Evening star., 1896-02-12
MUNICIPAL OW NERSHIP
Columbia Heights Citizens on Gas and
Electric Problem.
Overhead Wires Scored and Street
COnditionally-Other Business.

Ine regular mOnthly meeting OF the Co
lunbia Heights Citizens Association was
held at st. Stephens Hall, 14th and Co.
lCmbfa streets last evening. The proposed
owne ship by the District of gas and cleo
tric plants was indorsed, and the free IL
brary bill, and the proposition to extend a
street railroad through Columbia Heights
was also approved. The present status of
the street extension scheme was discussed,
and resolution was adopted praying Con-
gress to at onee do something fair and just.
both to land owners and to the public, or
else repeal the highway act.
The first business done was the unani-
NOUS adoption of resolution offered by
that 1t was the sense of the association
that the only real solution of the problem
of Illuminating the city lay in the dtrec-
ton of municipal ownership Of the source
OF supply; that all attempts to regulate
gas and electric light monOpolies are fail
ures; that alleged Reductions in price dc
not result in reduction of bills. because
competing companies, so-called. combine
that the position taken by the Commission
ers to the District furnishing it's own
illumination, and for an efficient and cheap
telephone service under District control
be Endorsed. and that other citizens as
soctationS be asked to cooperate IN Sc
curing legislation toward these ends.
In support of the resolution Mr.. Camp
bell said that to allow companies to mere
ly enter into competition would not re-
feve the people, for competing companies
first endeavored to cut each others throats,
and, then failing generally to do that, a
combine resulted between them to the
everlasting injury Of the people.
Opposed Bill.
President Ballinger called attention to
the bill introduced in the House to grant
power to electric light and power compa-
nies to erect overhead systems, remarking
that in his opinion the bill was simply an
effort to overcome the injunction issued
several days ago by Chief Justice Bing-
ham. The Potomac Light and Power Com
pany, said Mr.. Ballinger. was the one COM
pany to be benefited, and that company. 1t
seemed to him, could get anything under
heaven from the present District Commits
sionerS.
President Ballngers views of the bill
were indcrsed by the association in a reso-
luton, which recited that the passage of
the bill would open the way to overhead
electric systems, both in and beyond the
city limits, and that the association not
only opposed it's passage, but asked the
cooperation of all other associations in an
attempt to kill it.
A resolution offered by Mr.. C. S. Bundy,
approving the proposed street railway
through Columbia Heights, provided over
head wires are not used, was adopted, and
then resolution indorsing the free library
Dill ana the proposed extension OF the pO-
lice force was unanimously adopted.
Street Extension.
The last matter discussed was a resolu-
lion offered by Mr.. Jeffries, approving an
extension of the streets and highways, pro-
vided they be done in a manner Just 20
owners of land and to taxpayers, and with
cut relation to supposed benefits, the gen.
eral government to bear one-half of the
expense thereof The resolution also asked
Congress to do either this or repeal the
whole highway act
The resolution at first met some opposi-
ton. Mr.. Leo Simmons moving as substi-
tute that the association condemn the whole
act, and ask Congress to at once wipe it
from the statute books. IIe also believed
that the wiser way would he to await the de-
ciSion of the courts in the matter of the
alleged unconstitutionality Of the act, he
firmly believing that the court of last resort
would uphold Judge Cox. But Mr.. Ballinger
thought there was difference of opinion as to
that and If the Law should lie finally upheld
land owners wcnld find themselves in a de-
cfdedly e-orse plight then than at the pres
ent time. He admitted that he feared that
Congress would do nothing, but he thought
1t TO harIn to try to fnduce them to relieve
the people now, while awaiting the final dis
position of the mater by courts. The reso-
r-,N, A.