National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-08
TELEPHONE TACTICS.
SUBSCRIBERS DEFY THE COMPANY.
Meeting at Lincoln HaIl-The Company Represented
as Declining to Furnish InformatiOn-A
Schedule of Rates by Which the SUBJ
scribers Are Pledged to Stand.

The meeting of subscribers of the
ing again brought ont large number of the repre-
sentative business men of the District
Mr. L. G. Hine called the meeting to order, and
announced that the executive committee ap-
pointed at the last gathering was ready to submit
a report for action, whereupon Mr.. J. S. Edwards
was called upon the platform to read the docu-
ment.
THE REPORT.
Itwas signed by Messrs. W. NJ. Calf, j. L. Bar
bour, Frank Hume, e. H. B. White, G. W. Cochran
R. R. Perry, 7. L. Hume, L. e. Hine, J. S. Edwards
and F. W. Pratt, and stated that:
The officers and executive committee met for
consultation on the day following the general
meeting and appointed Messrs. Hine Edwards,
oaa.3c1-s Of the telephone company and to aseer-
tain and receive such information as might be OBJ
tanned and offered to enable the executive COM
mittee to perform its duties.
This subcommittee reported conference held
with the manager the secretary and treasurer of
the company, and two of its stockholders on the
ay following that at such conference the attention
ofthe officers and stockholders there present was in
Yited to the articles in the S'dr and REPUBLICAN
following the reports in those papers of the pro-
cee1ings of the general meeting at Lincoln Hail.
who were asked if the articles mentioned were
published under the sanction and authority ofthe
cOmpanys officers and that on being answered IN
the affirmative member of the subcommittee read
that portion of the article published in the Star
which reads as follows: Now that committee
has been appointed by those present ar the meet
ing yesterday, the officers not only willing, but
anxious to give to that committee the exact facts
of the case and to show to ii the necessity of some
change in the manner of charging for the use OF
the telephones, and stated that the committee was
there to receive the facts and information offered
TO be furnished in the articles mentioned where
upon an attempt was made in the interest of the
company to limit this information TO certain prOpo
sitions, which the gentlemen present representing
the company thought should satisfy the commit
tee, coupled with the inquiry that if any infor
nation be given concerning the cOmpanyS affairs
which its officers considered not prudent to fur
nish without restriction and promise of secrecy,
would the committee be willing to receive it upon
that condition? To which the subcommittee re-
piled it could not without the consent of the full
committee. The subcommittee further reported
that an extended consultation was held. during
which Il requested that it be furnished with the
calculations, data, and figures upon which the
company'S officers based the contemplated charges
TO the subscribers to the telephone, contained i'll
the circular of the Goth of January last and also
that the subcommittee was anxious to receive
from the company all the facts it was was willing
to give without the injunction of secrecy, with
view, if such facts would justify, to- re-
port fair and reasonable rate of charges to
those using the telephone and satisfactory
and Intelligent report i'll the premises. 4 Steno-
graphic report of this conference taken by
a gentleman who was secured for the purpose by
the company. This conference terminated with
the impression and belief that at least of the
details OF the operations of the company would be
thereupon furnished, and that its promises as
contained in the published statements mentioned
would be carried out i'll good faith.
Desiring to give reasonable time for the COM
panys officers to submit any statement of facts to
aid the committee in its duties no further action
was taken in this behalf until the 18th uftimo,
when the full committee met again to receive and
consider communication from the secretary and
treasurer of the company, dated the same day, to
the effect that before dealing further the company
would like to know whether the details of any
matters furnished to this committee are to be made
public. At a meeting held on the next day
the committee instructed the secretary
to inform the officers of the company that it did
not feel authorized to receive any information
unless authorized at a general meeting of the
subscribers, and that the following rates would be
reported and recommended to the subscribers I'M
less the company furnished on or before four p.
m. of Wednesday last. such information. in writing,
as would justify the committee in a modification
thereof viz:
For the telephoning Of