Evening Star Newspaper, July 30, 1896, Page 8

¥ MOSES G: m8 FB at., cor, Lith, Storing, Hauling, Mov- ing and Packing are spe- cialties with us. Best of service, smallest of charges. You. Buy To Save ‘At this season of the year. There’s no time when refurnishing or re- placing old furniture can be done more economically. We've cut most everything on the Furniture floors. Rockers. veh Rocker. Oxk, upholstered seat. Owk, cobbler seat. 2.75 $6.00 Ouk and mahogany fintsh, saddle seat 8.00 $4.75 Oak, saddle and cobbler seat........ 8.25 $7.50 Oak and mahogany finish, saddle seat 4.25 $6.09 Mahogany finish, saddie seat... Dining Chairs. . B. MOSES & SONS. Wilson's Retiring Sale. 5 ‘Nothing But ‘Shoe Bargains. “~F ‘There isn't a Shoe in stock that ts priced at anywhere near ite regular rule. Reductions bave been made again and again til prices rest now at the lowest Botch ever regehed hereabouts, The reason for such sacrifices is Iam from the shoe business, High Cat Biesel and fixtures for sale. s” Oxford Ties in Russet $1.68 bent that smoncy $3.85) ow, different styles of > from $2.50 to. ). + Enamel Leather shades Russet. WILSON, HIGH GRADE SHOES, ) 929 FSt. N. W. BICYCLES. WE ARE AGENTS FOR THB WORLD-FAMOUS EILGIN WATCH COMPANY'S WHEELS. Eigin King. Elgin Queen. SEND FOR CATALOGUE. SECONTD-HAND WHEELS, $10.00 TO $60.00. RENTING—15 CENTS PER HOUR. REPAIRING GUAR. TEED FIRST CLASS. ce . AVENUE CYCLE €O., Jy20-3m 1110 & 1112 CONN. AVE. TOOTH REATMENT. oie a armen Pleasant, me merit of oar Painless work is due in great Extracting, part to tts thorougn- i 50c. ners. Best Artificial Teeth, $8. Evans’ Dental Pariors, 1217 Penna. Ave. N. W. jyt-2ta Po NE ER a Mo Reoma Pure Rye Whisky Is distilled espectally for medicinal purposes, an? is highly recome erded by the leading physicians for its medictoal virtues. Sold only in quart bottles, $1.25 each. REEVES, POOLE & CO., 1200 F st. nw. Wade & Butcher Razors. Torrey Razor Strops. 00 W. & B. Razor, hollow ground. 1.50 W. & B. Razor, hollow ground. i Four-elde@ Torrey Strop.... Hl Swing Strop. S. & A. SOc. Tat Strop. € 2Se. Shaving Brush.... Very complete line Barbers’ Stone Hones, all sizes; Cosmetics, Shaving Soaps, B. & S. Clippers, Safety Razors, Bay Rum. etc., at Jowest prices.” KULB PHARMACY, 488 ftp a: Bw. Sy21-17 Painless Extracting —with pure gas or by = 50C. mey18-8m.14 Be. such as pple tion of ZONO to the gums...... Highest class dental operations by experienced experts at one- balf the charge of other first- class dentists. Painless fillings, TSe. up. Very best teeth, $3. Solid gold crowns, $5. Dental Ass’n, ° Cor. 7th & D Sts. U. my11-3m,30 NO CURE NO PAY. CZARRA’S ia hy DOr. GZAL PRIVATE DISPENSARY. 619-621 Pa. ave. n.w., Washington, D. C. SPECIALTY—All chronic, nerrous, blood and skin ses. rheumatism, gout, eatarrh, dyspepsia, ver, Kidneys, bladder and uriuary troubles, piles, peicfure, Sitalts esto cach evees Dispensary to eversbody each evening, PEE som 6 to 8 orclock. Hours, 9 to 12 am, 3 to 8 p.m. Je4-2m,154 Ra aa 22 20 2a 40 22 2a an TRUNKS. Big and little—tndestructible, unsmasha- Dle—possess every convenience. No lower > cesanywhere than ours Bags and p it Cases—fine ones for little money. Re- pairing by experts. utz & Co., 497 Penn.Ave} Agents for the famous “Concord Harness.” g 31S-200 ew wy ee we we ww we Plason’s Fruit Jars “Cut.” We've inangurated extraordinarily low prices— fink of wetting PINT sizes, usually retailed at & dosen. for 64e., and QUARTS, usually sold at We., for T4e.!! Delivered anywhere C. 0. D. L. H. Hopkins ————933 F myi3-3m,16 GOLDENBERG’S REMNANT BARGAINS Tomorrow will go down into trade history as the bargain day of the ear, . We've never been in a position to offer you such extraordinary yalues. All of the remnant accumulations —all of that merchandise which we do not care to take in stock—all the odd lots—ends of lines, broken as- sortments—have been marked with a bargain price that will clear it out in a hurry. We should be very busy—we’ve made preparations to be very busy, for we know that you will fairly “jump” at the values when you see them. Remnants white goods. Remnants of White India Linon, Victoria Lawrs, Black, Plain and Plaid Lawcs—i2%c. goods for qc. yard. Remnants of Persian Lawns, India Linons, Plain and Dotted Swisses and Black Batiste and Corded Pique, which have been selling for 18e. to 25 and 35e.—to go at 12%¢c, yard. Remnants laces & emb. Remnants of Valenciennes Laces, in white and butter, which sold for 4 to 10c. yard—for 2c. yard. Remnants of Loop and Scalloped-edge Em- Drolderies, in lengths of from 2 to 44 yards, which sold for 10c. to 15e. yard—to go at 5c. yard. Odd lot hosiery.. Balance of the lot of Hosiery, which we closed out from a jetailcr going ‘out of this Tine—cousisting of Ladies, “Men's and Chil- dren's Black, Tan and Balbriggan—25c. Hosiery everswhere—for 15. pair. Odd lot corsets. Balance of th» Dollar “Sonnette” Corsets, in white, black and gray, in sizes 22 to 30 enly—to go at 50c. pair. Remnants Silks. Remnants of KI-ki, Plain India, Linen-col- ored Pongee, Figured Pongee and Plain Surabs, Which sold for 25c. and to go at 12%¢c. yard. Remnants wash goods. igured Chal- Remnants of Scotch Lawns, F Ms and Shirting Prints, which gold at 0 and Remnants of Dimities, Fine Lawns, and Fine Zephyrs, which sold for 1ztge. 5c. yard. Remnants of Fine Organdies, Silk and Wool Challis, which sold at 12%4c. to 25¢.—to go at 7%¢. yard. Black goods, gc.yd. 14 pleces All-wool Fancy Black ds—in half widths, which sell regular in fall width for 50c. yard—to go at oc. yard. Remnants Linens. Remnants Soft-flnish Guman Table Linen— sells from the piece at 39c.—to go at 27¢. yard. Remnants of Plain Linen and Checked Glass ‘Toweling—10 and 12%4c. goods—to go at 8c. yard. GOLDEN BERG’S, It 926-928 7th—706 K Sts. SNe A Chance of a Lifetime. $50,000 } WORTH OF Fine Furniture TO BE SOLD REGARDLESS OF COST. { Only Four Days More. We clos: our 18th and F sts. store Friday, July 31. The Stock Must Be Sold, As we have not the room to put it at the RINE® Parlor Furniture, Chamber Furniture, Library Furniture, Dining Room Furniture, Office Furniture, Book Cases, China Closets, Hat Racks, Couches, Easy Chairs, Tables, Odd Pieces, &e., &c., at One-HalfPrice, And in many cases less. Only four days more to take advantage of this Unparalleled Furniture Sale. Lansburgh’s Furniture & Carpet Co., 13th & F Sts. N. W. Jy27-804 ‘ten off —of all Trunks, Bags and Traveling Goods - everything in stock until 12th August, and that means the lowest prices you have ever known. $2.75 Trunks will be $2.47. $4.50 Trunks will be $4.05. $5.75 Trunks will be $5.17. We'll Repair Trunks, &c., for less money during this time. Name marked on each Tronk, and Trunk Strap free. Kneessi, 425 7th St. IA Eyes in Hot Weather Are often painfully affected by the sun's glare Teflected frou the asphalt pavement. A pair of roperiy fitted, glames streugtben the sight won. Rerkuiiy, | We'll “test your eyes. tree” and at glasses are ‘only a moderate’ price for them. toro F St. H. H. Brown, Optician, Seeseesoesenongentoatnatresoetrgerteatonforton otolpetoetonsontontoteoteotepts Pa a ss a as Sosteetoeoes eretete sSondostosdn der teetons ¢ Jy28-Sa Does not, cure . m27-w,th,emly ma! Light want—just the. for All. oth ht—always a large 1 seas on hand. Geo. F. Muth & Co., 418 7TH ST. N.W., SUCCESSORS TO GEO. RYNEAL, JB. i722. he home & offic ean be kept delightfully cool during this weather pa ing in el tele fang apd | eleiee! te its—td use inst of ie hot, scorching gas. The cost of the elec- ity is very little compared with the eee Gerived. ‘Phone us about it. = - 'U. S. Electric Lighting Co.,! 21 3 14th St. ’Phone 77. U Ss igurer’s RAT and ROACH PASTE, ony and IN! POWDER. Bi it everywhere, but only MAI ERS N.8th st.,Philadelphia,Pa. apl-156t We'll Make Your Sweater : ol fit lor. re it a beautiful Match Joar Dlack-that, wen't come out oF fade. ‘We CLEAN Bicycle Suits also. ANTON FISCHER, 906 G St. Telephone 1442, 4725-84. GOOD FOR WELL PEOPLE AND SICK ONES— Liebig Company Extract of Beef. ap25-skth,1yr = I. BH FOUND AN EXCELLENT REMED Wor elek. headache. Carters Little Liver Pils, jousands of letters from people who bave used them preve this fact. Try them. }ABY IS CUTTING TEETH BH SURE Mod use, that aid aod well-tried remedy, Mra. Winslow's Soothing Syrup, for children teething. It sooites the child. softens the gum, allays In, cures wind colic ond 1s the best remedy for Sfarfnocas, 25 cents a bott eel0-1y rl FASHIONABLE LADIES' CORRECTIVE TNonte Ie Angustia Bitters, the world revowned tonic of Dr. J. G. B. Slegert & Sons. Ask your rugzist. FE} a4 NEGROES TO BUILD A COTTON MILL. Interesting Experiment to Be Made by the Race in North Carolina. From the Charleston (8. C.) News and Courier. A dispatch from Concord, N. C., an- nounces that “negro capitalists” of that place are about to butld a cotton mill “for the express purpose of manning ‘t with negro labor, and thus trying to settle the disputed question whether the negro will make a good mill operative. The capital- ists, it.1s estimated, are rather small ones, but one of them, N. C. Coleman, who is the leader of the venture, is worth between $25,000 and $50,000, which he has made at industrial pursuits since the war, and he speaks confidently regarding his scheine.’ If it is found necessary, he says, he and his associates will be glad to have their white friends help them out with subscrip- tions, but, if possible, they “would like to have all the stock taken by negroes, in order to make the mill essentially a negro enterprise,” and he thinks “there is little doubt that the mill will be built and put in operation this year.” This is a very different experiment, of course, from that of employing colored operatives In mills owned and run by white capitalists, and it must be consf@ered ac- cordingly. We think the promoters of the experiment have erred in determining to try it in a town where there are mills operated by white labor, as they would doubtless have more sympathy and support and would have less reason to fear friction of any kind in an unoccupied field. This is a@ question of their own decision, however, and, as they appear to have decided it al- ready to their own satisfaction, it only re- mains to await the issue of their venture. There fe no good reason that we know of why they should not make it and be en- couraged to make it, If they can afford to risk their money in it. All kinds of pursuits that can be conduct- ed by members of their own race are now open to the colored people; there is no rea- son why an exception should be made of cotton manufacturing or any other kind of manufacturing. If they can make a success of spinning and weaving cotton goods they are entitled to any measure of success, from the lowest to the highest, that they can achieve, and all right-thinking men will ap- prove and encourage their self-helpful ef- forts. The colored people have compara- tively few opportunities for skilled and prcfitable employment; it is to théir interest and the interest of the white people among whom they live that they should have more, and all that they can make and use to,ad- vantage. It may be added that the proposed experi- ment at Concord will not be altogether as novel in !ts way as its promoters appear to regard it. We are informed that a small mill was operated by colored laborers on a large cotton plantation near Bainbridge, » before and during the war. It was un- der ‘white management, of course. The spe- cial interest of the Concord mill will be due to its management as well as its operation by colored men. The success of their enter- prise will hardly disturb the conditions of cotton manufacturing in the south, in any event, but it may have a very important bearing on the future of the industry and of the negro race in Africa. 00 New Style Canceling Stamps. From the Boston Transcript. Having written a little while ago on the ugliness of postmarke and the stamp-can- celing devices used with them, the Listen- er may return to the subject to note the fact that apparently the circulas postmark {s disappeering altogether, and will soon be supplanted by a stamp in which the name of the post office and the date and hour are ranged on a horizontal line, or rather, on two lines, between black bars, thus: ——e— PROVIDENCE, R. I. JUL 21 1-PM —<—<$—$______ To the right of this device there are lines diagonally arranged which cancel the stamp. None of the letters from Boston which the: Listener has thus far received have borne this kind of postmark, but it seems to be in use in all the other large Places and some of the smaller ones. It is said to be more convenient mechanically than the circular stamp and more certain to leave a clear impression of every letter and figure in the device. However, the Lis- tener must confess that he sees the de- parture of the old round postmark with some regret. The circle is always more pleasing to the eye than the straight line, and there must be besides a certain senti. mental attachment in most people to the round mark, which has been borne by all the motherly and fatherly epistles, billets- doux, friendly news-packets, jolly gossiping chronicles and long-cherished duns that they have ever received. Upon the last let- ter to bear the circular postmark which comes to the Listener he will be very. much inclined to drop a silent, reminiscent tear— possibly not blotting {t out forever, but doubtless rendering It a souvenir of great value to scme of his most ardent admirers, such as the editor of Paragraphs, Mr. Dana of the Sun and the Emperor of Germany. An Iowa Woman's Pluck. From the Chicago Tribune. Prof. D. A. Kent of the State Agricultural College at Ames, who drained Lake Cairo of the water and paid this county $4,000 for @ quit claim deed to land which he brought into view, was on the eve of abandoning his farming project this week. The wet season has washed out the seed and com- pletely discouraged him, says a Webster City, Iowa, correspondent. His wife, who is prominent in suciety, came to her hus- band’s rescu: Early yesterday morning she commenced seeding an eighty-acre tract in millet and drove the team her- self, finishing fifty acres before night. To- day she Is guing on with the work and declares if her husband has not the grit to save the 3,000 acres, she will do {t her- self. —+e2—____ Bert Green, colored, convicted of the murder of Miles P. Mitchell near White- ville, Hardeman county, Tenn., in Decem- ber last, was hanged at Jackson, Tenn., yesterday. The drop fell at 10:56 and life was pronounced extinct fourteen min- utes after. FOR SLEEPLESSNESS. Take Horsford's Acid Phosphate. Dr. PATRICK BOOTH, Oxford, N. C., says: “Have seen it uct admirably in insomnia, ¢s- of old le and convalescent: ety Sal EE ee fevers.” Kny kind of a bees you ELECT eed beter’ than” xy |The Attomey’s -Opluton as to the RIC- LIGHTING -_ Oommissioners’ Powers. Sa THE PHRASEOLOGY OP THE LAW u Can't Make a Contract With the Potomac Company. THE DOCUMENT IN FULL ———— The exclusive announcement in yester- day’s Star that the attorney for the Dis- trict had decided in an opinion to the Com- missioners that the Potomac Electric Light and Power Company had no right to oper- ate east of Rock creek, and that notwith- standing the fact that it was the lowest bidder for street lighting the Commission- ers had no authority to award it a con- tract, came in the nature of a surprise to a great many people, who thought that the opportunity had arrived when there would be competition in the lighting business. Few opinions rendered by the attorney for the District, Mr. 8. T. Thomas, have been so complete and exhaustive as the one referred to. With the briefs of oppos- ing counsel on.both sides he has made a careful review of the entire subject, and brings out many new points in municipal law. The opinion: which follows is considered by the Commissioners a complete answer to their queries propounded, and it is given in full because it is regarded as a valuable document on the rights of private indi- viduals and corporations to occupy the streets and avenues of the District: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 452 D street northwest. WASHINGTON, July 15, 1896. HON. JOHN W. Ross, President Board of Commissioners. Dear sir—I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 11th instant, call- ing ‘my attention to the bid of the Potomac Electric Power Company for electric light- ing for the current fiscal year, and to the re- port of Capt. Burr, assistant to the Engineer Commissioner, that that company’s bids are reasonable, and recommending that a con- tract be awarded it for electric arc lamps in Washington east of Rock creek, as m be reached by such underground connec- tions as the Commissioners may deem they are authorized, under existing legislation in regard to underground conduits, to permit, at the prices named in said bids, and a letter dated June 26, 1806, addressed to the Commissioners by ‘the president of the United States Electric Lighting Company protesting against the acceptance of the Potomac Electric Power Company's bid for electric lighting, and declining to bid. I have also before me Mr. Crosby's communt- cation, filed in your office on the 6th instant, stating his reasons why the Potomac Elec- tric Power Company's bids should receive the consideration accorded to other bidders. I have also received briefs from counsel for respective companies. You request that I advise the Commissiotiers on the subject. The Appropriation Bill Provision. Your request that I advise the Commis- sioners on the subject involves the con- struction of the provisions in the current District appropriation, bill for electric arc lighting, &c., which are as follows: “For electric are lighting, including necessary inspection, in those streets now lighted with electric arc lights in the city of Washington, and for necessary exten- sions of such servicé, $50,000; Provided, That not more than 30 cents per night shall be paid for any dlectric arc light burning from forty-five minutes after sunset to forty-five minutes before sunrise and ope- rated wholly by means of underground wires; and each arc light shall be of not Jess than 1,000 actual candle power, and. no part of this appropriation shall be ueed for electric lighting by means of wires that may exist on or over any of the streets or avenues of the city of Washington; Provided, That the Commissioners of the District of Columbia may, under such reasonable restrictions as they may prescribe, authorize any: existing electric light company having overhead wires to maintain and use for a period of eight months and no longer, its existing poles and overhead wires west of Rock creek in places outside of the existing fire limits of the city of Washington and of the District cf Columbia, and any such over- head wire system may be extended west of Rock creek and outside of said fire limits to continue only for the sald period of eight months, and at the end of said period all right or authority hereby conferred shall cease. “And the said Commissioners may also authorize any such existing electric light company to construct and use under euch regulations as the Commissioners may fix, conduits for the reception of existing ove! head wires within the territory formerly known as Georgetown, and to extend the same by an aggregate of not more than one and one-fourth miles of conduit in the game territory. And the United States Electric Lighting Company may extend its underground conduits and wires east of Rock creek and within said fire limits to Mount Pleasant and Washington and Co- lumbia Heights under such regulations as the Commissioners of the District of Co- lumbia may prescribe.” ‘The Potomac Company’s Contention. The Potomac Electric Power Company's contention 1s that “the extension clause in the act refers simply to extension of elec- tric arc lighting beyond” those streets not lighted “in that manner, to such other streets or parts of streets as in the judg- ment of the Commissioners may be neces- sary.” In other words, that the Commis- sioners may authorize electric are lights in new streets or streets not already so lighted in part. I cannot concur in this view, since it ignores the words “‘in those streets now lighted,” which I consider words of limita- tion. Whether the Commissioners have the right to award a contract to the Potomac Electric Power Company, “for such of the electric are lamps east of Rock creek, as may be reached by such underground con- nections as the Commissioners may deem that they are empowered to authorize under existing legislation, with regard to under- ground conduits,” depends upon the ques- Gon whether that company is authorized, in the present condition of iegislation on the subject of electric Wires, to extend its sys- tem east of Rock creek, which in turn de- pends upon this language in the first clause of the provision, !“for electric arc lighting, including necessary inspection, in. those streets now lighted, by electric ‘arc lights in the city of Wastington, and for neces- sary extensions of such service,” ete. The several questions of law -involved have been Presenjedygnd fully discuescd in the briefs of counsel for the respective companies. They are mainly summarized by counsel for the, Potomac Light and Pow- er Company in hjs bplet in reply to that of the ‘United States Electric Lighting Com- pany. Counsel for the United States Electriz Lighting Compayy claims that the woris “necessary extensions of such service” im- ply that if the Commissioners provide for additional are lights, its plant may be ex- tended in order to ffirnish them. Counsel for the Potomag’ Light and Power Com- pany insists that thoge words refer to addi- tional electric arelighting not only in those streets now lighted, but in other streets in which there are no such lights, and that the Commissioners are free to let the work of supplying the additional lights to the lowest bidder therefor, and submits in sup- Port of his contention: 1. That there is a difference between the use of the streets for electric lighting pur- Poses when applied to public lights and when applied to private lighting, and that the appropriation for electric lighting be- ing for public purposes, the act is to be construed with that object in view. 2. That the paragraph of the act in which the words “necessary extensions of such service’ occur failing to mention the United States Electric Lighting Company, it is to be inferred that that company was not intended. ©3. That the history of the act clearly neg- atives any exclusive right of the United States Electric Lighting Company to lay wires east of Rock creek; and, * 4, That the District appropriation bills 4 from 1890 to 1806 being in pari materia are to be construed together, and that because o pa exist service,’ t we bean construct into a provisio: uing the service of tne United ‘Biales Lighting Company, and other language, it clear thal Hgnting the streets of raghine ton ¢ Interests of the public is le intent of the act, and that, therefore, the Commissioners are free to contrast with the lowest bidder for the service. Whether the Commissioners have the right to a @ contract to the Potomac Electric Power Company “for such of the electric arc lamps east of Rock creek as may be reached by such underground con- nections as the Commissioners may deem that they are empowered to authorize un- der existing 1 lation with regard to un- Gerground conduits” depends upon the question whether that company is author- ized in the present condition of legislation gn the subject of electric wires to extend its system east of Rock creek, which, in turn, depends upon this language in the first clause of the provision, “for electric arc lighting, including necessary inspection in those streets now lighted by electric arc lights in the city of Washington, and for necessary extensions of such service.” Not a New Phrase. The phrase “necessary extensions of such service” in the act of 1896 is not new; it is a repetition of the language used by Congres: in respect of electric lighting in this city, in District appropriation bills for at least five years past. The earlier appropriations for electric lighting provided for the service {on one or more of the principal streets * * * maintaining existing service and necessary extensions,” while in the current bill the language is “for electric arc lighting * * * in those streets now lighted with electric arc lights in the clty of Washing- ton, and for necessary extensions of such service.” There is no substantial difference between these provisions in respect of the extensions of the service. = Congress by its act June 11, 1896, was deal- ing with an existing situation in certain streets of the city of Washington, that is to Say, there were certain streets then lighted with electric arc lamps, for which service appropriations had been theretofore made, and in those streets the Commissioners arc authorized to extend the service. ‘The Commissioners are authorized to ex- tend the electric lighting service. They may authorize and pay for additional lights. Of course, the extension of the service necesssirily involves an extension of the system, or means of furnishing the addi- tional lghts. The Potomac Electric Power Company, es I understand it, has no underground system in Washing. ton east of Rock creek, and no overhead system east of Rock creek, except in Eck- ington, whereas the United States Electric Lighting Company has both an overhead and an underground system in Washington, east of Rock creek. As the authority of the Commissioners to extend the service carries with it, by necesssary implication, thelr right to permit one of the companies to extend its system, in order to furnish the additional service, the question is which company may extend its system, the one having @ system east of Rock creek to ex- tend, or the one having no-such system. The Intention of Congress. Since the words “necessary extensions of stch service” in the act of June 11, 1896, are addressed to the Commissioners, anil | authorize them to pay for additional cicc- trie are lights, what is the implication as to who fs to provide the means of supplying | the additional lights? ‘The addizional lights are tu be in those streets now so lighted in part. Was it the intention of Congress to authorize the Commissioners to permit the construction of an original plant to supply the additional lights, or was it intended that they might permit the extension of an existing plant, in order to reach that result? New, what Is to be im- plied from the language used? The statute is not explicit as to which of the two elec- tric lighting companies, if either, is to fur- nish the means of supplying the additional electric are Mghts. It is not clear which was meant. We are, thgsefore, unable from the words “necessary extensions” to Getermine which electric light company was intended, and must look at the context of the act, in order to threw light on the ob- scure cr ambiguous terias used. If we refer to the context for the meaning of the particular words, we find the subject treated geographically in the second pro- viso. We see there that Congress for some reason saw fit to confine the Potomae Elec. tric Power Company in its operations to the territory west of Rock creek, and within the fire limits of the District. This treatment would teem to remove all doubt. But suppose the context does not relieve the difficulty, and we appeal to the history of legislation on the subject, what do we find? On February 1, 1896, the Dis- trict appropriation bill being under con- sideration in the House, Mr. Pitney of New Jersey reported the following amendment in regard to electric lighting: Here he quotes from the Congressional Record of February 1, 186, page 1350. In the Senate. After considerable debate the amendment was agreed to, and the bill went to the Sen- ate, where the appropriation was raised from $4,600 to $59,000, the price per lamp raised from 28 cents to 38 cents per night, and the proviso, “That the entire service of electric sighting authorized under this ap- propriation shall be let, after due adver- tisement, to the lowest responsible bidder therefor,” ete., stricken out. On June 8, 1896, the District bill being again before the House on the conference report, Mr. Pitney moved the House to recede from its disagreement to the Senate amendment striking out the provision of the House b!!l letting the service of clectric lighting to th lowest bidder, ete., and agree to the same with the following amendment. Here he quotes from page 6552, Congres- slonal Record, June 8, 18. A point of order being made against this amendment, it was, afte: debate, lost by a vote of 178 to 1. The bill then went back to the Senate, where it came up on June 9, 1896, for concurrence in the House amend- ments, and, after debate, the motion to concur in the House amendments was non- concurred in, and, on motion of Senator Teller, a conference was agreed to with the result that the bill became a law without the provision “that the entire service of electric lighting authorized under this ap- propriation shall be let, after due adver- tisement, to the lowest responsible bidder therefor. If this proviso had been retained there would be no doubt of the right of the Com- iisstoners to permit the lowest bidder for electric are lighting, whoever it might be, to open the streets and put down the wires necessary to supply the additional service provided for. The proviso, or its equivalent, was neces- sary io change existing law; Congress, as is shown, refused to make any such change, and left the subject as it then existed. Another contention of the Potomac Light and Power Company is that while not per- mitted to do private lighting in Washing- ton city east of Rock creek, it may do pub- lc lighting in that territory. This propo- sition amounts to this: If the Commis- sioners authorize additional public electric lights they may permit any electric light company to construct an underground sys- tem necessary to supply such additional lights. The Right to Use the Streets, ‘This proposition involves the use of the streets and avenues of this city by a pri- vate corporation, or, indeed, by private in- dividuals, for public purposes, on the as- sumption that such use is justified by the phrase, “and for necessary extensions of such service,” in the first paragraph of the clause in the current District appropria- tion bill in regard to electric lighting. It is a general proposition, and one I think beyond dispute, that the streets of this city cannot be used for the purpose of railway, water, gas, telegraph, telephone, or electric Mght without authority trom Cengress, in which the power to grant the use of them is vested. (Dist. vs. B. and P. R. R. Co., 114 U. 8., 453.) ‘The case above referred to involved the question whether a railroad company had the right to use the streets of Washington without obtaining the previous assent of Congress, and it was held not. The court, at page 457, said: “The etreets of Washing- ton are largely used by street railroad companies, whose tracks cccupy their sur- face. There are some four or five cf these companies, and their cars are propelled by horse power and not by steam. They are not enly a great convenience to the citi- zens, but they have become almost a public necessity. But it is not believed that a foot of all these tracks over all these streets exists otherwise than by virtue of an act of Congress directing specifically and mi- nutely where this shall be done. And no power exists in one of these corporations to lay a track, however short, anywhere else.” And again at page 400: “The title to the streets of Washington is in the United States, and not in the city, or in the own- ers of the adjacent lots. (The Potomac Steamboat Company vs. the Upper Steam- boat Company, 109 U. 8., 672.) It is, there- fere, eminently proper that the right to use them for any @ther tigan the ordinary use | isi, and w: we consider the express reserva- tion eo Pow ees to allow this original @ company, found in the tion of that act, and the det a with which foot of the or tracks of the has been prescribed by Congress, and that every change expediency required has been previously authorized by Congress, we can see no place for the assertion of any right in the port to make other tracks or changes of location of those now existing without an act giving the consent of that e right use the streets and avenues of this city for electric light conduits is an extraordinary use, and in my judgment is in the same category as their use for rail- road purposes. The result of the cases on this subject is stated by Judge Dillon in his work on municipal ¢orporations: “Legislative sanc- tien directly given, or mediately conferred rough proper municipal acticn, is neces- sary to authorize the use of streets for the posts and wires of a telegraph or telephone company. If such posts be erected within the limits of a street or highway, without such sanction, they are nuisance, but if the erection be thus authorized they are not. Whatever power the municipality has on this subject must be granted to it by the legislature.” (24 ‘Dill. Mun. Corp., Sec. 698.) No Difference in Principle. I am unable to perceive any difference in principle between lighting the streets with electricity and lighting them with gas; could it be successtully contended that the authority annually given the Com- missioners to contract for gas lighting would authorize them, either expressly, or by necessary implication, to permit ‘the jaying of gas mains in the streets by other companies Uian uUsose alreauy authorized by Congress to lay such mains in the event the Commissiuners should invite bids for gas lighting and the existing compauies | Should be uaderbid. if Congress had not before June U1, 189s, legislated on the subject, tne question now presented would Le easier pt soluuon, it might in that event be weil contended that the authority iv pay for additional electric lights. carried wiin it, by sary implication, power in the Com siohers to permit ihe occupancy of Sireeis fur that purpose. The act of Congress of June 11, 1s Jows neither of the electric companies to extend its system in the territory formerly Known 4s Georgetown, except that the ex- sng electric eght company in that ter- ritory having overhead wires may extend such system west of Rock creek within th fire mits, for the period cf eight months. As to the rule Uiat statutes in pari ma- teria are lo be construed togetner, and that any change of phraseology in the later plalule must ve heid to Pave been de- | signedly made, and with a view to chan, ing the legal effect of prior statutes, cou: sei for the Potomac Light and Power Com- pany cites sume cases in support of his po- siivn. In the principal case (Rich vs. Key- Ser, 54 Pa. SL, 58), Irum which he quotes at length, the court said: Tien, knowing this (that the act of 1 had received juaicial construction), and yet not following it, but substituting for it dif- ferent language, did they not mean that We shouid construe their language accord- ing to its ordinary import? I see no ground for judicial construcuon to rest upon. In- | deed, Ue words of a statu, When unam- | luguous, are Lhe true guide of the legisia- lve will.” it is sufficient in reply to say that the clause ot the act of Congress of June 11, in regard to electric lighting, whe considered as an entirety, is unamuiguous, and hence the rules invoked do not appl For, as was said by Mr. Justice Clinord, speaking for the Supreme Court of the United States Warnes vs. The Railroads, Wall., 302): here a section or clause of a 5) ute is ambiguous, muen aid, 11 is admitted, may be derived in asceriaining its meaning by | comparing the section or clause in question | with prior statutes in pari materia, but it | Can.ol ve admitted Uial such # resort is a proper one where the language employed by the legisiature is plan and free of ai uncertainty, as the true rule in such a case is to hold that the statute construction. The language of the provision in ques- tion in the act of June 11, isi, is to be construed according to its crdinary tmpor; So construing it, 1 ot agree wita the contention of ihe learned counsel. Referring to the debates in Congress on the claus2s in the District. appropriation Dill in question, to which you call my at- tention, if they were admissible, as evi- dence of the meaning of ‘sald clauses, they confirm the views herein expressed. Potomac’s Bid Should Not Be Ent tained. In view of the foregoing considerations, | and inasmuch as the Potomac Light and | Power Company has no electric light s: tem in the city of Washington east of Rock preek whic be extended, its bid to lights in that territory should not be entertained. —— A WAR TIME EXPERIENCE. Reealled at an Accidental Meeting of Americans in London, From the London Telegraph. Never since steamers commenced to cross the Atlantic has London been so crowded with Americans as this summer. They are to be met with everywhere. The great hotels are full of them, and at conversaziones and reunions their presence is unmistakable— and agreeably so, for the visitors are as unlike the old caricatures of Uncle Jona- than as Hypericn to a Satyr. Formerly Americans, as a rule, made Paris their headquarters, and merely visited London. Today the French capital is almost deserted by them, and if they go to it at all, it is merely for a day or two. The preference for the English metropolis {s naturai, for here they are not only almost at home, but have infinitely more chances of meeting ae other and rerewing old acquaintance- ship. A touching Instance of this occurred yes- day in one of the great hotels in North- umberland avenue. A party of Americans who had arrived on the previous day, most of them strangers to each other, were sit- ting at luncheon, and one of them was with an English friend who had called to see him. The conversation between the two naturally drifted back to the war tims, and the American, who had been a federal, described some of his adventures, and how at one place the opposing soldiers used to work so near each other In the trenches that they were able to engage in conversa- tion and surreptitiously exchange tobacco and tea—the northerners having plenty of the latter and none of the former, le the southerners were in exactly the oppo- site condition, But, he continued, the most curious “swop” ever he made was a small packet of quinine for a pound of tobacco, to which the confederate added a curiously carved wooden pipe. That pipe he had kept ever since, because ne regarded it and the to- bacco as having saved his life; for, some- how or other, his superior officer had come to know that he possessed a quantity of “the weed,” and ordered him to report him- self concerning it. Before he could regain his post a skirmish occurred, and the man who was In his very place was killed. At this point a tell, sunburnt American, with white hair and beard, who had been listening to the other with considerable emotion, interrupted with, “Excuse me, though I am a stranger to you, but didn’t that southerner tell you that the quinine was for his little daughter, who was down with fever?” “Yes,” said the other. “And in’t_ the northerner say that his little swirl was ill of fever, too, but he would share her medicine with the other little one, even without the tobacco ‘Why, yes,” cried the original narrator, “I believe he did, and that was me.” “And I _was the southerner,” cried the other: “and here is my daughter, whose life you helped to save, and here's one of my grand- children with her.” The Englishman who Was present, and who sends us the account of the meeting, says that there was then such a scene of hand-shaking, introduc. tions and congratulations as must have made people at the other tables think the company must have been visitors from Bedlam. The northerner had also a daugh- ter with him, who is a widow, and the em- brace of the two women who had never seen each other before, but whose early lives had so closely touched, was pecu- Marly affecting. “And to think we should meet cach other so far from home, and in England, too,” exclaimed one. “God bless England for it, say I,” replied the other. soo Photograph Socta' Photographic socials are the latest fad in the way of church entertainments in Mis- sourl. Each woman present is expected to bring with her a picture of herself taken in childhood, and the men undertake to pick out the originals from the pictures, and are rewarded with the privilege of buying sup- per for them, | on eaks its own | t ;e (Continued from First Page.) the prisoner Detective Lacy says he ke there is not one word of truth in the first statement of Smith’s that he had been criminally intimate with Miss Drown. In this connection Smith himself is making strenuous denials and says his familiarity = went far enough to kiss and embrace er. The County Arousea. People who are in a position to know say that there is not the slightest doubt about the fate of the prisoner had any effort been made to take him to Marl- boro’ yesterday. The feeling against him was intense, and when the substance of his confession, the first confession, reached the neighborhood of Seat Pleasant many of the cld citizens, who had not made use of profanity for years forgot all about their religious training and almost any of them would have helped a mob to avenge the horrible crime. All along the road between here and the scene of the tragedy the news of the villainous confession was passed from one to another. Countrymen on their way home over the different roads experienced no trouble at Benning learning of the particulars of the confession, and they did exactly as they were d to do, pass the word along, so that almost as quickly as a telegraph message could have been sent and delivered the people in the country from here to Marlboro’ knew of the cr’me aud confession. Crimes not nearly so horrible in had been avenged in the county in rs gene by, and those who favored summary Vengeance wore ready to | and go on guard on the road to = rews of the prisoner's coming ai part in what might follow, should th oner be taken to Marlborc seat. His safe delivery to She wood and his incarceration i mean nothing in the prison the little building e, are a few iron bars, is by n cure place of centinement. n from there bh jail is no more 50, as it was wher Man was taken from it au n a few known comp! of the prisoner, and th rfereid with their of Maj. Moore Prison t ore and lyn ecure now only ans w surrender in their jurt refusal and of his non-appearance diction. Sheriff Underwood to to guard a 1p Witle fail, but the experienc his predecessors ‘shows that with an or- dir guard, and even with an increased guard, such an experiment would prove dangerous, The grand jury for the county will not il fall, but itis thought like of the serious character of th here may be a special grand called and cial term of th in order that there might be administering justice it is thought, might cau feeling against the muré be allowed a legal © a ch. rer, and al and ‘exe nat ic the other hand, however. it ts thought there will be no special term of t held and the case will come ular routine of the county's ic cising Major Moore's Those who mith sen were so anxicus ack to the action of Maj. Mo ne mer over t aring jay afternoon wi formal! was per I ne when only upon 1 s ernor, fil regular way. prisor 2 ove lice Cepariment woul , in event of the ‘prison with Depy perfectly satisfied with the posit) by the police. He Lad taken n the progress of the inques how strong a case Smith. In addition to the feeling that cne Prince Baltimore. Smith to Be Taken to Baltimore. Today the cou: neces y officials are making the ry arrangements for the requisition and the removal of the prisoner and may be able to reach here with th mc could hardly get tnem preps h here Sefore Saturday. $3 there is some change in the ill be taken from here to the more jail for safe keeping and t until he ig taken to Marlhoro’ It may be that he will then change of venue, which will tak to another county, or he may Papers toy Ww, although the officials thought they to time Baltim: as was the case of J shall Rye, who killed Jack Wheel Charles coun rs ago. against him and af effectual attempt at ching made he was sent t timors keeping and was not returned to the ty in which the crime was commitied how was not the case with Covking, He was returned, and his fate known, Sympathy for Mrs. Drown. The killing of Miss Drown has cast a gloom over Seat Pleasant House, and Mrs. Sarah Drown, her aunt, who had been as gcod as a mother to her, is left alone. Both Mrs. Drown and the niece had many friends, and in the hour of her affliction Mrs. Drown did net want for them, for ladies and gentlemen from the vic as ‘ll as for miles around, came to the house sterday and today in large numbers hand. A num 1 with the aflic all day yesterday during the p: incident to the gathering and the inquest at the house, and t she desired remained all night. ne coroner's jury tion and Justic writing of the volu had ma Undertaker Gasch of Bla charge of the body and pre it for burial. Mrs. Drown at first thought she would have the body sent to Bridgeport, Conn., her former home, she rd concluded, as published fn yesterday's Star, to have the body taken to Addison Chapel and kept in the cemetery there until later on, when she m: conclu have it shipped to the New I Remains the Same. There were no new developments in the cese this afternoon. None of the Mar lard officials had comm 1 with the pclice and the prisoner is not allowed to be seen by any © — Wm. G. Audenreid’s Dent, William G. Audenreid, president of the Philadelphia Milling Company, and for the past twenty years a director of the Bank of North Amer: his home ir Philadelphia, ag years, Di betes was the cau; Miss Della Stevens of Boston, Mass., writes: I lave always suffered from hereditars Scrofula, for whieh I tried various remedies, and many reliable phy- sicians, but mone relieved me. After shall take pleasure taking 6 bottles of Tam now well, 1 um very grateful to you, as I feel that it saved me from a life of an- in speaking only Words of pralse for the wonderful_med- icine, aud in recommending it to all. Treatise Blood told and