The morning times., 1896-11-18

The electric light case, involving tie
| lighting OF the streets and parks OF the
City by electricity, was submitted IT. Judge
| Cole, of the District supreme court, at
the close of the proceedings before him
yesterday. y decision may be expected with
in a week or ten days at the Iartbcst.
The United States Electric Lighting Com
pany is asking that the Commissioners be
enJoined from making contract with the
Potomac Electric Company, OF George
town, by which that company is to be
allowed To make connections in Washing
ton and furnish street lights. Its CON
tnntion is that there is no law permitting
such use Of the streets, and no law authoriz-
ing the Commissioners TO grant such per-
mission.
The argument was continued yesterday
by Judge j. NJ. Wilson, for the United
States Company, and by Col. y. s. Worth
inston as special counsel for the Com
miSsoners.
Mr.. OF. Crosby, Of the Georgetown COM
pany, was present with suggestions for
MI. Worthington. Mr.. Redington, counsel
for the United States Company, and Presi-
dent Thomas, OF that company, also heard
the argument, and supplied facts when
called for. Very few Others were in the
court room.
JUDGE WILSON'S CONTENTION.
Judge Wilson in concluding his address
said in part:
Somebody was very much interested to
get rights for this new electric company on
this side OF Rock Greek. Somebody had
a bill introduced and somebody worked to
have ii passed. Somebody brought pressure
to bear in committee and presented facts
to Influence Congressman TO yield the
privileges asked b y the company. Somebody
Vas very anxious to have this concern
operate on this side of Rock Creek
But Congress, he xiid could not be in
duced Ia pass the bill offered. Every ac-
tion was adverse to these demands Finally
the matter was carried into the District
appropriation bill and clauses in regard TO
elect rc lighting We're inserted there
Under these clauses Advertisements had
been published under which the new COM
pany could bid and an effort had been made
10 let the contract To ii, although the plain
intention of Congress by its acts and its
reIusaiS 10 act had been 10 Keep the George
town company from coming across Rock
Creek
Judge Wilson went over the law as
passed by Congress and explained its meaa.
ing. At the noon recess lie had con-
Guided his address.
When the stling of the court WIS resumed
Mr.. Worthington made two hours argii-
ment to show that IL was not the inten-
ton of Congress to allow the United States
EonDlnya munupolyof the electric lighting
business on this side of Rock Creek
II. took up the acts upon the subject
passed by Congress in the past fourteen
years and attempted to show that while
the United States company mad actually
done all the work provided for in appro-
prIatiogS 1t was not the intention of Con
gress to allow that company any more
IMAM any other The opportunity TO under
take the contracts contemplated.
FOR THE OPPOSITION.
He spoke of the five-mile limit to ex-
tensions OF existing lines as fixed by
one act and tried to show that no special
privilege to the United States Company
was intended.
He referred 10 the Lighting Of the White
House and grounds and said the intention
of the act was to allow connections to be
made with any power that would best
provide the service at Il figure within the
Appropriation.
Inc commissioners would have had au-
thOfity to grant the necessary permits for
connections il the contract had been let
10 any company having plant outside the
grounds.
Here Mr.. Redineton called attention to
the fact that when Tie United States
Company had contract 10 Furnish lights
to the State, War and Navy Building and
the place was wired ready for the con-
nections the Commissioners refused the
permits, holding they had no authority TO
grant them.
Mr.. Wurthin gton concluded with an an
peal against monopoly.