The morning times., 1897-01-08
FIGHTING FOR FRANCHISE.
Continued From First Page.

ers advertised for bids under the old law
unless they were authorized by the terms
OF the appropriation act. An act was
pending at the time this advertising was
done and this act twas sought TO be put
through for the express purpose of per-
mittinS these gentlemen of the Potomac
Company to come in and compete and it
authorized the Commissioners specifically
to advertise WITH airy Sofhpan --Bnt- But -.s.e. t. .
Senate declined to accede TO the terms OF
the bill, and after five different confer
ences it was stricken out"
Col Britton then quoted the language OF
the legislation as it rassod last June au-
tEorizing the Potomac Company to operate
west OF Rock Greek, to maintain certain
lines for eight months and no longer, and
other familiar provisions Of the appropria-
ton bill.
Now that is the sole legislation" he
said, ION which these permits were granted,
and it was all the law on the subject in
existence at the time Judge Cole rem
dered his decision, and Judge Cole based his
decision entirely upon the ground that up
TO the passage of the law referred TO there
was no law permitting the Potomac Com
pany TO come in; that the effect of the la W
heretofore was to give an absolute
monopoly to the United States company
because the law prohibited the Commits
s!oners from allowing any overhead wires
to be placed III the District, ana any sub
seQuent extensions were to he done by
the existing company, which was the
United States company. Now 1t is con-
tended by this decision that we must de-
rive our entire authority to treat with
the Potomac company from Legislation
which, il can read the English language
Alright, confines, in exact terms, the Poto-
mac company west of Rock Greek"
Construction of Conduits.
Major Powell said that the advertising
had been done before, but it was not pos
sible under the old law for the past
three years as during that time the Com
missioners were doing the lighting by Con-
tract. THE wording of the appropria-
ton act is different, however, this year
from heretofore. Although previous to
this time the law did permit an inter
probation which seemed to Indicate that
any further extensions should be by exist
ing conduits, the present law does not
permit of such Interpretation. Otherwise
we must necessarily have gone back to the
general law. We accepted the bid OF the
Potomac Company only in part because We
preferred that the United States com pany,
having the eonduits. should do the lighting
along those lines"
Senator Mcmillan: You gave them
permission to construct conduits where
the other company had none?''
Major Powell: Yes
Senator Harris: Does not the United
States company parallel the lines OF the
Potomac Company in Georgetown?''
Col Britton: You do not mean to say,
Major Powell, that you are not parallel
ing the lines OF the United States com
pany?''
Mai. Powell: 81 say that it was i'm
possible for the Potomac company TO ex-
tend its lines without paralIelins existing
conduits-that is for very short distances
but the route was selected after very care
ful consideration. in order to prevent the
occupation of the same streets by the two
companies
Senator McMilla n: What would be the
effect If this joint resolution were passed."
This question gave rise 10 a long dis
cussion Major Powell said that the effect
would be to greatly embarrass the situa-
ton. Congress had it under considera-
ton Cor a long time and had made no
progress and it would mean the expenditure
of large amount of money As for
present conditions ne argued against the
monopoly OF the United States company,
which is without regulation or restriction
as to rates