The Washington herald., 1907-06-13

NO appropriation heretofore or here
matter made FOR the construction and
equipment of any executive or munich
pal building in the District Of Columbia
shall be extended for the production
OF electricity for light or power un-
less, in the judgment Of the Secretary
of the Treasury. such necessary cleo
tric current cannot be obtained at
less cost"
This little joker rattached TO the sundry
civil bill, under the caption, "The
Isthmian Canal" and inconspicuous with
the prefix article g. threatens TO cause
some unlooked-for changes in the build
ing plans Of the Commissioners and a
world Of discussion among those inter
ested in the lighting Of executive ard
municipal buildings
The bin was approved March I. 1907
and means simply that il is in the power
Of the Secretary Of the Treasury TO de-
termine whether it is cheaper to procure
electricity than 70 produce il.
Joker SRcokz in Late.
The joker was not incorporated in tho
bill until late in the session Of Congress
and then without the knowledge of tn.
Commissioners. But with the new mu-
nicipal building well under construction
and plans made for the erection and
equipment Of the electric plant, the ar
tiCle becomes Of signal moment and has
rather puzzled the authorities as 70 III,
outcome II VIII bring about
The new sewage pumping station.
also near completion with the elaborate
plans for self-lghting carried out stands
lin danger Of being reconstructed if the
Secretary Of the Treasury finds that il
is cheaper TO procure than 10 produce
The words heretofore" and herein
after modify the article somewhat. but
not enough 10 prevent the possibility OF
changes in the system Of lighting at tho
Mckinley Manual Training School and
the Armstrong Manual Training School.
where plants have been equipped on
which the students depend for thelr
courses in electricity.
The Commissioners have submitted the
matter Of the municipal building and the
sewage pumping station to the SeCre-
tary Of the Treasury. together with some
data relative 20 the cost Of the electricity
the maintenance OF the plant. and the
estimated cost Of It's equipment.
Secretary VIII Investigate.
The Secretary, with the assistance and
advice Of the electrical engineer. will in
vestigate the conditions in the buildings
already furnishing their own electricity
and examine the data forwarded to then
by the Commissioners before making any
decision as TO the relative cost Further
they will gather from outside sources
estimates of the price Of electricity pro-
cured from independent concerns and con
slider them In their deliberations.
The Secretary and the electrical engi-
neer are preparing their report on the
situation. but when it will be made pub
lie has not been announced.
Before the matter was placed in their
hands however. it was necessary for the
Comptroller of the Treasury TO interpret
the article and to decide whether the
IluUltlpdl uAlilllE dliA tAF CtNdEF NNa-
ton came under the act His decision
was in the affirmative. and precipitated
the action Of the Commissioners in desir-
ing the matter settled.
Not All Buildings Affected.
Buildings in which electric plants have
already been installed are not in the least
affected by this bill, whether or not their
motors and electricity costs many times
that for which it can be procured Thus
the Treasury Department and the Post
Office Department and most Of the other
public buildings ere not under this bill
but the State, " ar and Navy Depart
ment. in which some changes are said
10 be contemplated, will have first TO be
passed on by the Secretary of the
Treasury.
In case the decision holds that the gov
ernment can produce electricity at rea-
sonable cost. and one not above that
charged by outside firms. the buildings
now under construction will be completed
without change Of plans. II on the other
hand it is found that Independent COM
panies can put electricity into executive
and municipal buildings for less money
than their governmental competitors, the
Commissioners will find themselves COM
PEELED TO open bids for the installation OF
electric plants and the exclusion of gov
ernment electricity