Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-15
THE ISSUE RAISED
REPORT REGARDING REFUSAL OF
PERMITS TO LOCAL COMPANY.
Electrical Engineer Disagrees With
Former Ruling Of His Office
An Explanation.


port from the electrical department re-
garding the stand taken by that depart
ment in refusing certain permits to
the Potomac Electric Power Company until
a license as contractor should be taken
out. Mr.. w. C. Allen. the electrical engi-
neer. states that the ruling against the
company was made while he was on leave
of absence by Mr.. James C. Simpson, tenn
porarily in charge Mr.. Allen says he does
not agree with Mr.. Simpson in refusing the
permits in question.
General George H. Harries. vice president
of the electric company. wrote to the Com
missioners a few days ago complaining
that his company was being nagged-
He inclosed check for $25 in payment
Of fee for license as a contractor and
filed Herewith formal protest. He asked
that the matter be referred to the corpo-
ration counsel The Commissioners first,
however, referred the papers to the cleo
trical department. as it was from there the
contention emanated. The statement OF
Electrical Engineer Allen to the Commls-
sioners Is follows:
Il have the honor to state that DO not
agree with Mr.. Simpson, who was the heao
of this department during my recent aD-
sence, in the stand he has taken In refus-
ing the issuance Of permits to the Potomac
Electric Power Company to hang and main
tain private arc lamps in front Of premises
or to make connections with existing WIZ
ing until the said company shall have taken
out q license tax Of SIS as contractors.
"Since the passage Of the act imposing
such tax upon contractors l have received
and have approved a considerable NUMBER
of applications for this class of work from
the Potomac Electric Power Company. hav-
ing been of the opinion that the special
tax upon the gross receipts OF the said COM
pany for conducting an electric lighting
E9o(1 o. 6a
volved by these permits. This hanging OF
arc lamps and connecting the company's
system with inside wiring Is necessary
complement of their electric lighting bust
ness and, in my opinion. 1t does not require
the taking out of an additional license as
contractor.
Does No Inside Wiring.
GAS far as know. the Potomac Electric
Power Company have never contracted to
do inside wiring. Certainly, they have
never applied to this Office for any such
permission. The inside wiring is ordinarily
done by some firm or individual engaged in
that business, and ever since the passage OF
the above mentioned act requiring license
for contractors 1 have examined the rec
ords of the assessors Office to see that all
applicants for this class of work have taken
out their license as required
II have never refused to approve an ap-
plication of the Potomac Electric Power
Company for any class of work on the
ground that they had no license as con-
tractor. The only application of theirs
which has been refused for that reason was
one made on August II. 1903, for permits
sion to hang sign advertising their own
business, on the front of the Colorado
building, 14th and G streets premises not
occupied by them in connection with their
business This application was received
during my absence and acted upon by the
then electrical engineer. Mr.. Simpson. His
first reason for refusing permit was that
1t was advertising the company's business
on promises not occupied by them, which
would require. under the terms of the above
mentioned act, license as a bill poster.
Another Point Of Difference.
The other reason Mr.. Simpson assigned
for declining to approve this application
was that the company had not taken out a
license as contractor. In this last con-
tention do not agree with Mr.. Simpson.
I'm his letter to the company. however,
Mr. Simpson requested them to let him
know If they put another construction upon
the law. SO that the matter could be taken
up and referred to the corporation counsel
for an opinion, thereby leaving the question
open whether such applications from the
company should be approved in future.
LAS to the issuance of a warrant for the
arrest of Mr.. Sinclair. general superintend-
ent of the company, I beg to state that no
one in this department had anything to do
with 1t.
IAN applications from the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Company to hang electric arc
lights in front of premises or to connect
premises with their electric lighting and
power system will be approved by this de-
partment as heretofore. unless orders are
received from the Commissioners to the
contrary"