The evening times., 1896-05-13
DISTRICT IN CONGRESS
Citizens Object to Overhead
Wires on Columbia Heights.
THEY ARE PROMISED RELIEF
Members OF the Senate Committee
VIII See That THIS Feature of the
District Appropriation Bill Is Stsick-
en- Out-Subnrban Road Wants Per-
mission to Enter the City.

A committee from the Columbia Heights
Citizens Association was at the Capitol
this morning nd a busy morning they had
of it, The members were kept bustling-
from the time they struck the Senate end
until they left.
They saw various members of the Sen
ate District Committee and the Commit
tee on Appropriations and presented their
claims. They have promises that the oh
jectionable features or the District ap-
propriation bill shall bc stricken out.
The residents of that pretty little suburb
are up in arms against the erection of over
head wires in their locality. They are
neighDorly, too, and extend their objection
TO the the eutire fire limits So, when the
District appropriation bill was published
and they found on page Al an amendment
authorizing the erection and use of poles for
telephone and other purposes. " they start
ed in for the fight. A committee was ap-
pointed, consisting of Messrs. NJ. A. Ballin-
ger, Z. .O'Farrell, Cotton, Norment and Sim
mons. and these gentlemen were atthe Cap,
ttOl this morning.
They first saw Senator Proctor, OF the
District Committee, and presented their
objections TO him. They told him, be-
sides, that they purchased their land from
Senator Sherman, with the understanding
that there should he no overhead wires.
They then called on Senators Teller and
Cockreh, OF the Appropriations Commit
tee, and then got these three gentlemen
together They argued that the Obiec-
tionable feature should be stricken out
They were unable to see Senator Allison.
as he was kept busy at Il meeting of his
committee and later with the River and
Harbor bill in the Senate.
The committee has more than one objec-
ton to the amendment Offered. 1t is,
on the face of it, innocent, but conceals
great deal. II is os,ensibIy for the erec-
tion of poles for telephone use. but adds.
and for other purposes That lets in
everything. The most startling portion OF
the amendment. though. is the clause,
and the permits for this purpose hereto
fore granted are hereby ratified" This
provision ma kt-s legal all the unla awful per
miis granted by the Commissioners in
the past four years.
COULD STRING ELECTRIC WIRES.
Especial stress was land on this point, and
tile Senators son were told plainly OF the
sweeping nature of the amendment. The
revelation opened their eyes.
The Potomac Light Company, at hear
ing before the Senate District Committee,
promised not to stretch any overhead wires
through Columbia Heights This promise
would be uf little avail If the amendment
these gentlemen object to was passed The
amendment reads.
That the Comm iSSioners OF the District
are hereby empowered to authorize the
erection aud Use OF poles for telephone,
ami other purposes. IN the public streets,
avenues and roadway> OF the District of
Columbia outside of the city of Washing
ton. ami the permits for this purpose here
tofore granted are hereby ratified.
PROVIDED. however, That all such poles
so erected shall be subject To use by the
said District forthe swinging of wires there
on to be useI for fire alarm ud police pur
poses without any charge therefor TO
the said District. such priviie ges as may be
granted hereunder To bc revocabie At the
viii Of Congress without comre nsation:
Provided further. That all POLES SO
erected shall he located aud constructed in
such manner as tie Commissioners shall
require all electric light wires or power
wires to he carried in underground ccnduits
when tue same shall cross any street. ave
nue. or roadway"
The House District Committee at its
regular meeting today did not transact
any executive business, but occupied
portion of the time N granting IA couple
OF brief hearings.
Mrs. Olivia Briggs made some remarks
which were well received by the committee
and made good impression. urging that
street southeast between Sixth and
Seventh streets. be Concreted. The street
is now paved, hut the residents desire that
il he made to correspond with the thorough
fare on both sides of the square In question.
PREFERCoNCRETET TO oCOBBLESTONES
Mrs Biggs said the propcrty-owners for
twenty-four years had sought TO have the
cobbestones removed and concrete sub
stituted, but the Commissioners have per
sistently refused to take any action in the
matter. The residents. she said had grown
tired OF such unreasonable diatory tao
tics and requested the committee to pre-
pare and have passed such legislation as
will make the concreting OF the square
mandatory upon the Commissioners.
Winslow williams. OF Baltimore. spoke
N advocacy of bill permissing the Bal
.imore and Washington Transit Company
70 enter the District. The company are
now constructing their line from Burnt
Mills to Sandy Springs. 1t is desired 10
make a connection with the Brightwood
line, and this would necessitate the build
ing within the District of about one third
of Il mile of road. 1t is desired to have
bill passed giving authority to build this
connecting link.
In the Senate Mr.. Turpie offered an
amendment to the deficiency bill providing
for the purpose of a system of filtration
sufficient to provide bright. clear water
for drinking and bathroom purposes in
both the Senate and House wings of said
building at u cost not exceeding s. 900
a year.
pf