The evening times., 1896-03-11
INJUNCTION SUIT FILED
Another Slap in the Electric
Light CompanJ's Fight.
ASKS HELP FROM THE COURT
President Thomas Wants an Order Re
straining the commissioners and
Chief of Police From Interfering
with the Work of the Company.
Difficulty I'm Finding n Charge.

States Electric Light Company was at the
court house early this morning, preparing
for The next step in his fight with the Com
| missioners over laying electric wires in
the conduiis OF his company ard replacing
| poles that are worn out aud dangerous.
This was an injunction suit against the
| Commissioners and Ma !or Moore to prevent
them from interfering with his men in lay
ing the wires and In putting up poles to re-
| place any that may be in a dangerous con-
| dition.
The paper was filed toward noon by
Aiessrs. j. NJ. Wilson and J. X. RedingtOn,
| as attorneys for the Electric Light Cnni-
pany. both equity courts were occupied
at the time and the matter would require
more extended attention than could be given
without breaking up work already in
progress.
Therefore, Judge Hagner directed that the
case be brought TO his attention al p. NJ.
today.
The bill rccites that the United States
Electric Lighting Company began business
here in 1ts2. For the proper conduct OF
its business and the use with safety of
citizens OF tie electric current supplied, 1t
became necessary TO construct conduits for
putting the oompany's wires underground.
Forthispurpose il ha Is received permits from
the Commissioners from time to time.
THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACT.
On September Is, 1887, the company
made a contract with the United States
government TO light the Bureau OF En-
craving and Printing, where 6O2 incan-
descent lights were put in. Since that time
to the present the government has been
wholly dependent upon these for artificial
lighting of the building.
The work of laying the wires for the pur-
pose was done under permit granted Novem-
her 9, 1887, allo wing a conduit from Thir-
teen-and-a-half and b streets northwest,
along B to Fourteenth, Cn Fourteenth to the
Bureau. II cost several thousand dollars
to complete the contract. The wires and
fixtures in the building alone cost 81 900.
By long use this conduit has been i'm
paired and il became necessary TO replace
it. On February II application was made
fora permit for the purposeand on February
81 such a permit was issued good till
March 25.
Under this grant, the company began re-
placing its conduit. In order to avoid inter
ruption of lighting at the bureau. the old
CDflliitS. Will tbt WINS "SiC bAl
temporarily on the pavement near the trench
or subway, while the new conduit was being
constructed. AS soon as the work was
ready workmen began putting the wires in
place.
Thereupon the police, under direction OF
the Commissioners, through Superinlend-
ent OF Police Moore, interfered. arrested
four of the workmen, took them to the
bonds to appear in the police court. In
this way the work of putting the wires in
place was interrupted. and the Commission
ers threaten that If further attempt is
made to string wires in the new conduits
more men will be arrested.
1t is pointed out that this conduit 10
wholly separate from any other conduit,
and 1t is not the purpose OF the company by
means of the conduit, to extend its system.
The urgency for the completion Of the work,
and therefore, the need OF the restraining
order. is shown in the fact that the work
of the Bureau OF Engraving and Printing is
of great Importance to the government, and
cannot be interrupted without much loss.
Such an interruption is likely to occur unless
the company is allowed to put its wires |
again. |
At o'clock Attorney for the District |
appeared h:rore Judge Hagner and |
laid a communication from the Commission |
ars. stating that the order to the police was |
not intended to apply south of Pennsylvania |
avenue.
Attorneys Wilson and Redington, for |
he company, consulted for a moment and |
IS ked that the bill be allowed to stand until
further proceedings are taken.
OFFICIALS HAD TO THINK.
Frank H. Chamberlain, John ]. Purcell, |
Charles Langster and Thomas Edwards, of |
he United States Electric Light Company,
who were arrested Yesterday y afternoon for