The morning times., 1896-04-29
Oppose The SUBWAY BILL
Existing Corporations Present
Objections TO the Scheme.
AGAINST JOINT OCCUPANCY
Telephone and Telegraph Companies
Tel the subcommittee That the
Project Is Impractical bie-Declaro
the Estimated Cost Is Far Below
theoutlay That Would BE Required.

The special subcommittee Of the House
District Comiattee, charged with tie
preparation Ola general subwayand conduit
bill, Yesterday afternoon gave a hearing
To inCse interested in the pending measure.
There were present Manager Marean of
the Western Union Telegraph Company,
President Bryan of the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company, ana eX Rep
rescniauve Henphill Tor the HCme Tele-
phone Company.
Mr. Bryan said the biil had not been well
considered, but exhibited evidences OF baSty
preparation. He referred 10 tie para graph
requiring All conduts to be CT sufficient
capacity for the accCmm Cdatiou of ali over
head and underground wires. He could see
10 necessity forre -3urying these wires now
already underground. This feature, he said,
should have leen taken into consideration
and only seems 10 show the crudity of
tie bill.
The granting of permission for property
owDcrs 10 make C otEHeCtioRs with cunduits,
Mr.. Bryan said, was impracticable. Such
conditions could not he made without i'm
pairing The integrity OF the conduit itself
The very nature of Il conduit was such as
10 FORBID il Being tapped ut Will like Il
gas or water main.
Tic same objection applies TO the per
mission given the commissioners to use the
mauholes Cf @ mpCIng companies II would
expose 10 the enemies the private work
shop OF the telephone and telegraph 'om =
panies ana give them access TO all their
secret methods.
AGAINST JOINT OCCUPANCY.
He would not consent that rival tele
phone company should use lis manho!ns nm :
less he was compelled 10 do SO by Il court
OF last resort.
There is nothing in this country ap-
proXinating the Suhways Of Paris, which
are hui!t III connection with the sewers.
he dcScrii ed The manholcs as constructed
in this city ana the manner Of tieir utiliZa =
ton. The same manhCleS are not used by
competing companies anywhere. The near
est approach 10 4 general subway system is
in New York, hut there Il ECne IN Boston.
Tic stock of the company which con-
slructcd Sghways in New York is prac-
uCaily worthless and the interest on its
bonds has not been paid for some time.
The enlargement OF Il manhole would be
dangerous anG expensive.
Mr.. BRYAN said the section making II un-
lawful to lay cOnduitS except as provided
by the hill practically means bottling up
OF the Chesapeake ana Potomac Telephone
Company and would prevent any extension
of its business. There was a time when
their construction was limited to five
miles. This prohibition was removed and
the company now las fifteen mics OF
conduit.
In conclusion Mr.. Bryan objected TO the
section making all wires not placed under
ground within thirty days after the comple-
tion Cfthe proposed subways Illegal, and said
the time was utterly inadequate 10 perform
the necessary work. he believed tie
legality of those Conduits now being used
could not he destroyed as they had been
built under permission granted by the
Commissioners.
Mr.. Bryan said that he had never made
any objection 10 the establishment in Wash
ington of competing telephone company.
But he believed that before the committee
pass upon general subway bill there should
be impartial experts brought before it TO
explain the imrracticability of the project.
WESTERN UNIONS OBJECTIONS.
In reply to questions, Mr.. Bryan said he
could not. on such short notice, suggest a
bill which would solve the whole problem
OF underground construction.
Mr.. Marean said the matter was OF such
great Importance to the Western Union
Telegraph Company that they should be
given further opportunity TO explain their
position. There are, he said, from twenty
TO TWENTY-FIVE miles Of poles and more than
District. The law Of 1866 operates as a
contract with the telegraph company, by
which the company was permitted TO erect
and maintain these wires and iD return
transmitted tclegrams for the government
al an annual saving OF about 100000.
In view of this contract he thought n
bill requiring all these wires to be placed
underground within thirty days would
amount to virtual cOnfisCation of their
property. He requested a hearing for the
telegraph company.
Some OF the provisions OF the bill. Mr..
Narean said, would be impracticable. IT
would cost about $40, ,0G0 to partially
place tine wires of his company In the con-
dvit after construction. He read a state
ment showing the favorS shown by his
company to the government in return for the
privilege given them Of maintaining their
wires which he claimed amounted To a per-
petual right.
Mr.. Mareau declared that 1t would he
impossible to work the quadrupleX system
on a long circuit with thirty or forty miles
OF the wire placed underground.
COST WOULD BE ENORMOUS.
Mr.. Hemphill said he was only familiar
with the practical and not the technical
view OF tie question. He thought some
arrangement should be made by which
N''iiiiSAllisS CtLl DtAilISo nlii tt oi'iO W GU
to serve the people who desire to obtain
that ice. He objected to the clause In
the bill which gives the Commissioners the
authority to say WHO shall occupy the con
duit. He did not believe it should be left
| TO any three men 10 determine who shall
| do business in this city.
He suggestedan amendment thatthe Home
| Telephone Company be permitted to operate
| on those streets where the Commissioners
,3A -
| system.
Mr.. Hemphill said 1t would require ten
years and 100000 to perfect such 6
| system as is proposed.
Mr. Bryan agreed with Mr.. Hemphil
| that the cost of subway system would
| vastly exceed the estimated cost submitted
| by the Commissioners, $539, 900.
The committee then went into executive
session for the purpose OF considering what
action should be recommended to the ful
| commRtee.