The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-03-24
COMMISSIONERS WANT
WIRES TO COME DOWN
Much Interest in Bill Before
Congress.
Companies Frame Alternative Measure,
Authorizing Construction of Conduits
Over Much More Restricted Area.

A good deal of interest attaches to the
proposed Legislation relative to the ex-
tensions of the underground wires used
for telephone, telegraph, and lighting pur-
poses. 1t is a well-known fact that the
telephone service of the city has been
long hampered. because of the peculiar
wording of tie laws relating to the sub
ject, especially with reference to :tring
ing wires over private properly and the
extensions of the subways.
For the past three years the interpre-
tation put upon the law by the City Solicit
tor has amounted practically to a prohibi-
ton of the use of telephones in certain
parts of the District The question has
also been aggravated1by friction between
the companies and the rates charged foi
telephones, electric lights, etc.
To Clear Away Obstacles.
To obviate the practical difficulties in
the way of the proper extension of these
services. the District Commissioners, aid
ed by the Electrical Engineer and the City
Solicitor, prepared a carefully drawn bill
and sent it to the committees of Con-
sress, with a reuqest that it be introduced
and passed
This bill provided for the building OF
new conduits where that was necessary,
and the taking down of the overhead wires
as fast as the underground ways for them
are constructed. 1t provided also that
the limits of the extension of such con-
duits should be the fire limits of the Dis
trict of Columbia
The bill in addition gave the Commits
sioners control over the construction of
the conduits. and over the temporary cree
tion of overhead wires pending the con-
struction of the subways.
Among other provisions of the bill was
the creation of a department of electrical
work in the municipal Government with
powers greater than those now exercised
by the Electrical Engineer
Companies Have a Bill.
Over against this bill the companies in
terested have framed an alternative bill,
which was recently introduced in the
House of Representatives by Mr.. Jenkins
of the House Committee on the District.
This bill authorizes the extension of con-
duits over much more restricted area
than that Of the Commissioners, being in
general the territory south of Florida
Avenue and east of Rock Creek. 1t also
provides Tor considerably less supervision
than the Commissioners bill, and places
fewer restrictions upon the operating
Speaking of the matter on Saturday,
Commissioner mcfarland said that the
one thing needed was the extension of the
conduits and the removal of so many
overhead wires
AS stated in the report OF the Commits
sioners on their bill Mr.. Macfarland is
of the opinion that the limit of the ex-
tension of electric appliances should be
the fire limits OF the District. He docs
not think. nor do his associates, that an
arbitrary line like Florida Avenue should
be chosen as the limit OF operations.
He said that the matter as explained by
the sponsors of the Jenkins bill is that the
bill is only temporary, and that It will
be followed by another measure in the
next Congress. taking in another section
Of the city for the extension OF the SER
vices named. 1t is understood that It
will require three or four years to effect
the extension of the subways all over the
city. and the companies for some reason
desire that the permission for doing so
shall come in seghents.
One Good Law Needed.
1t was the idea of the Commissioners
hat it would be better 10 enact a compre-
lensiye measure, covering the whole sub
ect than to got to Congress year after
year with a request for extension of the
franchises for laying subways
The Commissioners il is understood will /
1pt ba anl inc
probably will call attention to their own |
Measure, and express a preference for it's
They desire especially that au-
hority shall be granted by the present |
congress to build additional conduits to |
elieve the incfensing demand for the |