The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-11
PLANS FOR CONTROL
OF ELECTRICAL WORK
Engineer Aliens ReCOmmen-
datiOnS to Commissioners.
TWO SENATE BILLS CONSIDERED
Several Amendments Suggested in
the Report Of the Engineer-POints
Out the Necessity for General Flee
tricaI Inspection and Supervision.

The District Commissioners today de-
termined TO send to the Senate Commit
tee for the District OF Columbia single
report upon bills 1866 and 2654, both
being intended to cover the same ground
and both being bills to regulate the pro
ductiOn and use of electricity for heat,
light. and power ia the District Of Column
bit.
The Commissioners approved the report
on the bills made by MI. Walter C. Allen.
the electrical engineer, and directed that
it be sent as made to the Senate Com
mittee
Mr. Allen recommended favorable con-
sideration OF both bills and said:
Provisions of the Bills.
Bib 1876 empowers the Commissioners
TO appoint an electrical board to be com
posed Of an electrical contractor, an ar
chitect, an electrical wireman. a repre-
sentative Of the Fire Underwriters. and
an Official Of the District Bill 205f ere
ates the Office Of superintendent II Elec-
tricity with assistants who are charged
with the duty Of enforcing certain regu-
lations regarding electrical installations.
The duties o. the District represen-
atye On the beard in the one case and
90 the superintendent in the other are The
same. namely the inspection Of all cleo
,viy0l work iE the District and the en-
foreCwcnt o. the rules adopted either by
thc board or by act OF Congress.
Prefers Board Of Control.
ZOE The two plans am strongly OF the
cpiuion that the one embodied in bin
iiti. placing in the hands Of a board Of
o,otrel the regulation Of electric wiring.
Viii De 10 the best interests Of the Dis
.rlyt
Bin 2c,4 is carefully drawn up and
Cmbodies several features that could be
ven Incorporated in bin 1866. / am Of
the opinion however. that il would not be
advisable 10 INCLUDE the fees for exami-
nations and licenses and the rules for
wiring in the act Of Congress. as the
methods and appliances in electrical work
are constantly changing and improving.
and II they are prescribed by act of Con
gress they could be changed only BY that
body
1t would Be better to leave to the cleo
trical board. with the approval Of the
Commissioners. the making and changing
Of rules governing this work. as is done
in the case OF plumuing in the District
The fees to be charged and the rules for
wiring included in bill 2054 are well
drawn mp and couId serve as guide for
the board IL ii is established"
Suggests Amendments.
Mr- Allen suggests several amendments
10 the bills. one Of which relates TO the
placing Of the Electrical Engineer. his
chief assistant. 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 amend
ment that the electrical board consist OF
three employees Of the District govern
ment one Of whom shall have knowledge
Of electric lighting and power. and who
shall be secretary Of the board and chief
Inspector OF electrical work Under This
amendment the members Of the board
saall each receive s.. COO rer aDnun
Mr. Allen also recommends an amend
ment authorizing the District Commis
sioners 20 make such rules and raeula-
lions for the guidance Of the board as
may be found necessary from time 10
Jirne
NJ Allen forwards with his recommend
ations several reports OF inspectors in his
department showing the necessity for the
inspection Of and supervision over electric
wiring in the District
He exhibits drawing OF the roof Of the
Central National Bank 10 show that the
Fire Department would be very greatly
impeded in its work If called &c that
building
Similar drawings and reports are given
Of other buildings illustrative Of the net
work OF wires which surround their walls
and roof MIR Allen states thar these are
the best proofs he can offer OF the Wis
dom Of the legislation proposed I'm the
bills