Evening star., 1896-04-04
DISTRICT AFFAIRS
Electric Light Middle Still Perple1-
es the Commissioners.
PREST. THOMAS SUCCESSFUL PROTEST.
A Permit Issued for Repair Work
to Be Done.
OTHER LOCAL MATTERS

President Thomas of the United States
Electric Lighting Company was at the
Commissioners office this morning with
blood in his eye. He was mad. His work
men had been arrested for nothing, he said
and the people In the northwestern section
of the city had been deprived of light by
the action of the authorities. The Engineer
Commissioner was not In the building when
Mr.. Thomas arrived. and Commissioner
Ross represented the triumvrate. So to
him Mr.. Thomas appealed. After explain
ing the situation, which was that the high
winds had caused break in wire, and
the burning out of one in the conduit, and
that his workmen were merely engaged In
splicing the cable when they Were arrested
and dragged off to the station house, he
said:
Il must have some understanding with
the Commissioners. Not only is the cleo
trio company being goaded at every pos
sible turn, but the public is being seriously
inconvenienced. This fight against the
company is unfair and smacks of revenge.
We are not laWbreakers and criminals, that
we must be constantly watched by the
police and arrested for every trif1e. When
this Is over I shall have a settlement with
Col. Truesdell and Maj. Powell for their
personal attacks upon me. Do you want
to drive us into the courts every day? Why.
| it would only be the work of a few min
utes to get an injunction to prevent you
from interfering with us.
A Permit Issued.
Commissioner Ross understood the situa-
tion and sent for Capt. Fiebeger, who is
acting engineer commissioner during Maj.
Powells absence. They Immediately issued
permit, and President Thomas departed
with the document in better frame of
mind.
The order of the Commissioners issued al
the time of the trouble about the work
done in the conduit south of Pennsylvania
avenue was what caused the police to act
yesterday.
Policeman Oriana was the officer who acted
and while he took the workmen to the
police station no arrest was recorded, and
the men were permitted to depart when
President Thomas appeared at the station
and made an explanation.
Lieut.. Amfxs Explains.
Lieut. Amiss said this morning that The
former order of the Commissioners was re-
voked only so far as it applied to the part
of the city south of Pennsylvania avenue,
and as this work was being done north OF
the avenue the officers considered it their
duty to take some action.
What will eventually be done he does
not know, but he says the attention of the
attorney will DE called to the matter. and
if he advises a prosecution warrants will
be sworn out for the companys agents.
Paving to BE Done.
The Commissioners this afternoon issued
the following order: THAT the lexington
and Soldiers Home railway is hereby di-
rected TO put the space between it's rails
and tracks and two feet adjacent thereto,
on North Capitol street between New York
avenue and o streets, in good repair, to
be approved by the Commissioners within
thirty days from the service of this notice:
and that If said repairs are not made
the Commissioners will cause the work 10
be done and issue certificates of indebted
LESS against the company thereto
Lfcense Granted to NJ. J. Fleming.
The excise board granted license today
to Michael J. Fleming, 719 Az street south
west, the first Of it's kind ISSUED since
the board took charge of the liquor busi-
| ness of the District. Two years ago Flem-
ing was convicted of selling liquor to min
Crs. The law provides that an applicant
convicted of this cfTenSe cannot make ap-
plication for a license within two years
from the date of his conviction. Today
the application of Mr.. Fleming was favor
ably considered and the license granted.
TOday's Orders.
The Commissioners today issued the fol-
lowing orders:
The contract for grading alleys in Ana
costa, d. c., has been awarded to H. j.
Welles. at 1873 cents per cubic yard, this
being the lowest Bid received and consider
| ed reasonable AMI advantageous to the
| District.
The proposal Of Alex c. Chenowith, re.
| ceived March 81, 1896. for constructing
| sewers at various localities in the District
| of Columbia has been accepted his bid