the appliances When completed this plant
will be the largest plant in the world devoted
to the storage battery system.
Mr.. Richardson said there is considerable
complaint against horse power and it may be
hard to get an extension of time.
Mr.. Pearson explained that the change would
have been made long ago but for the fact that
there only two known and tested
systems-the cable and the trolley wire
Congress prevents the trolley and the topog-
raphy Of the road prevents the cable. The
company therefore had to cast about for an
other system.
Mr.. johnson said the trolley wire system is the
hest and regretted that Conpress shnulJ
prevent its use.
Mr.. Heard ventured the opinion that this
Congress might consider proposed change in
the law.
road to get into operation as soon as possible.
There Is money invested which is bringing no
return. and will not until the new system is
running.
Mr.. MURrAGHs CLAIM.
William ]. Murtagh, late proprietor Of the
late National R.p,,JiicaA claims that the United
States owes him S17.3i7.72 for the printing of
advertisements. Senator Mitchell has intro
duced bill which WILL if it becomes a law. re-
salt in the payment Of the money. similar
measure has been introduced in the House by
Representative Page.
THE CARRIAGE DEFICIENCY.
Ex-Contractor D-aney, who was for some
time engaged in the collection Of garbage. will
probably be interested in the conference re-
port on the urgent deficiency bill which was
agreed 20 in the Senate this afternoon. In 1t
is the following amendment:
Health department: For the collection and
removal of garbage. $4,000. of which sum
not more than SO, 900 shall be expended in pay
ment of expenses heretofore incurred and the
balance shall be expended for said work during
the remainder OF the fiscal year; and legal pro-
ceed.nGs shall forthwith be instituted and
fully prosecuted against the old contractor and
his bOulsmen under the contract for anil
work"
SENATOR HIGaISs' RESOLUTION.
And now Senator Higgins wants to know
something about garbage collection. This
afternoon he offered a resolution instructiug
the District committee to inquire into the con-
duct OF the collection OF garbage by the health
officer OF the District, ''andwhy a ficiepcy of
s2s. $50 exists in the appropriation
for that object for the current fiscal wear. and
the committee or any subcommittee thereof in
hereby authorized to send for persons or
papers, to subpoena and administer oaths to
witnesses, to employ q stenographer and TO re-
port the result OF their investigation to the Sen.
ate" The resolution wassent to the COMMITTEES
to audit contingent expenses.
TO SELL TEE OLD POLICE STATION.
Mr.. Hemphill introduced in the House TODAY
a bill. the draft Of which was furnished by the
Commissioners. to provide for the sale at auc-
ton to the highest bidder of the property in
Georgetown row occupied by the police sta
ton house which has been abandoned. The
Commissioners say the location Of the property
units il for use by the police force, while the
proceeds o! the sale would form a welcome adj
ditlon TO the revenues of the District
MI. sLAcxBURS's HEALTH orFIcr RESOLUTION.
Senator Blackburn's resolution Of investiea-
ton into the health Office expenditures had not
made its appearance when the Senate adjourned
yesterday. Some members of the Senate Dis
ttaen nuz ad IN, r1OA h