Evening star., 1897-01-07
ELECTRIC LIGHTING
Reply Of the District Commissioner to Sen.
ate Resolution.
A Suggestion That an Act Of Consres,
Would Better Express the
VIII Of the Senate.

The District Commissioners have written
letter. under date Of January 6. to Mr.
McMhlan, chairman Of the Senate COM
mittee on the District Of Columbia, In re-
gard to Senate resolutions relating to the
electric light controversy in the District.
these resolutions having been introduced in
the Senate by Mr.. Gallinger on December
IL. and by Mr.. Cockrell on December 81
The Commissioners refer to q resolution
laid before the Senate on December IA,
calling upon the committee on the District
OF Columbia to inquire what. If any. ac-
tion Is contemplated by the Commissioners
of the said District In respect to the use of
any Of the streets, avenues or public spaces
In the said District for electric lighting
and what, If any. contract or contracts
nave been, or are contemplated to be, en-
tered into which involve the laying of con-
QUITS IN or under such streets or avenues
ana with persons or corporations"
The Commissioners reply to this resolu-
loh, all OF which has been published in
The Star, together with the later resolu-
tons OF the Senate. offered by Mr.. CALM
Inquiries of the latter the Commissioners
say:
1T is proposed by one of the resolutions
under consideration that the Commission
ers be directed. and by the other that they
be requested, not to permit the Potomac
Electric Power Company to carry out its
contracts with the District of Columbia
ana the superintendent of public buildings
and grounds duly entered into under the
provisions of existing law. and 1t is pro-
posed to make the existing company (the
United States Electric Lighting Company
1nish until next June, free of cost. ex-
actly the lights which the District Com
missioners want"
The Commissioners then refer to Mr.
Cockrelrs resolution, accepted by Mr.. Gal
l1nser as substitute for his resolution, and
say:
"A serious defect in this resolution. in
the opinion of the Commissioners, Is that
while 1t justly recognizes the importance
OF lighting the streets, avenues and public
parks as means of protecting life and prop
erty during the inaugural ceremonies it
proposes that the Commissioners shall dis
regard the only contract by which such
lighting can be furnished under existing
aW without providing any other method
should the United States Electric Lighting
company refuse to furnish the necessary
lights free of cost. What power the Com
missioners would have to make that COM
pany furnish such light free of cost does
not appear, nor is it shown how the Com
nissioners could, should the resolution pass
the Senate. release the District and the
United States from the obligation of the
tric Company, whose conduits. authorized
by said contracts in conformity with law,
are already partly constructed.
Another serious objection to the pro-
the streets and parks of Washington will
be crowded with large numbers of people
congregated to witness the inauguration
of the President-elect it proposes to per-
NIT the erection of a great and unneces-
sary number of unsightly and dangerous
overhead wires, many of which, under the
existing contracts. should they he carried
out, will be placed under ground.
The Commissioners respectfully submit
that these resolutions are not in their
Judgment in the public interest, and that
should either of them pass the Senate. they
would be placed in the embarrassing atti-
tude of either appearing to disregard a re-
quest of the Senate or of dsobeyng the
law.
IF ii be the will of the Senate that the
law as interpreted by the courts shall be
modlf1ed or repealed and that existing con-
tracts duly entered into. in conformity
herewith. shall be ignored Cancelled by
the Commissioners, they have the honor
to suggest that that will should be ex-
pressed by an act of Congress, instead of
resolution of the Senate, which would
carry with 1t no authority for them to do
the things which Ii reuueStS them n do