Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-22
THE TELEPHONE WAR,
Meeting of lhe Subscribers, asso.
citation.
Ores 500 to Gut OH Aprsl fist.
Decided Action A e inst the National
Capital Company.


There was general attendance OF the men,
bers, which included many OF the active business
and professional men Of the District: among
them Messrs L. g. Hine. F. Hume, I'm DraneY,
u :. Alexander, r. Leech, L. Fl. Schneider, W.
L hutchIhson, ). a. Bayley w. Mattingly,
z, reeves James ii. Saville. E, A. Ridgway, S.
Emery, Clarke d Given. q. W. Knox, j. C.
Parker. g. III. B. White, W. A. Bailey, A. s..
Pratt Son. w. M. Gait, G.. w. Cochran, j. G.
JUDO. j. s. Edwards. T. l.. Hume, Browning &
Mlddlei on. DR.. ID. w. Prentiss, X. q. Campbell,
IL. l.. Blackford, F. T. Rawlings. w. j. tephen-
son, j. s. SWormstedJ, DIR. s. s. Bond, W. d.
MI. l. G. Hine presided, with F. w. Pratt
secretary. O. her officers and the executive
committee were also on the platform. Mr.. Jas.
8. Edwards read as follows:
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
On the adoption OF the report submitted to
the general meeting held at Lincoln Hall on the
9Th OF February last, a permanent org anizatton
was created under the name OF the Telephone
Subscribers Protective Association OF the Dis
trict of Columbia" and the undersigned we're
constituted Its officers and executive commit
tee, and theIeupon we assumed the charge of
the Interests OF It's members In tue premises
and agreed upon and adopted the following
Written declaration and pledge:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. 7, 1851.
Tne undersigned declare ourselves co be 10 en-
bers OF the Telephone Suos 3ribers' Protective
Association OF the District OF Columbia, and
herehy pledge ourselves to sustain the action
OF the general meeting of said association. held
this day, at Lincoln Han. and any other action
concerning the rates to be paid by us for the
use OF the telephone. and our interests as such
members that the executive committee NAV
recommend and be adopted or approved az 4
general meeting OF the association.
Also, notice to be signed and served on the
c0npanyS offlceS In the following form:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. I. 1851.
George C.. MAYNARD, esq, MGhage1. National
capital Telephone COnlDnng:
slA:-AS- member of the Telephone Sub
scribers' Protective Association OF the District
decline to continue the use OF the telepnone at
the rates proposed In your circular of January
contract.
Respectfully,
The above declaration, pledge, and notice was
signed by 2S4 subscribers prior to the 2Sth
uItlmo. On which date notices equal to that
number were left with the manager OF the com
pany. Since then twenty-five additional sub
scrloers have signed such pledge and notice,
thereby creating present mem oership OF 1906
representing 32i telephones. and comprising a
very large portion OF the business and profess
sfonal men and firms In this District.
About, or during the first week OF The present
month, cur attention was called 70 the fact that
the company had removed the telephone from
the place OF business OF number OF the mem
berS or this association because OF their fidelity
to their pledge in refusing to accede to the
rates and system OF charges proposed In its
schedule OF the 20tn OF January last where
upon we held meeting to consider what
course was best TO pursue In the matter.
The contracts between the subscribers and
the company are OF two classes one being In
effect. an absolute lease for one year. Under
this class the company is bound TO furnish. and
the subscriber or lessee TO pay for telephone
service for one year. The other Is conditional
lease for the same period, with the right re
StTted 10 ne company only to change the rate
OF compensation, and, IL not agreed to By the
subscriber, to terminate the lease at the end of
a calendar month, On thirty days written no
uce. Both classes terminate at irregular
periods, and the members whose contracts nave
expired, or are about to EXPIRE by Limitation.
In carrying out their pledge to the association
and In refusing TO make any terms or arrange
ments whatever for the further use OF the tele.
phone individually suffer Inconvenience and
loss not common to all OF the members.
To ooyiate and correct this condition OF
affairs and recognizing the fair and equitable
principle on which this association Is founded.
W., equality of burdens as well as benefits, the
following preamble and resolution we're unan-
lmously adopted by us at meeting held On the
10th inst:
whereas the National Capital Telephone
company has removed the telephone from the
places OF business Of several members OF this
ASSOCIATION because OF their refusal to accede
to the schedule OF rates proposed In the CIR
GUAR OF said company OF date January -, 1851:
Therefore
b. Il res0lred. That. unless on or before the
45tn day OF the current month, the said con-
pany notify this committee OF the acceptals.
OF the schedule rates adopted OT this 23SCc!l-
ton at it5 meeting at Lincoln Hall. Oh Jls
evening OF the TN day OF February last or
submit Sicn ether system OF chlrg93 as
Will Call a ueeltn OF the association aAd re-
cornme nd The dsc1nttnuan3e Of the U.S. OF rag
telephone By all OF It's members Oh and after
the lst DAY OF April next"
copy OF this preamble and reSouiltioa was
Immediately left With The manager OF the con-
pany by special messenger.
on the adoption or this resolution We adj
touTned 10 meet on the l6fh Instant, to receive
Tie answer OF the company thereto, but no re-
Spouse. or even an acknowledgment OF its re-
celpt, having peen received by US on or before
q md hatn al,
reliably Informed that the officers OF the Tele-
phone Company had been, and were industri-
ously engaged In trying 10 persuade the mem.
bers OF the association, Individually, to make
terms or arrangements With the company for
the use OF Its instrument outside OF the eXecu-
i've committee and the association-and this
notwithstanding the knowledge to such Officers
OF lhe written declaration and pledge before
menucned-we concluded and determined that
prompt and decisive action in the premises was
necessary 10 maintain the dignity OF the aSso.
clatlon and TO carry out its objects and pur-
poses we unanimously adopted the following
resolutions Oh the date last aforesaid, and di-
rected them 10 be presented, with this report
TO general meeting OF The association for its
approval 10 wit:
ReSOlced, That each and every member OF
this association discontinue the use of the Rail
telephone On and after the 1st day OF April
next, and until system or schedule OF charges
for It's use be agreed upon between the con-
pany and this association on the recommends
tlOn OF its executive committee.
heSOtted, That each and every member OF
This association, without delay, notify the Sec
retary thereof, in writing, OF tue number OF the
compaDS'S wires attached to or passing over
his premises, with Its location, and whether
with or without permission, to the Company
and that the president OF the ASSOCIATION cali a
general meeting Of the members for Monday
evening next, the 21St instant at half-naSt
seven O'Clock, at Lincoln hall.
the monopoly controlling the use of the Bel
telephone In this District Is solely responsible
for The difficulties 1t Is now involved in and the
present condition Of affairs. The National
Capital Telephone Company precipitated the
action OF its subscribers which led to perma-
nent organization and united action for self
protection. The system OF charges for connec-
uon with the telephone exchange, and rates
Tor communications, were adopted and promul-
gated by the company without previous con
sultatlon or explanation, and was so ARBITRARY,
and, to its patrons. appeared so unreasonable
and uB lust that they resolved not TO submit to
the proposed charges until, through regularly
constituted comm1ttee, appointed at public
ment, report be received based upon intelli-
gent facts and data justifying the system
and rates contemplated by the company. To
that end, and, as was supposed in good faith
such committee met the officers and Ger.
tain OF the stockholders OF the company, and
unCer tender OF willingness and anxiety by
them, as expressed through the pu blc press or
this city, published Dy the admitted authority
OF enc or more OF the company5 officers Tue
result Oh this meeting appears In our former
report, and Is probably fresh In the mind OF
every member or this association; the attitude
t., tN.1rr 3D.,