The morning times., 1896-08-11
UPSET THE LIGHT SCHEME
tcoutinued from, First Page.)

exposed by The Times. They were con-
tent to connect their power house with n
few wires they had already in George
town and continue existence.
! Afier hard struggle this much was
granted. but every effort 10 secure any
privilege of public lighting or OF extending
lines anywhere cas-; of Rock Greek were
defeated.
Taking the clauses In the District appro-
priation hill OF July IL last In regard to
electric lighting Mr.. Redingten showed
that certain privileges were granted to this
] company as having existing lines ''west of
Rock Greek, and argued that II any rights
had been intended east of Rock Creek
| in this same bill it would have been
! explicitly stated, and was done for toe
Territory west of Rock Creek.
He set before Judge Cole the fact that the
| only law yers who had considered the mat
| ter, namely President Ross and Attorney
| Thomas. h ad decided against the Potomac
| company.
| At this Judge Cole remarked to Mr..
| Darlington with a smile that this alone
seemed to make prima face case against
| him.
GROUNDS OF THE OPPOSITION. :
Mr.. Darlington, n opposition to the
granting OF the restraining order, said no
| judicial notice could properly lie taken of
| the fact that President Ross OF the COM
missoners is lawyer while Engineer
| Commissioner Powell is not Such facts
were rot properly before the court
| He went over briefly some of the facts
| In connection with the previous efforts of
| the Potomac Company to force its way
over the restrictions placed by Congress
| against tearing up the streets
Judge Cole stated. as Mr. Darlington
| was proceeding, that il seemed TO him the
whole case hinged urou the construction
| OF the electric lightin: clause OF the Dis
trict appropriation bill
Mr.. Darlington then called attention to
| some verbal changes in the paragraph auth
| orizing electric lighting from similar para
| graphs in the appropriation bills Of the
past five or six years He argaed that the
Appropriation for an extension Of the pub
lie electric lighting system with the changes
| in verbiage gare the Potomac Company
| claim to compete for the lighting in spite
| OF the settled policy of Congress against
tearing up the streets. He attempted to
make the poiat that the United States
Company has no conduits to these new
points of lighting, bnt in this lie was cor
rected by Mr.. Redington. who said his state
ment was only partially correct.
Mr. Darlington said that il the Po-
| tomac Company was limited tcrritorially
by the references to companies west OF
Rock Greek" SO was the United states
Company, although the latter has nearly
alI its lines east OF Rock Greek, while its
rival has nothing a all.
When he had concluded his argument
and wanted 30 sui nit a brief Judge Cole
| said that was not necessary. as he would
draw an order tomorrow fcrbidding the
Commissioners and the Potomac Company
to enter into any contract for public cleo
tric Hgh,ipg or to proceed with the execu-
| ton OF any such contract If already made
till all parties rad been fully Eeard and
the matter fully adjedicated.
1t was finally agreed that August 20
should he set for the tesriDg, although
Mr. RediDgton thought that Judge Jere
wilson. who is associated with him in
| the case. would find IT very inconvenient
| to be present.