Evening star., 1898-02-15
eCkINGTON BILL REFERRED
Giving All an Opportunity to Bid for the
Belt Line.
Investigation of the Price and Quail
tty of Gas and the ReasOnableness
of Telephone Rates Ordered.

After debating the lexington railway bill
for nearly two hours yesterday. and aftel
nine amendments had been proposed ant
adopted. the House recommitted the bill t.
the committee, with the following instruc
tions:
ITO amend the bill by striking out all af
ter the word that in the third line anC
bring in a section or sections authorizing
the lexington and Soldiers Home Rail
road Company and any other corporation
of the District of Columbia or any person
or persons to become a bidder and pur.
chaser of the property and franchises de-
scribed in this bill. and to further provide
that said committee shall also provide spe-
cific limitations and specifications under
and by which said property shall be operat
ed by any such purchaser" and that the
committee be instructed to fix a period OF
limitation of the operation of the franchise
herein granted.
Cost of Gas md Telephones.
MIR. Odelrs resolution to investigate the
gas company was then called up, as follows
Whereas it is stated and claimed in the
public press of the city that it appears that
the cost (of gas) is not reduced to the con-
sumner, but, on the contrary, the bills rem
Gered by said company to the consumer are
as high, if not higher, than they We're be-
fOre the passage OF said act, and that the
candlepower has not been increased and
maintained at the standard required by
the foregoing provision of said act: There
fore,
Resolved, That a committee consisting
OF five members of the House. be appoint
ed by the Speaker. with power 10 send for
persons and papers, whose duty it shall be
10 investigate the said charges and all facts
connected Herewith and report their con-
at ne
of the Fifty-fifth Congress.
Resolved. That the expense attending
said investigation, such as shall be neces-
sary. be paid out of the contingent fund OF
the House"
MIR. Mudd of Maryland offered the follow
ing amendment:
And whereas it is stated and charged in
the public press and by very many of the
people of this city that the costs of tele-
phone service in the DISTRICT of Columbia
are excessive and exorbitant, and that the
restrictions and eXactions to use of tele-
phones in hotels and business houses and
otherwise are onerCus and unreasonable:
Resolved. That the aforesaid committee
be authorized and empowered to investigate
The said charges as to telephone service in
the District of Columbia and all facts con-
rectel herewith. to send for persons and
papers. and particularly to procure such in
formation which in their judgment is neces-
sary and proper 10 determine what ought
to be fair and sufficient rates for furnish
-ite teItblpue service IN the District OF Co
lunlbia- and what ought TO be fair and rea-
sonahle use of telephones by the persons
and corporations renting telephones, and
those associated with them in business or
otherwise, and report their conclusions to
the House al its present session.
Resolved. That the expense attending
said investigation, such as shall be neces-
sary. be paid out of the contingent fund OF
the House"
The resolution as amended was adopted.
lDUTing debate r Slil
The amendment speaks for itself.
have offered ii in response to a widespread
pubic clamor against what is claimed to
be the unreasonable exactions and exorbi-
tant charges of the telephone company in
this District 1t seems to me that while the
House Is in the Investigating mood it better
go little further and look into these
charges against the present conduct of the
telephonebusiness, where there seem to be
strong apparent reasons for complaint"
Mr. Brumm-"I want to suggest at this
point that there is another idea which
should be added to the amendment, and
mat Is that the committee be empowered to
inquire whether there is not another tele-
phone system better than the one We now
nave and much cheaper. and If, in their
Judgment. they find there is such a one TO
report that In addition to the matter of
overcharging.''
Mr. Mudd-'"The amendment REQUIRES us
10 report all facts as to expenses and
charges. etc. and under that requirement l
lhink We can get at and report as to the
matter of your suggestion If we find it ex-
pedient and desirable
Excessive Telephone Rates,
Mr.. Dockery-"Mr Chairman, 1 am in
hearty sympathy with the proposition Of
fered by the gentleman from Maryland CMr.
Mudd) to Investigate the question of tele-
phone charges in the District of Columbia
1 have no expert knowledge on the question.
but judging from the volume of complaints
which come up from all parts of this Dis
trlct, L think 1t is manifest that telephone
charges are excessive. Now, then, the
question in my judgment which this COM
mittee should first investigate is what
WOULD De reasonable and proper charges
These facts being ascertained it becomes
pertinent 10 know how we can enact them
INTO laws That brings ME to this sugges-
ton.
III the special committee is to enter upon
this work-and / am in full sympathy with
the resoiution-it should do so promptly If
'he investigation continues for two or three
months II will result in nothing. We desire
an accurate and prompt result so that the
committee in charge of the District of Co.
iumbla appropriation bill may have the
pehtilt OF the information and try to secure
the necessary legislation in conference on
that bill When the District of Columbia
appropriation bill was before this body an
amendment was agreed to fixing certain
'StSP4AOie charges. 10 not Know
"hdt the temper of the Senate may be in
respect 10 that amendment but whenever
the conferees on that bill meet in confer
ence we desire the report of this committee
upon which to rest remedial legislation
i suggest promptness and expedition in
lhis investigation. because / very much
HouDt whether any relief will come to the
people OF this District in respect to tele-
phone service unless IL be as a result of the
conference on the proposition now pending
betWeen the two houses upon the District
OF columbia appropriation BILL"