Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-15
The Telephone War

THE PROTECTIVE ASSOCIATION AND ITS PURPOSES
Il will be remembered that the meetings OF
subscribers TO the telephone held about the 1st
OF February last. In consequence o. PROPOSE
ton by the company TO change the rates TO the
toll system, resulted in the formation OF the
Telephone subscribers Protective Association
on February 9Th, with the following officers:
l. G.. Hlne, president: Thomas L. Hume. vice
president: Geo. HI. Il. White, treasurer: Fred.
W. Pratt secretary. Jas 5. EDWARDS. Jas. l..
Barbour, John A Baker, Geo. W. Cochran,
Frank Hume, Vim. NJ. Gait and X. Ross Perry,
ext cutiye committee The following declara-
ton and pledge was adopted: ''Tle under
signed declare ourselves to be members or the
Telephone Subscribers Protective Association
OF the District OF Columbia and hereby pledge
ourselves 10 sustain the action OF the general
meeting OF said association, held this day, at
Lincoln Hail. and any other ac6ion concerning
the rates 10 be paid by us for the use OF the
telephone, and our Interests as such members,
that the executive committee may recommend
and be adopted or approved at general meet
Ing OF the association" The following form OF
notice was also adopted: Washington, DC, Feb
TuaTy !, 1SSl.-George C. Maynard. esq, Man
ager National Capital Telephone Company.
Sir: as - member OF the Telephone Suo5crl-
berS' Protective Association OF the District of
COlum bia, - hereby notify you tina - decline
TO continue the use OF the Telephone at the
rate proposed IN your circular or January %.
1851, after the expiration OF - present Goa.
tract.
AtthiS time there was number OF SubScrib-
within a few days after the association was
organized two hundred and ninety three OF
these notices declining to renew contracts mad
been filled out and sent to the company. aud
with those since sent IN 1t is estimated that
fully three fOUrthS OF the professional and blsf-
mss men using the telephone have given sucn
notice. The original contracts were in the
nature OF lease for year at SIS, and these are
now expiring. As fast as they expire the In
struments are being removed from the premises
OF the lessee.
A CLAUSE IN THE NEW CONTRACT
About the flrst OF January last the company
Included In their contract clause, evidently In
contemplation Of the caange as fOllows:-"The
company shall have the right az any time to
change the rate or its compensation 10 specific
charge for each use OF the inStrum .nts lie isei
or TO modify and change In any oUner Way the
amount and The system of compensation pro.
yidsd for herein; provided that such modlfi "a
ton or changes shall be made at the end of a
calendar month, and upon az least thirty days
Written notice 10 the subscriber, VINO Sh all have
the right TO surrender the instruments at the
end OF the month and terminate this CONTRACT
But IL the subscriber shall not, within twenty
days after receiving such notice, advise the
company In writing OF his refusal to aCcede TO
the change, he shall be held TO have assented to
~. And In case OF such notification by the com.
pany 10 any subscriber who shall have paid 10
advance for the use OF the Instruments for a
term extending beyond the end OF the month
when the change is 10 take effect, the portion of
such payment corresponding to the uDeX pired
PART OF such term shall be credited to him on
account III he accept the new rates. or shall be
returned TO him II he rejects them. and has In
other respects complied with this agreement
WHAT MANAGER MAYNARD SAYS
MI maynard, the manager OF the company,
states that there Is no falling on In the busi-
ness, and that although some instruments have
been removed, the demand Oy new subscribers
keeps mp the list 10 about the original NUMBER
In number or cases old subscribers have, for
the purpose OF trying the toll system for short
SDpefal