The morning times., 1897-03-01
The Senate Disposes of the Flee
trio Light Question.
POTOMAC THE LARGEST GAMER
1t Is Enabled to Establish Itself as
Permanent Institution of the
National Capital, Subject To Judge
Coles Decision Being Approved.
A Lengthy Debate.

the District electnc lighting prob
lem The matter IL ose over the amend
ment proposed by the Senate Committee,
practically stopping all extensions Of cleo
tric lighting. After a long and spirited dis
cuss!on an entirely different proposition
was adopted. If the House approves the
new Senate amendments 10th the United
States and the Potomac electric companies
gam advantages over their present
privileges, but the i otomac Company viii
be the largest gamer, i'll that it is enabled
to establish itself as Il IeImanent institu-
ton Of the National Capital. subject to the
final approval by the appellate courts of
the decision which has been rendered in
its favor by Judge Cole. The exact
language of the legislation on the sub
ject as agreed 10 in the Senate last night
is as follows
Until Congress SHAH provide for 4
conduit system it shall be unlawful to
lay conduits or erect overhead wires for
electric lighting purposes in any road,
street, avenue, highway, park or reser-
walton. except as hereafter specifically
authorized by law: Provided, however,
that the Commissioners of the District
OF Columbia are hereby authorized TO
issue permits for house connections with
conduits ana overhead wires now exist
ing adjacent to the premises with which
such connection is to be made; and also
permits for public lighting connections
with conduits already i'll the portion Of
the street proposed to be lighted. And
nothing herein contained shall be CON
strued to effeCs in any way any pending
litigation inS/ving the validity or in
validity or legality of the construction
of any conduirs made since June Is,
1896"
Uner this amen dment the United States
Company gains the privilege of establish
ing house connections with any of its Tn
derground conduits or overhead electric
wires. This will result i'll the legalization
of several miles of wire that IL already
has strung, and presumably in a large
extension Of its business The Potomac
Company gains the right of connecting with
houses along any street where its con
duits do not compete with the United
States Electric Company, ana the right
TO bid for public and private lighting if
the Cole decision is affirmed. This is a
distinct victory for the Potomac Company,
the first il has won in the struggle that
has lasted so long.
The amendment was offered by Senator
Mcmillan and adopted, with slight changes
suggested by Senator Hill. These were
the addition OF the words providing that
the legislation should have no affect what
ever on the validity or invaldity OF the
conduits laid by the Potomac Company.
He also secured a change in the amend
ment permitting house connections to be
made with existing electric wires from
both sides OF the street.
Senator Gallinger then took the floor
and soon made apparent the sweeping
effect OF the revised amendment. He
said:
This is establishing two electric light
companies in Washington. If that is to
be the policy of the Congress, do not
know that l have any right to find fault,
but wantt can attention TO remarkable
fact, and that is the change of front
on the part of the District Commissioners
in reference to the matter of competing
electric light companies in this great city.
a bin was under consideration by the
District Committee OF the Senate, the Com
missioners addressed Il communication to
the committee against the incorporation
of a second gasght company in the Dis
triCt. They declared that the business
carried on by lighting companies was car
Tied on under conditions that made "a
monopoly desirable if not necessary They
pointed out that Congress had fun power
in any event to regulate the price and es-
tablish conditions favorable to the citizens
of the District. Acting on this advice
of the Commissioners the District Com
mttee reported against a new gas company
and the Senate ratified the decision.
lit is very remarkable said Gallinger
continuing, that in so short a period of
| time the Commissioners should have com
pletely changed front, and should now be
seeking to install in the city a competing
| electric light company. on former occa-
sion l ventured to suggest in very plain
! language some of the reasons why l be
| lieved that this thing was done Not many
| weeks ago, when Senator Hill was fill
| clustering against the passage OF a joint
| resolution that was to call halt to the
| invasion Of the streets by the Potomac
! Company, a somewhat similar matter was
! before the District Committee. The Com
| missioners' in the matter Of charges re-
| garding market business said they did
not mean to do anything with the market
company because the District Committees
! of Congress were considering legislation
| Yet they have fastened to give the Po-
tomac Light Company permits to the new
| tbair lt,it for ilae
| before they came to a lamp post, which
| they were to furnish with light This, -
| he said indignantly, sis a very extraordi
| nary condition Of things"'
Continuing, Mr. Gallinger said that Pres
ident Crosby told him personally last yeal
that he desired to have only the territory
west OF Rock Creek, and that he gave the
Committee on Appropriations the same
| assurance.
He also charged that the Commissioner:
| in permitting the Potomac company tt
run their conduits through nine miles O.
| Washington streets had acted wholly with
! out authority.
| Senator Vest interrupted to say that tn,
Commissioners acted under authority o
Judge Coles decision.
| Senator Chandler declared that the ap
| plication was an injunction pendent elite, >
| which was refused, and the litigation con
| tinues.
Senator Gallinger then returned to tn,
attack and said that the Commissioner
| had Disseminated for six months between
| the two companies in manner that viii
not bear any close investigation. IF no
in violation of law" he said, lit is, a
| least. In violation Of solemn statement
| made by the officers of the P Otomac Com