The evening times., 1896-05-20
NEW BILL IS SUBMITTED
Commissioners and Their Pet
Electric Company.
ANXIOUS EoR ITS PASSAGE
They Inform the Senate That 1t Is
Advantageous to Pass the Bill IN Its
Present Siape-The Clubs Affected
by the Dectsion of the Court of
Appeals.


The Commissioners returned to Chair
man Babcock today House bill S116, ell
titled u bill TO authorize the extension OF
the lines OF the Potomac Light and Power
Company, which, with some changes, is
recommended for favorable action.
Among the changes suggested are the
omission OF the provision that mo over
head wires shall he erected on or over any
of the streets or avenues OF the city of
Washington" that matter being covered by
existing law.
They also recommend omission OF the
provision restricting overhead wires to
the territory beyond the fire limits as
now established and all extensions OF
he same. In support OF this they say that
some streets within the present fire
limits are not even graded,>and 1t would
be unreasonable, IL not iinpractieabie, TO
require conduits along them.
The further obse ervation is made that ''if
the lines were not built on such streets
then the territory along such and probably
the territory beyond could not obtain the
electric service"
GENERAL LSURwAYPLAN.
After providing for the contingency of a
general subway plan in line with the pro-
visions OF the pending bill on that subject.
the Commissioners recommend substi-
tue for lines Ii to %, page 8, and lines 1
and . age Z of the bill under considera-
ton. the amendmen ent eguring the Potomac
Light and Power Company to make an an
nual statement TO the board, under oath,
for transmission TO Congress, giving the
actual cost, III detail. OF the construction
of each and every conduit laid in any street
or avenue or alley i'll the District in the pre-
Ceding calendar year. and statement also
Of the receipts and disbursements of the
company.
House bill sTT6 was introduced May Z,
1896. AMI gives the Potomac Light and
Power Company authority to construct its
lines tcTritoriaily as follows:
In all streets AMI roads and connecting
alleys wess OF Rock Greek, north OF Florida
avenue aud east of the AnacoStia or East
ern Branch of the Potomac.
AUTHORIZED TO CONNECT.
The company is also authorized To con-
lect by the shortest practicable route the
power station with the U-street pumping
station and the Rock Creek branch of the
Capital Traction Company, Ito be used for
power purposes only within the city of
Authority is given the com
pauy 10 make necessary house connections.
The second section provides that no over
lead wires shah he erected within the city
limits, ami the third gives the Commission
ers authority 10 grant permits for owe rhcad
outside the city boundaries
aud beyond the present fire limits or ex-
tensions OF the same and these are the two
provisions that the Commissioners pass
upon in presenting the amendments quoted.
There Is clause requiring overhead
wires TO be put underground on any street
where established within six months after
the date of approval of an act of Con
gress appropriating money for or other
wise authorizing the Improvement of such
street Poles are not TO be permitted
on street paved or about to be paced
with concrete.
ANXIOUS TO GETIT THROUGH.
The Commissioners say, in support OF the
bill, that they regard the proposed legisla-
lion as advantageous for the public in-
.eTestS, prOyiding means for the electric
lighting OF streets and road ways and publiS
and private buildings, and for furnishing
electric heat and power in the parts OF the
District outside the city of Washington,
where such service cannot now be had.
Rates below those now prevailing in
Washington" the Commissioners add, ''are
named IN the bill. and the right is reserved
in Congress TO fix from time to time the
ma Ximum rates for private as well as pub
lie lighting"
The Potomac Light and Power Com
or ito i> IN
having been operating i'll the District for
several years,'' and as having lately
passed into the cont rol of parties Of
skill and experience in the electrical busi-
less, who are making extensive prepara-
ions to increase its facilities.''
The decision of the court of appeals, rem
Tered yesterday, in the case of the Army
md Navy Club. on appeal under the eX-
Use law, is accepted as effectually dispos-