Evening star., 1902-02-11
USE OF ELECTRICITY
REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS UPON
TWO BILLS.
That Providing for a Board is Rec
ommended-Several Amendments
Are Suggested.

The District Commissioners have for
Warded to the Senate District committee
single report upon Senate bills 1854 and
l466. both designed to regulate the produc-
tton and use Of electricity for heat light
and power in the District OF Columbia. The
report submitted by the Commissioners was
prepared by Walter C. Allen, the electrical
engineer. The report by Mr.. Allen favors
the adoption Of both bills and explains the
purport OF the measures as follows:
bill 1466 empowers the Commissioners to
appoint an electrical board to be composed
Of an electrical contractor, an architect an
electrical wireman. a representative Of the
fire underwriters and an official of the Dis
trict. Bill 2O54 creates the Office of super
fntendent Of electricity with the assistants
who are charged with the duty of enforc-
ing certain regulations regarding electrical
installations.
Favors the Board Plan.
'The duties Of the District representative
on the board In the one case and OF the
superintendent in the other are the same
namely, the inspection of all electrical work
in the District and the enforcement Of the
rules adopted either by the board or by
act OF Congress.
"Of the two plans I am strongly OF the
opinion that the one embodied in bill 1468.
placing in the hands of board of con-
troll the regulation Of electric wiring. will
be to the best interests Of the District.
'BHl 2054 Is carefully drawn UP and en-
bodies several features that could be well
incorporated In bill 1466. I am OF the
opinion, however, that 1t would not be
advisable to include the fees for examina-
uons and licenses and the rules for wiring
In the act Of Congress. as the methods and
appliances in electrical work are constant
ly changing and improving, and If they
are prescribed by act OF Congress they
could be changed only by that body. It
would be better to leave to the electrical
board. with the approval of the Commits
sioners, the making and changing OF rules
governing this work, as Is done in the case
Of plumbing in the District. The fees to
be charged and the rules for wiring in
cluded in bill 2O54 are well drawn up and
could serve as a guide for the board il 1t
is established"
Amendments Suggested.
Several amendments to the bills are sug-
gested, one of which relates to the placing
OF the electrical engineer. his chief as
sistant and his Office force on the annual
rolls Of the District employees, instead Of
on the per diem rolls, as now. Mr.. Allen
suggests In another amendment that the
electrical board consist of three employees
Of the District government. one Of whom
shall have knowledge Of electric lighting
Auu power ana VINO snail De secretary OF
the board and chief inspector of electrical
work. Under this amendment the men,
bers OF the board shall each receive $1,000
per annum.
The Commissioners also recommend an
amendment authorizing them to make such
rules and regulations for the guidance Of
the board as may be found necessary from
time to time.
Necessity Of Inspection.
Mr.. Allen forwarded with his recon-
mendatfons several reports Of inspectors
in his department, showing the necessity
for the inspection Of and supervision over
electric wiring In the District. He ex-
hibits drawing Of the roof of the Central
National Bank to show that the fire de-
partment would be very greatly impeded
In its work II called to that building. Siml-
lar drawings and reports are given Of
other buildings. illustrative Of the net
work of wires which surround their walls
and roofs. The electrical engineer states
that these are the best proofs he can offer
of the wisdom OF the legislation proposed
In the bills.