The morning times., 1896-08-07

confined absolutely to territory west OF
Rock Creek.
Some days ago people were Informed that
the Commissioners were treating with tie
Potomac Company for lighting the city cast
or Rock Greek; and inasmuch as they had
gone this far, IL was evident that the. would
grant them contract. Yesterday they
accepted the bid OF that company.
CONTRARY TO LAW.
1t has already been stated that the legal
adviser or the Commissioners has declared
sucn treating with the Potomac Light Com
paDy as Illegal on the sufficient ground that
the company is confined 10y Congress TO the
territory west OF Rock Greek Commis-
sioDer Ross has also adopted this view.
There is certainly in the pubic mind the
impression that the Potomac Light and
Power Company has some business pull
with at least two OF the Commissioners. IL
Mr.. Trucsdeil had actually sold his Eek
ington plant TO Messrs. Crosby and Lieb
and got cash consideration, it being
valued at SIS, 900. and Mr.. Truesdell had
done all he could to secure for IL favorable
legislation, his zeal might reasonably have
ended there. No one knows, no wever.
whether there has been an actual sale or if
so, what were its terms.
The ordinary observer OF passing events
will probably be inclined 10 ask what has
moved two of the Commissioners TO over
ride the plain law of Congress TO give the
Potomac company share o. the appropria-
tiOns. AS it was intimated in the Senate
thereis ample ground for the impression that
had there been no sale of Mt. TrHesdeH's
plant to Aessrs. Crosby and Lieb there
would have been no permits, no Illegal
riders on appropriation bills. and no such
action as that which has absolutely ex-
tended the franchise of the Potomac COM
pany without the Intervention OF Congress.
APPEAL TO THE COURTS.
1t is easy to predict what will now hap
pen. Just as soon as the Potomac Com
pany attempts to enter the territory east
of Rock Creek the United States Electric
Light Company will have 1t enJoined BY the
court. The argument in the case will not
take half an hour. :
The interesting thing llproba bl Y happen
when the Commissioners shall have failed
to feed their protege with public pap. All
OF the contracts, sub rosa and otherwise,
will then most likely be given public
hearing. One thing Is certain, that Mr
Truesdell, while Commissioner, had busi-
ness relations with the Potomac Light and
Power Company: that he tried to get it
all manner OF privileges, and that finally
after the adjournment OF Congress, which
had knocked out all Of his schemes, he
construes the law to suit himself and the
gentlemen to whom he sold the celebrated
lexington plant, which the United States
Electric Light Company had declined to
buy.
AS stated, the Commissioners yesterday
afternoon made formal entry in their letter
book OF their order accepting the bid OF
the Potomac Electric Power Company for
arc lighting on the public streets, both
east and west OF Rock Creek the decision
reached as to the matter being as told in
The Evening Times Of yesterday.
The lights to be supplied under the
proposed contract are as follows: Twenty
four on streets now lighted, west of Rock
Creek, at $94.90 per lamp; rorty-five on
the line OF the Metropolitan Railroad,
from Four and "a half and P streets SOUTH
west to Sixth street and Missouri avenue
north west and on P and L streets SOUTH
west, 500 per lamp per annum; thirty.
five on the line of the Metropolitan rail-
way from Ninth street and Nassaebuse etts
avenue to Tenth street and Florida avenue
north west, and on Florida avenue between
Ninth and Seventh streets north west, 500
per lamp Per annum, aud nineteen on
New York avenue, between Ninth and
Fourteenth streets nortbw west, 500 per
lamp per annum.
As stated In The Evening Times OF yes
terday the acceptance OF the bids was made
by majority of the board only, President
Ross dissenting for reasons published
The opinion Of the boards attorney was
also on file against it.
The board by ma jority vote also author.
lied Secretary Tindall to address a letter
to President Thomas Of the United States
Electric Company with respect to the con-
tract on streets now covered by that COM
pany's lines.
TERMS TO PRESIDENT THOMAS.
Capt. Thomas was asked In the letter
whether or not his company will euter
into contract upon the specifications at
tached to the notice Of proposals issued
June II, 1896, for arc lighting service on
streets and avenues now lighted with arc
lamps in Washington east OF Rock Creek and
on an extension Of such service on street
northeast.
To this, Of course, there had been no
reply received yesterday afternoon, but
1t ts probable response will be maze
today.
The specifications referred to by the SEQ
retary IN bis letter to President Thomas
relate to the price. which shall not ex.
ceea 40 cests per lamp Per night; to tho
coas,nued on Fosrth Pase.