Evening star., 1926-05-11

received by the subcommittee and by
the Comm ssioners that the speclllca-
tions and requirements were sucn
that only the one concern that az
ready had installed the Sixteenth
street lights could meet the require
ments. He stated that there IS
nothing in the specifications that
will exclude any legitimate manu-
facturer of an interlocking system.
Cost Of Operation S95,OO0.
In reply to questions, he explained
| hat when the lights are purchased
hey are installed by the Potomac
Electric Power Co. at cost Plus ~ per
cent and that the operation of the
lights includes maintenance ana re.
pair, lie estimated the cost or
| operating the electric traffic signals
now installed at $4,000.
When Mr.. Gibson asked about the
operating cost constantly increasing
with the extension of the signal light
system Col. Moehler said this would
! be c0unteIbalanced by relieving po-
| lcemen from traffic duty.
Mr.. Blanton called attention that
legislation Is pending in the Senate
which already has passed the House
providing for reissuanCe of drivers
| licenses at n fee of S. which would
provide sufficient funds for com
pleting the traffic signal light system
as now mapped out. Col. Moehler
said that when this is done then there
are other important places to be
taken care Of. citing Pennsylvania
avenue southeast, and Third and
Sixth streets southwest.
In reply to 4 question from Mr..
| Bowman as 10 what the estimated
cosl of opera ion will be when the
! it,g, l.,1l 4 in
he eight zones now con emplated,
Col. Moehler answered, 'about $780,
| coo n year" but said that this cost
viii be reduced by relieving from so
20 60 police officers from traffic duty.
Power at Great Falls.
MIR. Bowman asked if, when the
| District eventually develops Great
| Falls water power, whether il would
be able 70 continue using the mains
of the Potomac Electric Power Co.
/ Col. Moehler said that would prob
ably put the Potomac Electric Power
| Co. out of business and the District
would take over the conduits.
Mr. Blanton said that ali the tes-
| tilnOny before congressional commit
| tees for years has shown that it is
| out of the question to put in new
UNDERGROUND wire syStem% Chairman
/
! unfortunate for any city government
| 20 allow itself to get into the hands
! Of q monopoly in any public utility"
| and it was agreed that the Potomac
| Electric Power Co. has a complete
| monopoly in Washington.
Miss Catherine Hilton. who is in
! training to be Ii nurse at Gallinger
| Hospital, was called by Mr.. BlantOn
| to testify regarding an episode she
| 4 Ie.ftt lg~lX-
ana white woman at that institu-
| ton and which she had reported to
! the night supervisor.
Former Student Manacled.
Dudley Moore. 72S Fifth street, was
| called by MIR. Blanton. He testified
| he is graduate of Central High
| School. with two years ct George
| town University. and is now regularly
employed as a barber. Mr.. Moore
testified that he came from Occoquan
OH May g. that he had been manacled
| there for 270 davs for escaping.
Engineer Commissioner Bell was
| asked to describe his job in the Dis
trict Government. He said he is
member of the Board of Commits
sioners, chairman of the Zonins Com
mission, member of the Natfohal
| Capital Park and Planning Commits
|
| sioner he has supervision over the
! following offices: Municipal architect.
! who is in charge OF school, police and
| fire, charitable and eleeInOSynary insti-
I tutiOns and all buildings for the Dis
! triCt government; of the Highway De-
! partment, In charge OF construction
| of sidewalks, roads and streets, and
| also of an asphalt and cement test
| ing plant; the water distribution
| fs4~I sfnyN mt
of garbage, trash and ashes and
cleaning of streets; the electrical de
oartment. the department for issuing
permits for construction of all build
| ings and plumbing installation: the
! surveyor, laying out the permanent
! highway plan. trees and parking di-
vision; superintendent of District
Building and Of the auto repair shop
and the chief clerks office. He eX-
| planned that each one of these de-
| partments has Il head responsible for
| efficiency and for making recon.
mHndations for maintenance and de.
| velopment.
Work Of His Assistants.
Col. Bell described the work done
| by his three assistants detailed from
| the Engineer Corps. Maj. Raymond
! "A. Wheeler is eX-Officio in charge of
ZoIllHS ana supervisor In an advisory
! capacity over several departments.
Maj. William II. HolcOmb has super
vision of general matters. checking
reports and work and making special
| Investigations for all Of the Commits.
sioners. Maj. w. +. X. CoveN de-
votes his time entirely to public utili-
ties work except on occasional detail
| to other jobs. These three assistants
from the Engineer Corps assist all of
the District Commissioners as well as
being personal assistants to Col. Bell.
Questioned by Mr.. Gibson regarding
paving contracts, Col. Bell explained
that the specifications are prepared
in consultation with the general board
under Col. H. c. Smither, chief CO.
| ordinator, which is d part of the
budget system, and that slight modifi.
cations are made in the specifications
to meet the District law. He ex.
planned that out of about 400 con-
tracts 60 per cent are for supplies
| and 40 per cent for work.
The specifications for highway
work come through c. d. Hunt, en-
| gineer of this department for many
years. with Maj. Wheeler taking