The evening times., 1896-04-14
SHbWAfIi 8:lH DISCUSSED
Uu,; b.i'n'
Commissioners / 81 pearBeforethe
House District Committee.
TaflTt''t-, IT 4 .IuIU
GENERAL CONDUIT FAVORED
Wires Gun he Placed Together with
out COnfusiOn-COst of Construct
ing II Perfect System of Subways.
Thinks valuable franchises Should
GOtO Highest Bidder.

The House District Committee this morn
! ing gave IL hearing on House bill no. 800
whalLls known AT the tommi ssioneis' sub
way bill.
IN i,auition.. to Major Powell and Pres
dent Ross there were pre- sent eN- Rcpres scntii
tive Hemphiil, President Crosby of the
Potomac Electric Light Company, ii. T.
Adams Of the Home I Z ephone ~ mpau and
otners interested in eiectric and telephone
legislation. ..
Commissioner Ross first referred to the
law of 1888 prohibiting overhead wires
and the appoint nienI CI Gei- raj eiectIsl
commission, upon whose report no Con
gressicnai action was ever taken: Ii is
doubtful if any existing la W authorizes the
removal of the overhead wires already in
use.
affairs has arisen that can no longer be
ignored. Telephone and electric light com
panies are applying Tor franchises and OF
fcring such reduct ions in rates for ser
vice as to become a matter of vital inter
These companies must he given the priv
i!cgc OF doing business, but IN only quest ION
is as to whether each applying company
shouid he permitted 10 tear up The streets.
and construct its own conduit. or general
subway be provided for the Use of All com
petitors." The bill. he said, had been
careluliy framed In the intent OF con-
venicnceand fairness OF allparties.
WIRES IN ONE CONDUIT.
Mr.. Ross said ii was pracucapie to have
The mall wires OF all kinas placed IN one
conuuit. 1hls proposition has Teen uenIcd
by experts previously before the com
iniilee who said telephone, electric light
and telegraph wires would conflict with
each other.
nr uIuuot believe an V franchises should he
granted, except on the lines suggested by
IN. pending bill. The existing Conciuits
could beohlained by ystem OF condemna-
lion proceedings. Eventually, he believed,
tlrre Wouid tn one system.
The SUBJECT OF gas bcCOInin z injected into
lie tlSCuS-lDI. Mr.. Ross "A, unupi
believed the uOliar gas DliI W wouId become a
law at Tins session. The Commissioners
lad for several Congresses recommended a
re- luctI"n m ,nc prIcc ot raS.
Major Powell sand that every time the
COMMISSIONERS had considered lnis subject
they hdd reached the conclusion that the
subways should belong 10 tue pubic aud
The cOnuniIs be leased 10 the Cbrpnratipn
desiring to do business
Three years ago an appropriation OF
100000 had been requested, with which
10 purchase the then eNInting COIauIts.
sine" That time the ScFvitc had grown 20
greater proportions ana Tue IIOne, wan GoI
now ax%iiable, Hence the pending sub
way bill had hnen urrIIarcd rs triny the
best Possible aiipt0ach 10 ruuuiciDnl own
trship, ana at tfr SEPARATION OF thirt : years
reaching that end. 7-
The irieerapu, telephone and electric
light companies. Ma ior Powell said iu-
stead OF BENG "A source OF revenue To tt!e
District Tor using the streets. are u source
OF additional expense, because of the ne
He believed there Should bt, Legislation to
remedy the matter. such as is suggested in
the biH for the Washington Gas LIgrt Com
pany. requiring that corporation to pay
hair OF its net profits To the District for
the use of the streets.
COST OF A. SUBWAY SYSTEM.
Major Powell said wires OF alI kinds
could without de! rIment be placed ia
one conduit THIS IS now done Ia boston
New YORK and Philadelphia. Wires OF
high potentianty are placed in close lux
deposition TO teSpht ne ard telegram wires
without injury to the respective services
II wouiI cost, he stated. to -ron>tryIct n
perivcl systeih or stihways IN Tie city about
S2,opo.Ouu, or about S533 GOO to extend
he present system SO a> 10 be ample for an
requirements III the iTnme iiatr future
TEs money wOal'i hc obllinca from the
contractor, who would be selected from
among Competing bidders.
- In reply 10 Il question, Ma iOr Powell
said that 50 long is Congress persisted IL
giving away valuable franc hlses of every
KIND, contrary to the repeated rcCJmmcntia-
tioHs of the Commit iSS!Oners, u VIII be i'm
possible to derive any Tcycnties for the
District from the competitive sale of fran
Ch!ses or give the 'r!tiZeus the benefits
they should derive thercfrom.
He believed street railway, gas, teie
phone and electric lighting franchises
should be awarded TO the highest bidaer
and the District given show III the profit.
President Crosby. Of the Potomac Com
pany, thcnSpOktin opposition To tn subway
bill. He admitted that such hiIl might
yet beframed. althOI yh il has not becndODe
As an electrical expert. he believe differ
ent Ciasse Of wires could not be placed in
the same conduit without dsarranging all
OF them.
A bearing will begiven at 10 O'Clock
Thursday morning on the general subject
Of street railway transfers.