Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10

serving a sufficient number of ducts for the
use OF all public wires, and providing that
| the conduits shall belong to the District
| at the expiration of said period.
: DisidinF Profits.
The Commissioners submit herewith, as a
| substitute for all pending bills to charter
telephone, electric light or gas light COM
panies, a bill to calsy out their views and
| to prohibit the laying OF any additional
conduits in any. st1fet, road or avenue in
the District except under the provisions of
said bill, and providing that whenever a
conduit is laid in any public street. road or
ed act, all wires on or over such street.
| road or avenue shall be removed or placed
therein within thirty days from the compile
ton of such conduit under penalty of s.
per day for each anu every pole that shall
remain on such street. road or avenue
after the expiration of said thirty days;
and providing further that the Washington
companies shall hereafter, as compensa-
ton for their use Of the public streets, di-
vide with the Distrdct'of Columbia all prof
its in excess of per centum per annum on
the amount of their capital stock actually
paid up in cash.
Said bill further provides for the right to
purchase all existing conduits by consent
of the several owners; and reserves to the
Commissioners the right to reject any and
ali bids.
Should the United States ACQUIRE all prom
erty rights to the Great Falls, as hereto
fore repeatedly recommended by the Com
missioners and erect an electric plant there
the conduits proposed in the substitute bill
will make that great power now running
to waste. available for public lighting and
other public purposes.
Another important feature of the substi-
tute bill Is that reducing the price of gas
to 81 per thousand, in accordance with pre-
vious recommendation of the Commission
ers, with 10 per cent reduction for prompt
payment and providing more stringent re-
quire;nents for pure gas. Two inspec tors
are asked for to aid in enforcing the law
bidding for COnduiis
The bill which accompanies the report pro-
vides that the Commissioners are; authorized
after due advertisement for proposals In
| the manner now provided by law, to grant
| to the highest responsible bidder, herein
after called the contractor, the exclusive
right to lay and maintain subways in the
| streets, roads, avenues and alleys of the
| District of Columbia, including the right to
make all necessary connections with all
| public and private premises, for period of
thirty years from and after the passage
| of this act, said slibways to be constructed
| under the supervision of the Commission
ers Of the District of Columbia in accord
ance with plans and specifications approved
| by them, and to be of sufficient capacity,
| in the Judgment of said Commissioners TO
| contain all telephone, telegraph. electric
| light and all other wires and cables now in
| or over, or which may be necessary to lay
| in, the public streets, other than those laid
| near the middle Of the streets for stree
| railroad purposes, reserving the right how
ever, to reject any and all bids.
| Rental Provided.
That the franchise granted under this
| act shall carry with 1t the right TO use said
subways and to subet the same during said
| franchise period at fair and reasonable
| rates, and any corpora ton, firm person
shall have the right to rent at any time
! any Inoccupied duct or ducts in said sub
| ways for the necessary use of such corpo-
| ration, firm or person, at fair and reason
| able rental or on such terms as may lie
| agreed upon by the lessor and lessee. And
| In the event said parties shall fail to agree
| upon equitable terms. either party may ap-
| ply by petition to the Supreme Court Of
| the District Of Columbia, which shall i'm
| medIately provide for proper notice to AMI
| hearing of all parties interested. and shall
! have power to determine the terms and
conditions upon which said unoccupied duct
| or ducts may be used.
That there shall be reserved In all sub
ways or conduits constructed under the
authority of this act the free at all
| times of such number Of ducts or chambers
| as may be necessary ITO contain all public
wires or cables. %
| The bill provides for the filing of $4,000
| bond by the contractor, and for the use on
proper terms of any Ffaanhole.
belong. to District.
The bill then provides that it shall be the
duty of the contractor to construct sub
| ways in any paved streets, roads, avenues
or alleys whenever the Commissioners
deem it necessary for the public interest,
and in all other streets roads and avenues
in advance of paving same, and that at
lAlx IL IL
subways constructed under the authority
of this act shall become the property of the
District of Columbia: provided that if at
any time the contractor shall neglect to
comply with the requirements of his con-
tract for period of six months, all of the
subways, manholes and property therein
belonging to said contractor which have
been constructed under the authority of
erty of said District and the franchise
granted hereunder shall cease and deter
mine"
Overhead Wires.
The bill states that after the passage of
| the act it shall be unlawful to lay any
conduit or subway in any street. road,
avenue or alley except under the authority
| contained in the act, and whenever a sub
way is laid by said contractor all wires on
or over the street where sucn subway is
| laid shall be removed or placed in said
conduit or subway within thirty days from
| the completion of such conduit, under a
| penalty of s. per day for each and every
| pole carrying an overhead wire that shall
remain on such street, road or avenue
after the expiration of said thirty days, to
| be recovered in the Police Court Of the
| District of Columbia in the name Of said
District, In the same manner as other fines
| and penalties are recovered, provided that
| nothing in this act shall he construed to
legalize. any existing conduits.
| Dividing Profits.
| The bill says That the charters of the
Washington Gas Light Company and the
Georgetown Gas Light Company be and
the same are hereby amended SO as to re-
| quire each Of said companies to pay an
| nually. on or before the 18th day of Febr'l-
| airy, to the collector of taxes of the Dis
! trict of Columbia, as compensation for its
| use of the streets, one-half of all its profits
| Tor the preceding year ending December 81
| IN excess OF 6 per centum per annum on
| the amount of the capital stock actually
| paid up in cash. Each of said companies
| is also required to make a full and ac-
| curate report to Congress on or before the
| LIST day of February of each year OF all its
| receipts and disbursements of every kind
| and on every account during the preceding
| year ending December 81, to be sworn 10
| by the president of the company, and a
| duplicate of the same shall be fYled with
| the Commissioners of the District of Co
! lumbia, provided that the books and ac-
| counts of said compo Mas sha II at all tim &c