Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-06-29

force OF the company the rates charg-
ed now are lower than the rates
named in the Vaudeville PROPOSITION.
It is due to a mistake by some one
when the first bills were made out.
Question: In other words the AL
exandria Electric Company is charg-
ing less than they are entitled to
charge under the contract?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Do you know any of
the experts in the Colorado Springs
case?
Answer: Yes, Mr. Marks. had a
conversation with him within the last
two weeks
Mr.. Fisher: That conversation is
not proper.
Mr.. Harlow: Mr.. Fisher cannot
get away from his legal habit OF OBJ
iecting to things. | take 1t that any
thing that will throw any light on the
subject think it is proper before an
investigating committee. IL the COM
mittee don't want to hear it, why II
is all right, OF course.
Mr.. Spinks: | don't think that Is
proper. You could have him come
self, If you want to examine him as
witness.
Mr.. Harlow: II the committee is
willing to hear ii or If you want to
hear il, we will state it; | understand
that you want light on the subject,
we are trying to get it. IL you don't
want to hear it, that is something
else.
Mr.. Spinks: Our testimony has all
been from people who had knowledge
of the conditions. All your testi-
mony is from people who know moth
ing about it except the officials of the
company.
Mr.. Harlow: Experts don't have
to have personal knowledge. | want
you to remember that all the testi-
mony we have had has been from
personal knowledge. Who are the
present owners and directors of the
company?
The witness: T. G. Coleman, Pres
ident; J. c. NJ. Lucas, Vice-President,
H. B. Lucas, Secretary and Treas
urer, these with Mr.. Portner, are the
directors.
Question: Have any of them know
ledge of or experience in electrical
matters?
Answer: Mr.. ]. c. Lucas is the Dis
trict Manager for the Baltimore Dis
trict of the Aliss Chalmers Company,
and H. p. Lucas Is the manager OF a
large electrical construction company
in Baltimore.
Questions by Mr.. Fisher:
Mr.. Fisher: You state that your
testimony being that of an expert is
impartial, and that you are here as an
expert State your experience.
Answer: | have just done that.
Question: Do it again.
Answer: | have been engineer for
a number of different cities and cor
porations, am engineer for the Ten
nessee Power Company, | am engi-
neer at the Wataugua River, | am
engineer for Bedford City, Virginia,
that is building an electrical water
plant on the James River, and / have
built number of other plants in the
past eight years.
Question: You are consulting en-
gineer for five concerns, or cities that
are now in process of operation or
construction?
Answer: One is in process of con-
struction, one plant will be completed
in two weeks, the other one will be
begun in about two weeks.
Question: They represent about
three million dollars?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: Where did you receive
your experience in electricity?
Answer: In the construction of a
->-.rnbvr Uf plants in the last seven
years. | graduated from Columbia
in the department of civil engineer
ing.
Question: You did not take cleo
trical engineering?
Answer: / took certain electrical
subjects.
Question: You say you are an ex-
pert?
Answer: | would not state that |
am an expert; but think that know
something about it.
Question: You state that you made
an inspection, and make inspections
here in town?
Answer: Yes. sir; all the work in
the changes and Improvements has
been under my supervision.
Question: How often do you make
an inspection?
Answer: Every day in the week,
up to a month ago.
Question: How could you devote
so much of your attention to Alexan-
dria when you are consulting engi-
neer for all these other things?
Answer: 1t might be difficult for
you to understand that as a lawyer,
but ! think that any engineer can I'M
derstand that it is a matter of suf-
ficient assistants.
Question: Your supervision, of the
Alexandria company is not personal
supervision?
Answer: Yes, as much as any chief
engineer gives to the work.
Mr.. Harlow: You mean personal
supervision of what?
Mr.. Fisher: OF the whole thing.
The witness: Yes, | gave personal
and attention to this
plant, this other work has begun
since the completion of the installa-
tion of the machinery and improve
ments here.
Question: When was that compile
ted?
Answer: | should say not finally
until the early part or the tenth or
of November, about that
tim; the turbine was completed about
that time and I made daily trips to
then.
Question: Have you ever been
around town at night?
Answer: Yes, sir.
Question: What was the hour Of
vour incDoctiOn7