The evening times., 1896-08-29

the city. and incidentally of furnishing
Washington with electric lights. This is
in the face OF direct, plain unquestioned
legislation, continued many years through
several sessions OF Congress, in opposition
to tearing up the streets To open the way
10 rival gas and electric Companies.
Two OF the Commissoners-one VI them.
t is believed, for personal rather than
public ends-are using all their influence
to break over the bolnds set by Congress.
II once they should succeed there is no
limit to which they might not go in -
curing rights and privileges in the city.
Furthermore, II the trolley syndicate
should succeed, through the Potomac Com
pany, in breaking down one set OF barriers
placed as guard to the city's interest there
is no reason why it might not succeed at
another point also. 1t would be sure to
try.
1t is less than year since the trolley was
taken, after long, vigorous fight, from
New York avenue. This is proof of how
much the syndicate desires 4 foothold in
Washington. Having carried its point with
reference to electric lights, the next point
of attack naturally would be 10 secure
admission - the city again of the overhead
trolley.
The day is coming, probably, when the
Capital Traction Company will change its
motive power to electricity. When that
day arrives it may be the trolley syndicate
will have again forced its way into the city.
With an overhead trolley line TO Chevy
Chase at one end, and an overhead trolley
from the Navy Yard Bridge to the Alex
10 aft etr
would be brought TO bear TO introduce a
form of the overhead trolley that would be
acceptable to Congress TO run along Penn
sylvania avenue, from the Navy Yard to
Georgetown and Mount Pleasant
EvADING THE Law.
AS much has been accomplished in other
cities.
That the trolley syndicate is pressing for
every inch OF ground it can seize, under
any Interpretation of the law. is shown by
its purpose to put an overhead wire in the
Navy Yard Bridge, in the face of tile clear
intent of the statute. In regard to the
understanding Congress had of Mr. Handles
intentions, and the privileges it pur-
posed granting him, Charles Moore, clerk
of the Senate District Committee, recent
ly said:
THE intention OF the Senate District
Committee was to keep the trolley Off the
Navy Yard Bridge. For several months the
fact that trolley on the bridge was con-
templated prevented any action whatever
on the bill. Later the president OF the
Metropolitan Railway said that he had ex-
amined the bridge with the engineer OF the
company, and that an underground system
was feasible. and that his company was
ready to build such line. Mr.. Randle
representing the Capital Railway Com
pany), however, desired to have the option
OF using horses on the bridge in case the
underground system could not be made to
work.
The bill was drawn so as to provide for
the three portions of the line: For Ana
costa, the overhead trolley: for Washing
ton, the underground system; for the Navy
Yard bridge, either the underground sys-
tenn or horses, in the discretion of the Com
missioners
1.-The Capital company is allowed to car
ry its electric current across the bridge,
under the supervision ofthe Commissioners,
so as to avoid having to maintain two pow
er houses