The morning times., 1896-06-30

Al the opening Of the bids for street light
ing at the District Building yesterday the
United States Electric Lighting Company
made an attack upon the validity Of the pro-
ceedings, In respect to electric lighting,
claiming that the District Commissioners
had no authority for promulgating an ad-
vertisement for bids and that the act Of
receiving proposals was therefore without
warrant.
President Thomas OF the company sent u
communication to the board, which was
opened and read by the committee, referred
to the Engineer Commissioner lor perusa,,
and subsequently filed with the papers, in
which he informed the Commissioners that
inaslnuch AS the United States Electric
Light Company has been specifically de-
ciared ana recognized by Lotn the courts Of
the District and Congress as the only cUin-
pany authorized or entitled To furnish or
maintain electric arc lights in the public
streets east or Rock Creek, the Commits
sioners had no authority to advertise for
electric lighting.
NO AUTHORITY TO ADVERTISE.
Mr.. Thomas said his company had been
legally advised that no law exists empower
ing or permitting the Commissioners to ad-
vertise, such authority having been re-
quested OF Congress and by Congress cx-
pressly refused.
In the name OF his company, Mr.. Thomas
protested, not only against the act of ad-
vcrtisiDg for bids, but to any action by the
Commissioners under such advertisement
such procedure being, in his opinion, a clear
coDtravention of the will of Congress.
The president stated, however, that his
company will accept the duty Of furnishing
District street lighting, as heretofore, at
the price prescribed by Congress, which is
thirty cents per light, and that the company
will be subject to all the conditions and
limitations of the act, and agrees that the
aggregate cost shall not exceed the sum OF
$50, 900. as fixed by law.
The view held by the United States Com
paDy is evidently ut va rance with the opin-
ion OF the Commissioners, and other electric
light companies, for the board did advertise.
and the Potomac Electric Power Company
responded with proposal.
BIDS OF OTHER COMPANIES.
That organization agreed to undertake the
lighting OF the city at the rate OF 500 per
lamp per annum, with the exception thatin
the vicinity ofits power house, west OF Rock
Creek, the price was reduced 10 $94 80.
1t Offered also to substitute iDcandescent
lights for gas or paphtha anywhere in the
city at the rate of $50 per lamp.
The Potomac Company also agreed to
proposal where IL is anticipated electric
Lighting is to be introduced. notably in
H street northeast, and at points along
the line of the Metropolitan Railroad. here
it agrees to establish the electric current
and arc lamps at the price quoted.
The board mas taken no action AS yet. and
will not. until all bids are formally re-
ported by the committee.
OTHER bids received were: For gas light
ing-washington GasLight Company. under
the terms of the appropriation act. and ac-
cording to Specifications. $50 per lamp per
annum. guaranteeing quality and candle
power. and specifying that each lamp
shall burn five cubic feet per hour:
Georgetown Gas Light Company bid the
same for the territory west of Rock Greek.
For naphtha lighting the Washington
Gas Light Company bid SO per lamp
per anpuIn, or Oh n contract for three
years. SIS per lamp; Potomac Electric
Power Company, S17.50 per lamp; J. c.
ChunD. S16.50 per lamp. agreeing TO
furnish l, 900 lamps or more at that rate:
PenDs ylvania Globe Company, $50 per
lamp.
The Washington Lighting Company,
Charles d. Nicolai, manager. bid S16-5O
per lamp for the oil lighting.
In the matter Of gas lighting the pro
visions OF the contract which expired
June 80, 1894. since which time the
agreement has never been renewed, WAS
recommended By the Georgetown Company.