National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-30
TELEPHONE TATTLE.
MATTERS APPROACHING A CRISIS.
The Company Under Its New Managemcnt-Speedy
Solution of Pending Difficulties Probable
Gossip Among the Sc Pluggers" or
Protesting Subscribers.

The time when the members of the
Telephone Subscribers Association are pledged to
cut off their instruments, providing the company
has not accepted their terms will arrive Friday.
As yet there has been no official conference be-
tween the representatives of the company and the
subscribers but the indications that there Will
be speedy settlement
The feeling among the members of the
Telephone Subscribers Association is still
against yielding to the demands of the
Telephone Company, a canvass shows.
new title has been given the association-"The
Pluggers which is derived from the fact that, at
the conclusion of any business transaction over
the wire now, the following conversation en-
sues: Hello, James Peter Are you pluggerY
% You bet! Who is that talking?' AN right.
After the 1st of April in goes the plug, and out
comes the telephone" By this means every
subscriber gives his sentiments, and the imid are
nerved to stand firm. Negotiations are now pend
ing, it is stated, with firm in New York to put up
u new line, i'll case the Bell Company declines to
continue the present rates, and public meeting
will be held to subscriptions to the stock OF
the new company. Already a number of gentle
men have pledged themselves to furnish funds for
the proposed line should it be necessary.
There was rumor circulated last night that
meeting of the board of trustees of the National
Telephone Exchange had been held yesterday
and consultation had between the representa-
tives of the Telephone Company and the execu-
tive committee of the Citizens Association.
representative of THE REPUBLICAN carefully in
vestigated the matter, but could trace this rumor
to no reliable source. 1t was aScertained, how
ever, that at the meeting of the stockholders
Of the Telephone Company, which did ia Ike place
yesterday, Frank B. Conger, esq, was elected as
trustee, to fill the vacancy occaSioned by the reslg-
nation of Manager George c. Maynard.
At later hour Mr.. Conger was called upon, and
asked for any information regarding the present
status of affairs between the company and the
Citizens Association. He replied that he did not
care to enter into any detailed statement just at
present When asked if he had been elected as
trustee to succeed Mr.. Maynard, he replied in the
affirmative, and stated that he had already en-
tered upon the duties of the Office.
Is it true, Mr.. Congcr," queried THE REPUBII-
CAN, that correspondence has been opened be-
tween the executive committee of the Citizens
Association and the trustees, looking to an adjust
ment of the pending difficulties ?'
az prefer not to say anything about that just at
present" was the reply" but will say that the
new management of the company will be actuated
by strong desire to harmonic as far as possible
the conflicting interests l feel confident that the
executive committee, composed as it is, of fair
minded men, Will be willing to meet us and dis
cuss the issues involved between their association
and the company"
"When will this meeting be held?" was asked.
al hope it may be arranged to take place at once,
within the next few days" answered Mr.. Conger.