Evening star., 1896-04-15
A SUBWAY BILL
The Question to Be Considered by a
Subcommittee.
ANOTHER TELEPHONE HEARING
HEARING
Promises of Cheap Service Made
by New Companies.
OTHER LOCAL MATTERS

The House District committee today au-
thorized Chairman Babcock to appoint a
subcommittee Of five, of which he shall be
chairman, to take into consideration the
question Of a general system Of subways
for this city and to report to the full COM
mittee the result of their deliberations
This action was taken with a view to ad-
vising some plan which will settle the
question of overhead wires in Washington
and relieve electric light and telephone
monopolies by authorizing competing lines
to lay wires and do business,
Prior to the executive session at which
this action was taken a hearing was
given to the representatives Of the Stand
ard Telephone Company, at which some
alluring propositions for a cheap telephone
service and a subway system were made
to the committee. Gen. James S. Clarkson
of Iowa, president of the Standard Tele-
phone Company, and Gen. James Nc
Naught. general counsel Of the company,
made the offers.
Gen. Clarkson proposed If the committee
would grant his company a charter to fur
nish telephones in this city to private resi-
dences at S36 a year. and to business
houses at $4S year. He proposed to go
into a general subway plan with the city
government to build a subway under the
direction of the District Commissioners,
place it entirely under their control and to
receive in compensation rents for the use
of the wires by rival ele>tric light and tele-
six per cent of the investment. All rents
over six per cent would be turned into a
sinking fund for fhe city, which the
city could eventually use to purchase the
plant.
Gen. Clarkson said his company has Sc
cured cf arter in Philadelphia, and that
the Pennsy lvania railroad, after critical ex-
animation. indorsed the telephone to the
Phlld 1plDhia civ council hpfnR SuIariNr
in efficiency and economy.
Gen. James Mcknight said the Standard
company owns about 200 patents on tele-
phone appliances; that the system in use
Is the only one that car be used on tele-
graph wires and is applicable to railroad
lines, long distance system and local serv
Ice. 1t Is the intention Of the company to
construct long distance lines and reduce
the rates for long distal ce service about
one-half of the existing rate. A long dis
tance telephone would be put in each house
In the city.
Gen. Mcknight thought that the subway
In Washington should be absolutely con-
trolled by the city, but il that is not DEEM
ed advisable by Congress his company
would furnish the money to build the sub
way and allow the Commissioners to die
tate the terms Of occupation. He would
be willing to submit his telephone to a test
by committee, confident that it would
proye superior to others.
Mr. A. W. Fletcher addressed the COM
mittee in behalf Of House bill 1916, which
IS the bill for general subway system to
be- controlled by a private corporation and
rent charged for the use Of the ducts By
the various companies.
Protest Against the lexington r.. r..
John NJ. Rankin has written to the SEN
ate District committee protesting against
the use Of 1th street east by the proposed
extension Of the lexington railway.
Rebate on Sidewalks.
Senator Martin has proposed an amend
ment to the District appropriation bill
which has an important bearing upon the
laying Of sidewalks in this city. The prop
osition is to reimburse all property owners
who have lad improved walks laid at their
that the owners of lots will have the old
brick walks replaced by those of more
modern materials. in advance of the con-
tract work ordered by the Commissioners,
and there has never been any provision for
rebate. as this kind Of work has always
tetn considered to be done at the risk OF
the property owner and for his particular
teneft. The work being done by private
contract there Is fever any official super
Wis on over 1t. and the general standards
OF excellence adopted by the District gov
erDment are not applied.
Senator Martins amendment reads thus:
"One-half of the amount paid by persons
who have had artificial stone or grano-
AehiC PdNcH1cUtS INdQe IN 'front.' OF their
premises. equal in all respects to that Of
the District contractors, by other mechan-
les than the contractors for the District
snaii be repaid to such persons, provided
der the Di-ct"
Printing the Postage Stamps.
Senator Wolcott today, from the commit
tee on post offices and post roads, reported
favcrably the amendment to the sundrv
civil bill proposed by Senator Hawley, di-
recting the printing Of the postage stamps
y contract with private firms after open
ompetition. instead Of by. the bureau of
engraving and printing In this city
Pipes for Commercial Purposes.
Mr.. Mercer Of Nebraska has introduced
bill In the House authorizing the Conn
missioners to lay pipes for commercial
purposes under the surface of any un-
paved street of the city, and to make reg
ulations for the work.
Reassessment Bill Amendments.
ihe House today agreed to the Senate
amendments to the reassessment bill.
A Civil Service Hearing,
1t is probable that the question OF d.
rectly applying the civil service to the mu-
nicipaI onices Of the District. which was
apparently settled in the negative at the
last meeting of the District committee Fri
day, will be reopened by that committee
within short time. 1t is expected that
hearings will be granted on the bill now
pending Inside Of a fortnight. The COM
mittee on civil service Of the board of
Trade, the local civil service league and the
civic Center will be invited to send rep
LesehtauVes 10 such a meeting. and 1t may
DO that some of the members of the COM
mlttee VINO are now antagonistic to the
proposition will be persuaded to chang
their views when the particular reasons
Sociological Science.
Mr.. Wilson of New York has introduced
bill In the House to establish The So
Geological Institution"
Fourth-Class PostMastcrs.