The morning times., 1896-12-23


standing in view. Senators who framed
the resolution were also equally cert.in
that the language was intended to conrine
the Tot omac Company west OF Rock
Creek.
Beginning Of the Project.
No sooner had Congress adjourned than
propositions were entertained by the Com
miSsionerS from the Potomac Company
looking to the entrance OF that company
into the city east OF Rock Creek. The
Commissioners voted, Commissioner Ross
dissenting, to enter into cert ain small COZ
tracts.
The United States Electric Light Com
pany moved before Judge Cole to have
the Commissioners restrained from making
these contracts. Judge Cole declined to
issue the injunction, as did the court OF
appeals, the latter intimating that the
effective way of ending the controversy
was by a proceeding on the merits of the
case.
Thus. ii appears, that the merits of the
case including tie important consideration
as to whether the Potomac Company is
or is not confined west of Rock Greek have
not been iudicially determined. The Com
dition tnat an injunction has not been
granted, have virtually passed upon
that point affirmatiyely. although the
language of the law is directly contrary
Co their construction.
Slumbered in Committee.
Ten " ago Senator Gallngcr intro
duced a resolution, which would have put
the Commissioners on notice that tire Senate
was to pass upon this question in the
subway bills or resolutions. This resolu-
tion, it is claimed by Senator Gallinger,
was permitted to slumbcr IN the District
Committee.
Last Friday there was an effort to have
the mHtter discussed, without success on
last Monday morning a $50 o'clock per
initS were issued to the Potomac Electric
Company. which have been criticised as n
swift and Jealous proceeding considering
that III all probability the GallnEer reSo-
luton wCald have CnEc up a. soon as
possible after the meeting Of tie Senate on
Monday.
As matter Of fact the matter did
come mp in the shape OF a resolution
offered by Senator Cockrell. aud which
was accepted by Senator Gallinger But
the morning. or as soon aS practicable
after the opening OF the office of the
Commissioners 1t is to these circum-
stances that senator Gallinger has applied
the bold language used by him on Mon
day, severely criticising the whole pro
Cecding.
1t is "a matter Of record that when the
Potomac Company got permission on June
l to lay cOHdUits III Georgetown, the
Commissioners granted the permits within
Il week after such right had been given
On the other hand, on November l 9, 1898,
the United States Electric Light Company
applied Tor certain privileges in Mount
Pleasant and Columbia Heights, but the
permit was hung up for Thirteen months,
and was then granted only under Condl-
tions imposed by the Commissioners.
Must Build Subways.
one curious phase of the granting of
these permits TO the Potomac Company is
that practically isolated spots have been
selected with apparent ingenuity in the
center Of the city, and in the east and
southeast. with which connection is to be
made with a plant situatedin Georgetown.
1t viii thus be necessary for the George
the northwest section of the city, and
tear up the streets in almost every case
| along the routes of the United states Com
pany subways, from which they will be
! distant in a great many cases, not more
| than a foot. They must cross the tracks
Of the Capital Traction ComN1uy in three
| places, the Metropolitan Company in five
| places, the Columbia Railway in three
| places, for the purpose OF getting to Ninth
| street and Mount Vernon place, then along
! Massachusetts avenue to Fifth street. thence
| to Four -aBd-a-half street, to reach the
! sporadic places selected by the Commits
| sioDers. 1t has been estimated that they
Will have to build fifteen miles of conduit
| twelve miles of which are absolutely un.
| necessary.
| In other words, the northwest section of
| the city is TO he torn up for over eight
| or ten miles In order to supply a line
| from one and three quarters TO TWO miles
| OF line in the part of the city most re
| mote from the base OF operations of the
] company.
Citizens Will Protest.
1t was stated on very good authority
last night that the citizens Of the north
| west are fcSdrulnS WITH great ulsIdNOl
the prospect OF having the lines Of streets
| torn up again. 1t will appear from what
has been stated that it VIII not be new
! streets in the northwest which will bt
afflicted with the construction of the sub
| ways, but the same people who had to
tolerate the Inconvenience when the United
States Electric Light Company put Gowi
| it's system. This is evident from the fac
that the proposed Potomac subways are
very close 10 those of the electric light
| company and almost throughout their
whole extent are parallel.
1t is not likely, however, that this vii
| happen from the debate in the Senate, and
particularly from those members of til,
committee who have the direction of tn,
pubic funds. 1t is not impI obable that OF
the reassembling of Congress the frs
thing to be Gone Will be the discussion Of
the Gallinger Cockrell resolutions, in which
Mr. Galiinger will endeavor 10 make goo,
his assertion that there is q scheme OIL
foot which will bear watching.
1 tho meantime there pt fa