Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-14
Representative jenkins Would
Buy Lighting Plants.
OFFERS BILL IN THE HOUSE
Acquisition to Be by Condemnation,
if Necessary.
EXPLANATION OF MEASURE
Says Time Has Come When Aeita-
tion Should Cease-Should
Remove All Friction.

A bill authorizing the acquisition Of all
plants Of electric lighting companies and
gaslight companies in the District of Co.
lumbia, by purchase or condemnation. was
introduced in the House today by Repre-
sentative Jenkins of Wisconsin, chairman
OF the House committee on the judiciary.
The measure authorizes the District
Commissioners to acquire the plants and
property in question, and for the purpose
of ascertaining the cost and value of the
plant the President is authorized to ap-
point with the consent of the Senate one
engineer officer of the army and two citi-
zens of the District to agree with the
owners Of the plants as TO the price
The Commissioners and three persons
indicated are constituted commission for
the purchase of the plant, and the assist
ant to the Engineer Commissioner of the
District, in charge of public highways, is
named to act as executive officer of the
commission
To Make Map.
The commission is directed to make an
accurate map of the properties, showing
the location, quantity and character Of
necessary to their proper operation, with
the names of the respective owners at
tached, the whole to be recorded in the
pubic records Of the District.
agreement can be reached with the own
ers of the property as to satisfactory
price, to make the purchase, and a sum
sufficient to carry out the plans OF this
provision is appropriated by the bill.
In the event that the commission shall
Ce unable by agreement with the respects
i've owners to purchase the plants or any
one Of them, it is provided that the plants
shall be condemned and the title vested in
the United States, after just compensa-
ton. The Attorney General is directed.
in such case, to make application to the
Supreme Court of the District for an as
sessment OF the value Of the plant that
the commission could not purchase
Court Will Fix Time.
The Supreme Court of the District is
also authorized to direct the time and
manner in which possession of the plants,
OF any one of them, shall be taken or de-
livered and may, il necessary, enforce
any order or issue any process for giving
possession.
1t is specially provided that no delay
in making an assessment of compensation
or in taking possession shall be occasioned
by any doubt which may arise as to own
ership of the plant or plants or any
parts thereof. or as to the interest of the
respective owners, and in such cases the
court is directed to require a deposit of
the money allowed as compensation for
the whole property or the part in dispute,
and In all cases. as soon as the commits
sion shall have paid the compensation as
sessed or secured its payment by d de-
posit of money under the order of the
court possession of the property may be
taken.
a special section provides that all pro-
ceedinSS under the bill shall be in the
name of the United States and managed
by the District Commissioners, and an
other section directs that the commission
named in the bill shall from time to time
make d report of all proceedings and file
1t when completed.
Must Give Notice.
At least ten days notice i'm every daily
newspaper published in the city of WASH
ington shall be given by the commits
sioners and their three associates of the
time and place of their meeting for the
purpose of making an assessment to as
certain the value of their plants.
If condemnation proceedings be neces-
sary the commission is directed to apply
to the court for confirmation of the as
sessment. giving at least ten days no.
tice Of the time by publication, the no.
tice to state in general terms the SUBJ
ject and object of the application.
The court is given power, after notice.
to hear and determine all matters con-
nected with the assessment and to revise,
correct, amend and confirm the assess
ment i'm whole or in part or to order
new assessment. in whole or in part, with
or without further notice or on such
notice as it shall prescribe.
The last section Of the bill appropriates.
in general terms. sum TO pay the
penses OF the commission. Bills must
States and payment made upon his order.
Judge Jenkins Explains.
In speaking of the bill today Judge Jen-
ins said to Star reporter:
THE time has come when agitation in
OI
on should cease. Ever since my member
ship in Congress friction and feeling have
1een on the increase. and il is certainly
Unfortunate, to say the least to have here
n the National capital such publicity of
ocal affairs. one that ought not TO exist
even in a place of few hundred
1T goes out all over the world that in
he shadow of the Capitol of this great
"a ton people being robbed by the
public utility corporations, and that. on
ne other hand. the people are selfish
nd unreasonable that they are not willing
hat those VINO have invested their money
n public utilities shall make a reasonable
um on the investment.
No Sympathy With Attacks.
Il welcome these public utilities and
lave no sympathy with the constant at
acks, as are being made upon these very
important business interests. and unless
ceases il Will result in government
all over the nation, which | am
opposed to. but in this instance believe
necessary. for If the price of these COM
nodities were greatly reduced il would
lot lessen agitation.
1T seems impossible to fix "A price that