Evening star., 1896-12-22
ELECTRIC LIGHTING
Mr.. Cockrell's Resolution Bearing on
the Subject.
Mr.. GALLINGER'S EARNEST REMARKS
Believes Certain information Was
Got From the District Committee.
INVESTIG ALTON EEDED

Although the contracts for electric light
ing in the District of Columbia for the next
year have been awarded this subject is
still being fought over in the Senate. Mr.
Gallinger introduced a resolution bearing
on this subject ten days ago, and yester-
day when Mr. Cockren offered a substi-
tute. which was accepted by Mr.. GalliHger,
there was short and lively debate regard
ing the competing electric light companies
of the District and the action of the Com
missioneTs relating to them. Mr. Cockrelrs
substitute resolution read as follows;
MIR. CockreITs Resolution.
Whereas the Senate and House are both
engaged through their respective commit
tees the District of Columbia in investi-
eating the subject of the laying of subways
in the streets, roads, avenues and alleys of
the District of Columbia. as recommended
by The Commissioners of the said District
in a letter of the president of the board of
District CommiSsi iOners, transmitted to the
respective Chairmen of the said committees
on the District of Columbia under date of
February s, 1896, and as provided by Senate
bill Hu3I and H. K. bill 500, accompanying
said letters; and.
Whereas the said Commissioners of the
District of Columbia have recently entered
into a contract with the Potomac Light and
Power Company of the District of Columbia
for the lighting of certain public parks and
streets in the District of Columbia which
involves the opening of several miles of city
Streets for the purpose of laying conduits
therein,
Now, therefore, in view of the pending
Investigation by Congress of the subject
OF the construction of said general subway
system for the purpose of placing therein
all telephone, electric light and other wires
and cables:
Be 1t resolved by the Senate of the United
States OF America. That the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia are hereby
quested not to permit the said Potomac
Light and Power Company to open any
streets. roads, avenues or alleys In the
District of Columbia for the purpose of
laying conduits therein for lighting the
streets and parks as provided In said con-
tracU until some definite action is taken
by Congress regarding the construction of
said general subway system, and that the
said Commissioners and the commissioner
of public buildings and grounds are re-
quested. in view of the great Importance
of having the parks, streets and avenues
as thoroughly lighted as possible before
the District becomes crowded with people
to witness the Inauguration of the Presi-
dent-elect on March 4, 1SfI, in order to af-
ford protection to life and property, to is
permits to the United States Electric
Lighting Company for the erection of tenn
porary poles i'll the parks. streets, avenues
and alleys of the District upon which to
string electric wires provided said COM
pany. in part compensation for the privil
eges heretofore conferred upon 1t by Con-
greSs, will light the streets, avenues, roads
and parks free of cost to both the United
States and the District of Columbia) which
were to have been lighted by the said Po-
tomac Light and Power Company under
its said contract with the said Commits
sioners during the time that may elapse
before action is taken by Congress regard
Ing the construe ton of said general subway
system, or until the said contract with the
Potomac Light and Power Company shall
expire, viz. June 80. 1897.
And the said Commissioners of the
District and the commissioner of public
buildings and grounds are further requested
to Issue permits to the said United States
Electric Lighting Company to supply such
additional electric lights along or contigu-
Gus to the line of its existing wires as may
in the judgment of the said respective Com
missoners be deemed necessary to further
protect life and property during the crowd
ing of the District with people for the pur-
pose of witnessing the said Inauguration:
Provided. That ch of said additional
lights poles and wires are placed In
streets, avenues and parks are supplied by
said company free of cost TO both the
United States and the District of Columbia,
as further part compensation for the priv
Neges heretofore granted said company by
Congress. And provided That the said COM
pany Will remove. at its own cost, all such
temporary wires, lights and poles whenever
requested to do so by the said Commits
sioners Of the District of Columbia the
said commissioner of public buildings and
grounds.
What 1t Proposes.
Mr. Harris moved that the resolution be
referred to the committee on the District
of Columbia. and Mr. Cockrell replied:
Il hope that If the resolution and the sub
stitute referred to the committee on
the District of Columbia that committee
will give the matter immediate attention.
II is a very important question whether we
shall have three or four or half dozen
electric light companies in Washington
tearing up the streets from time to time
-fE.TH s-l1,
panies under the direct control of Congress
and compel them to do what We desire to
have done No one desires that there shall
be a monopoly here. Congress will not toll
crate IL. No one wants to have companies
come in here, get charters, do little work
and then compel try to intin1idate or
force other companies to buy them out at
enormous prices.
The substitute proposes to make the ex-
isting company furnish until June next,
free of cost. exactly the lights which the
District Commissioners want, and to let
the other matter remain until the commit
tee on the District of Columbia can make
some permanent arrangement for having
all these subways under general control.
This was the intention of what was en-
acted at the last session. 1t was to give
the District Commissioners an opportunity
to make general system OF subWays
and control them"
Mr.. GaIlinger's Remarks.
Mr.. Harris urged that the resolution be
sent to the District committee, whereupon
Mr.. Gallinger took the floor and his words
seemed likely to bring a lively contro-
versy.
Some ten days ago." said Mr.. Gallinger
Il offered, and there was passed through
the Senate. resolution looking to an in
quiry by the committee on the District of
Columbia of substantially this very subject
So Tar as i know. no movement has been
made In that direction beyond that. But
i observed in the newsL apers OF the city Oh
Washington a few days ago a statement
apparently authentic, to the effect that
the Commissioners OF the District of Co.
lumbia had conferred with the committee
on the District Of Columbia, and had re-
ceiyed assurances from the committee on
the District OF Columbia that that resolu-
tion would not meet with their approval
and that. acting upon that assurance the
Commissioners of the District of Columbia
had proceeded to sign certain contracts
which had been held up in their office for
some time.
Now. Mr. President" continued Mr. Gal
Hnger, Il do not know with whom the Com
missioners conferred. Very likely they con-
ferred with my distinguished friend. the
Senator from Tennessee, and the other dis
tinguished members OF the committee They
did not confer with me. and / am not in