The evening times., 1896-02-01

| Consideration of The District appropria-
ton bill WAS today res,.ined in the House
the question being OH Mr.. Mihons amend
! inent TO strike out the paragraph author
| izing competitive bids for g.is Lighting, ror
| which Mr.. Hepburn offered u substitute
providing for dollir gas. and ag,ins, which
Mr.. Bartlett had raised the point of order,
MIR. Grout said lie did not suppose MIR.
Mahon meant 10 cast aspersions upon the
Appropriations Committee, but when they
were accused of bringing In u suake in the
shape OF Il bill for cheaper gas lie felt con-
strained TO maze d lew remarks On the sub.
Ject.
! All serpeb,s. Mr.. GrOut said, were not
harmful, and. as Moses lifted up a serpent
in the wilderness that the Israclites might
See and live. SO that brought Ia by the COM
nittee is calculated to be beneficial, and.
like that OF Moses. productive OF good re-
suits.
MAHON NAMENDMENTLos
Mr.. Northway read from the Revised
Statutes to show that the Commissioners
had power to regulate the price OF gas.
He would name price less than SIG.
Mr.. hanon's amendment to strike out was
lost.
Mr.. North way then offered ar amendment
reducing the price OF each lamp from SIC
to $I2.
Air. Babcock raised the point OF order
that !, was new legislation, but later with
drew it.
Messrs. Groui and Pitney expressed them
selves as being in sympathy with The OBJ
Ject sought 70 lie accomplished. but they
thought II better to stand by the bill as re-
ported from The committee.
Mr.. NUrihway withdrew his amendment.
Mr.. Grout Offered an amendment. which
was adopted, that no contract should he
made with gas company at prices inexcess
OF those now prevailing.
Mr.. Dockery then offered an amendment
in exactly the same words as that of the
bill which passed at the last session or
Congress. He fixed the price of gas fur
nisbed the government and consumers at
seyeDty-five cents per 1000 cubic feet.
and those falling TO pay their bills within
ten days after the first of each month shall
be charged 81 per thousand.
Mr. Thomas was caught taking a little
nap and did not raise the point of order
until 1t was too late. His discomfiture was
greeted with delight.
SEVENTY GAS.
Mr.. Dockery's amendment for seventy
five cents was then adopted by a ruusing
vote.
when the proviso permitting eject ric
light companies which are the lowest
bidders for contracts to lay an underground
made the point OF orier on the same grounds
as that OF yesterday.
Mr.. PitHcy spoke against the point OF
order ard cited many authorities to prove
his argument
Mr.. ritney directed his remarks chiefly
tu the fact that the provision in respect
to gas mains and pipes which was yes
terddy ruled out Of order had the benefit
of au odd charter. granted before the war,
and. he sad. II popular supposition be
true the gas company is still supplying
the sane quality OF gas as was furnished
before the war.
The saving grace of an ancient charter
does not intervene in the case OF electric
light companies. He considered this pro-
viso. although worded the same, as having
Il siinilar bearing to that involving gas
service. He said it is only by competition
that we can obtain a sufficient service at
reasonable rates.
COMPETITION KNOCKED OFT.
Mr.. Baker spoke briefly, and the Chair
sustained the point OF order. Theproyision
relating to letting contract for electric
lighting to the lowest responsible bidder,
was stricken out.
Mr.. G rout then Offered an amendment that
no contract for electric lighting should be
made at prices in excess OF those specified
In the bill.
Also an amendment that the United States
Electric Light Company, or any other elec-
trio light company in the District, shall not
charge either the government OF private
consumers prices greater that rs per cent
of those now prevailing.
Both amendments We're adopted without
discussion.
The Comm missioners are authorized TO ad-
yertise for bids, in the following lancua &C:
PROVIDED further, That the entire serv
ice of gas lighting authorized under this
appropriation shall be let, after due adver-
tisement, to the lowest responsible bidder
therefor"
AT the conclusion OF the items relating to
the public schools, c. W. Stone offered an
amendment appropriating sum sufficient
to provide an American flag for each
school building in the District, and that it
be displayed during such hours as the
schools are in session.
The House adopted an amendment to the
Dsirictappropriation bill making it unla wful
for any telephone company in the District
to charge more than $50 per year as rent
al where there is but one telephone on a
single wire, more than $40 where there are
but two, more than $50 where there are
three, and more than S25 where there are
four on any wire.