National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-01
THE TELEPHONE WAR.
A FARLEY WITH THE PLuGGERs.
Conference Between the Trustees Of the Company
and the Pluggers' Comnittee-Prospect OF a
Speedy Observation-Disclosures to
Be Plugged To-Day.

A conference was held yesterday. even
ing at the Office of F. W. Pratt esq, between the
executive committee of the Citizens Association
and the Representatives of the National Telephone
Exchange. There were present of the executive
committee Messrs. Hine, Baker, Gait, Edwards
White, Hume. and Pratt; the Telephone Company
being represented by its trustees, MesSrs. j. B. Ed
| monds, Frank B. Conger, and W. II. Barnard
| and Mcssrs. j. M. Johnston and C. C
| Glover as committee the par
| OF the stockholders of the company
After rendering the excuses of the company in
regard to the misunderstanding relative to the
proposed meeting of the day previous, Mr.. Ed
monds, on the part of the Telephone Company
said that two of the trustees, Mr. Conger and him.
self, had but recently been elected to the position
! Oh trustee, and would confess to only general
knowledge of the questions at issue, and they had
come there for the purpose of securing information,
TO discuss generally the questions at ISSUE and to
! find out exactly what the whole trouble was, and
| to join in the effort to remedyit.
| Mr.. Edwards on the part of the executive COM
mittee, propounded several interrogatories to the
trustees, which were answered by Mr.. Edmonds,
who also stated that it was his desire the repre-
sentative of the company, to furnish for tie infor
nation of the executive committee any and all in
formation that 1t might be proper give in order to
asked for. He then entered ntoa detailed statement
of the expenditures of the company upon which
this system of charges had been based, and said
that, so far as the company concerned, its only
desire was to place the cost of instruments and
messages at the lowest possible rate commensurate
with fair and reasonable profit upon the actual
working expenses incurred in doing the business
of its subscribers; that the toll system seemed to
be generally acquiesced in as the only proper one
to adopt 1t is understood that there is no
difference OF opinion between the executive
committee and the trustees On this point.
Mr.. EdmondS also stated that there were no facts
IN the possession of the company Of any one
else that he knew upon which to base all estimate
of the amount Of business that would be done by
subscribers under the toll system; that it is an
tirely new experiment, and under its operations
each subscriber would regulate his business &C.
cordiRg TO his means and actual necessities that,
while the company anticipated very large de-
crease in the number of paid messages sent over
their wires. It would not be their policy to cut
down its foTce in its central Office in order to
duce expenses until the new system had been
tried sufficiently long to determine what was
necessary to give the best service
A NEW SCHEDULE PROPOSED.
After very general interchange of views be-
tween all the parties present the executive COM
mittee asked the trustees if they had any PROPOSE
ton to make in regard to rates. In reply to this
the trustees Submitted schedule of rates which it
is believed are very considerably lower than those
proposed by the Maynard circular of last January
After the representatives of the Telephone Com
pany had retired the executive committee held
long consultation, and viii at an early day report
the result of the conference to their association
The conference throughout was remarkable for the
harmony and general pleasant feeling displayed
f>pEE, 49,,
pany and the executive committee.
TO BE PLUGGED TO-DAY
The executive committee, after the conference,
decided that the following resolution adopted atthe
last meeting Of the association must carried out
to-day:
Resoirsd. That each and every member of this
association discontinue the use of the Bell te!e-
phone ON and after the LIST day of April next, and
until system or schedule of charges for its use be
agreed upon between the company and this asso-
citation on the recommendation of its executive
committee.
The committee viii meet to mig hit to prepare re-
port to be submitted at meeting of the associa-
ton, which will be called as speedily as possible.
1t is understood that the company have agreed to
furnish any further data asked for on the subject
as the committee will not make report unless it
is based upon reasonable and intelligent informa-
lion. MeSsTs. Edwards and Pratt, of the Execu-
i've committee, stated last night that the new
schedule submitted by the officers of the companv
was in favor of the subscribers but not materially
provisions from that of the Goth oflas
January. The toll system would undoubtedly be |
to the association, it was fair and
equitable and it would then remain for the sub |
icribers to say whether they would agree to it or
not. Pending the consideration of the subject by |
he committee all intercourse with the company |
~ the subscribers would cease, and every plug |
must be put in to-day at nine o'clock OF course |
he company would not be pleased with this ac- |
ion, but there was remedy for it until the asso-
,iation met and modified the resolution adopted |
1t the last meeting.
MR. coNGER DEFINES THE SITUATION.
At late hour representative of THE REPUBLI-
AN called upon Frank B. Congcr, ESQ.,, at his resi-
ience, and asked him what he thought would be |
he result of the conference. M Conger replied
:" am much pleased with the friendly spirit in |
which the executive committee met us, and be-
ieve that there will be trouble in adjusting the
present difficulty at an early day. There seems to |
DC disposition on both sides to come to some I'M
lerstanding which will be satisfactory to all |
parties"
What agreement was reached as to the cutting |
III OF service to-morTOw?' asked The REPUBLICAN,
=" That is something that could not be deter |
mined at our meeting" was the answer. "The |
subscribers Association have ordered the service to
DC stopped, and until the executive committee
make its report to the association the committee
10 not feel authorized TO reScind that order This
however, will in no way interfere with the exceed
ngly pleasant relations between the trustees and /
he committee, for in a few days a schedule !
If rates satisfactory to al parties viii |
10 doubt be agreed upon And as soon as the result
s reached the trustees will Immediately devote
themselves TO the question Of improving the
ervice and attempt to give more general satisfac-
ion in the manner of conducting the business
han has hitherto been the case"