Evening star., 1899-03-03
Report on District Bill in
the House.
FIXING The PRICE FOR ELECTRICITY
Rights and Relations of the Two
Companies.
EXTENSION OF CONDUITS


proceeded in the House of Representatives
Mr. Grout explaining the report, said:
LAS showing the general outcome of the
conference, 1 will state that the Senate
amendments added to the amount of the
bill as passed by the House 1855, $50. In
this report the Senate has receded to the
amount of Si330.8. and the House has
agreed to amendments involving S445, ,94j
leaving in amendments upon which an
agreement has not been reached the sum
of s116,9Go still in dispute. The principal
part-indeed, almost the whole--of the
amount Of money involved in the disagree
ment relates to the increase of the police
force, there being only s12,6G0 involved in
the charity schedule and some $1,000 in the
amendment relating to electric lights"
Mr. HendersOn-"Wha increase did the
Senate amendment make in the police
force?'
Mr.. Grout-"They ask for 100 privates-0
of the first class. 20 of the second class-l
lieutenant and l sergeant
Mr.. Henderson-''tnder our rules we can
not increase the police force in the House
on an appropriation bill, can we? We have
never been able, l believe under our rules
to increase the police force
Mr.. Grout-'I suppose it would violate the
rules 10 bring in a proposition for the in
crease of the police force on an appropria-
tion bill. But it was the opinion of the
committee that the District did not reluire
this Increase
Mr. Henderson-"Does not my friend hink
the police force is at present INADEQUATE To
the necessities of the city,
Military Force at Hand
Mr.. Grout replied in the negative adding
that there was military force within reach
and departmental police forces.
Mr.. Henderson-'It is true as the gentle
man says. that we have this extra police
these various departments in the White
House and in the various public buildings:
but is Il not fact that for the White House
and the foreign legations the force of twen-
ty-tWo men. which / am informed is the
force is taken practically away from other
places and is a reduction of the number of
men TO that extent? / understand that the
average beat of policeman is from l To
Is miles. while outside of the city it is from
~ 10 square miles. covered by each one
Electric Lighting Conduits.
But, leaving that matter for the present
there is another question to which I desire
to ask attention. 1 would like to ask an
explanation of the Senate amendment as
10 the provisions for electric lighting in the
city"
Mr.. Grout-"The Senate amendment is in
the following words: Provided further
That the Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia are hereby authorized tc grant
permits for the repair and enlargement
under proper regulations, of the existing
electric conduits'
Now, the reason that we object to that
provision is because il applies to one only of
the two companies operating in this civ
Gentlemen will probably recall the fact that
there are in Washington two electric light
ing companies. one known as the United
states company, and the other the Potomac
Electric Light Company.
The United States company was first or
ganized, and put down conduits for electric
nshtns at an early date in the history Of
electric lighting. Many of them owing to
the increase in the business were found 70
he too small and in order properly 10 con-
oact their business they need to be enlarged.
But the Potomac company came in subsc-
quently and entered into business here
Ihey had had the benefit of the previous
experience of other companies engaged in
me business and put down larger conduits
MS amendment provides for allowing
an increase in the size of some of these
conduits, but does not authorize the laying
OF new cOnduits. | might take for an IL
lustratiOn the hotel where / Iive-the Ar
linston. That hotel is lighted by electricity
furnished by one of these companies But
the capacity of the conduit is not sufficient
to supply all that is needed. and so it hap
pens that only the dining room and the Of
flee and parlors are lighted with electricity
This amendment. therefore, is to enable the
tnited States company TO enlarge its con-
duits.
But on the other side of II street op~
posite To the Arlington Hotel. the Potomac
company have line of condults passing the
hotel They would like. of course. to have
the privilege of crossing the street and en-
tering into competition for this lighting
with the rival company. Their conduits
having been put in at a later date are
on a larger plan and would be sufficient for
the work which is required from the COM
pany.
fore. to that condition of things. The COM
mittee thought if we allowed the enlarge
ment of the existing conduits-that is, the
cOuduits of the United States Electric
Lighting COmpany-in cases Ike that re-
ferred 10. that we should also allow the
other company to extend their conluits
and thus have an opportunity of entering
into competition for the lighting of the
city.
The committee also thought if we grant
to the two companies the privilege of en-
larsing and extending their conduits We
should AZ the same time fix the price at
which they should furnish light both to the
city and private individuals. We have not
however, been able Yet to settle this salts
factOrily to ourselves even, but hope to be
able to do so when we bring the bill back
irtO the House again, but, of course, We
are glad to know what gentlemen think of
the matter"
Mr. HendersOn-'I have TO doubt at all
tfat that is the better plan. | am entirely
content that the committee shall consider
the matter. 1 believe they will deal proper
" and efficiently with it. But / hope my
friend in the consideration of these mat
ters. will accept the proposition for an ad
dition TO the police force That is needed.
and is a matter that will meet the ap-
proval of everybody who understands the
condition OF things here"
Fixing Rates.
Mr. Rabcock offered the following amend
ment as instructions to the conferees:
Provided, that any company availing it
self of such privilege of extension of con-
duits, as heretofore provided shall not
charge or collect more than Sc per month
for each arc light of 1000 candle power
more than cents for each Loco watts for
incandescent current, and any company
charging or collecting an amount IN ex-
cess of such rates shall be deemed guilty
OF misdemeanor and shall pay to he
District of Columbia the sum of $50 for
each and every offense, to be collected as
other fines are now collected in the Dis
trict of Columbia, and shall pay to the
District of Columbia, in lieu of personal
taxes upon personal property, each year
4 per cent of its gross receipts from what
ever source, and its real estate shall be
taxed as other real estate in the District
of Columbia"