The evening times., 1896-03-17
DISTRICT n CONGRESS-
Bill Permitting Potomac Light
Company to Extend Wires.
n'MlLLlAn's. SUBSTITUTE
Com missioners May Require the Cor
poratlon to Cooperate With Others
In the obstruction Of Condutts.
Hearing ON Matters Connected With
Telephone Legislation.

Mr.. Mcmillan introduced In the Senate
toda a substitute for the bill authorizing
the extension of the lines OF the Potoma'
i Light and Power Company. 1t provides
that the company. Is authorized to extend
Us lines through the District under Ger
tain conditions.
1 All construction must be done under the
authority OF, the District Commissioners
No overhead wires are TO be erected on
or over any of the streets or avenues OF
| the city OF Washington and all existing
overhead wires in the city must be placed
In cunduits within six months after the
! passage OF the act.
Outside the city of Washington the
| Commissioners may, at their discretion,
authorize the construction OF overhead or
underground wires All poles must be re-
moved as soon as money is appropriated
for the paving of the streets. no pole shall
be erected on concrete pavement, and
| all shall be Insulated -.
When overhead lines are erected, one
arm must be left for the free use OF wires
for the service, of the United States or
| .he District of Columbia The same limi-
| alton applies TO conduits. The Commits
| sioners, too, may require the building OF
IuOlttODtt uuttS, WHICH may bc iShicu ~
other parties named by the Commissioners,
| At rental on a basis Of per cent of
| cost OF ducts.
The Commissioners may require this COM
2any to cooperate with with Others in
the const ructiOn OF conduits, such co-opera-
ton to be that. on the same streets, the
companies shall lay their wires in The
same trench. condition to the continu-
Gus use Of any duct makes IL obligatory
for the company TO furnish a light of 900
candle powe. to tie District at 500 per
year. 1t must also furnish on due demand
to any private or public purchaser, hay-
ing proper facilities to use the same. elec-
trio current for the generation of light,
heat or power, at'ratcs at least 0 per cent
um less than those charged in the city OF
w Washington during he month of Deccm-
Der. 1895. These rates must be the regular
rates, and Congress reserves the right to
fix the m maximum rate from time to time.
The House District Committee this
morning have Il hearing TO those interested
in the various bills proposing new teie-
phone legislation.
The authority TO occupy territory is given
rs follows: To all streets, roads and al
leys, along which no existing line of any
other electric light company Is now estab-
lished; along streets, roads and alleys as
may - occupied by the company as the re-
suit Of successful bidding; along such streets,
roads and alleys over which there may be
one year from date OF this act overhead
lines OF any electric light company, or any
street. road and alley where the majority
Of the property owners petition for the ser
vice.
The bill also provides for the purchase
Of the conduits. so laid by this company. for
public ownership at any time, and it also
provides the ba sis on which the purchase
shall be made. The contfuits must be kept
i!n repair !, and replaced at the direction of
the Commissioners. The compa ny before
the first day of February each year. must
file a sum statement of business done.
Mr.. Hoar introduced bill concerning the
court of appeals in the District Of Columbia.
1t provides that the decision OF the court
shall be finafin alicases where the decision
Of circuit court Of appeals of the United
States would have been final II the question
Involved in such decision had arisen in any
senate.
The District Committee of the Senate
listened to the testimony OF gas experts at
O'Clock. All this was in connection with
the 81 gas bin.
Mr.. Mitchell introduced a bill for the re-
lief of the estate OF A. II. Herr, deceased.
late of the District of Columbia. The
amount appropriated is SIT .2Ss.53. for
use of Herr's Island, near Harper's Ferry,
during the war.
Mr.. Babcock stated that three bills were
pending to incorporate new companies;
the Columbia, Homo and Standard. but
none of these measures had as yet been
reported from the Commissioners.
The Standard and Bell Companies were
not represented. F. A. Lambert, John A.
Baker. and Mr.. Daniel appeared for the
Columbia, and Mr.. Hemrhill for the Home
Company. President Tucker and ex-Pres-
ident Frizzcll, of the Northeast Citizens
Association. ex-Rcprcsentative Yoder OF
The South Washington Citizens Associa-
tion, and others were present.
The various citizens associations were
represented a S follows: East Washington,
Hon. 8. g. Yoder and ". C. Dodge; North
east Washington. Evan Tucker and Mr..
FrizzelI; Mount Plea SAINT, James T. Wat
son Theodore Harding and Mr. Woodruff.
The House District Committee today de-
cided to give a further hearing to those
interested in legislation affecting electric