Evening star., 1897-02-03
and gives the city free both its light ard
water.
stop Digging Up the Streets.

anu yiVSS the city Tree D0tn It's lgnt ahu
water.
Stop Dixxfng Up the Streets.
Now. If you are going to let this COM
pany in, and tear up the streets. all right.
know OF nothing about either the Potomac
company Or the United States company. 1
do not take any stock one way or the 9TH
er. They are all 'tarred with the same
stick and they are all after a franchise;
all want this monopoly. But we ought to
stDp. Mr.. Chairman, this everlasting dig
gfng up OF the streets of this city. Have
you given new company the right to
come in and tear up the streets? When will
the streets be let alone? When may we
walk through the streets and find them not
dug up in some some place or another by
thlS eternal operation?'
Il Will say TO the gentleman that for my
own part l would not trust any company
as a monopoly said Mr.. Pitney. II would
not intrust any such interest to the control
OF any one company, unchecked by comle-
tition, as far as the interests of the city
are concerned 1 have no desire as far as
am individually concerned, to give them a
monopoly.
Some years ago we passed law rro-
vld1ng FOR report on the conduit system
1or subway for all of these electric
wires. That matter has beer before the
committee for long time, and no satisfac-
tory report has been made, but it is pro-
crossing, and we have gone far enough to
know that 1t will cost from s. G0o.C00 to
10 authorize such an expenditure"
L want to give my friend from New Jer-
sey little bit of information that comes
from man who is slightly older than he
Is, as 10 the way these corporations work"
said Mr.. Mahon. He may go on with this
system, and what will be the result? He
VIII find both of these corporations Sleep
ing In the same bed. and covered by the
same blanket, within a very few years.
That is generally the history of their
Transactions
This closed the debate upon the electric
light matter. and the House proceeded with
the consideration of the BILL,
Board of Public Work. Claims.
Mr.. Dockery of Missouri moved to repeal
chapter 81. page 664. volume 2S, Statutes
at>Large. and explained his amendment as
follows:
The act of February IL. 1885, author
lzed contractors to be paid what are called
board rates. notwithstanding they may
nave contracted to do public work a. a
less rate. The sum involved in that legis-
latlon. In claims already filed against the
District of Columbia, amounts to $7Is.-
a2o.'o, and the interest thereon will prob
ably carry the amount up to 81 800 900 I
say now. Mr.. Chairman there never was a
law placed upon the statute books of this
country more inequitable and unjust than
the act Of February 13, 1895, which is
sought to be repealed. The act gives to
certain contractors under the old board Of
public works what were called board rates.
when they themselves had agreed to ac-
cept compensation at lower rates. Now
then this act was passed, l understand
without the Endorsement of the Commits
sioners OF the District, and we seek to re-
peal 1T. in harmony with their views and
IN harmony with the views of the auditor
of the District"
The item was discussed for some time
but the House adjourned without taking
action upon it.