The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-07-01

Business Men Take Steps to Secure Reduced
Rates-What the Companies Say.

Nearly every city in the country has had
telephone war;" and something of a conflict
between the company operating in Indianapolis
and its patrons seems inevitable. A number
have refused to sign the new contract continuing
the charge of So month for rental, and yester-
day morning a paper was circulated among
the business men or South Meridian street
calling a meeting for this afternoon at
o'clock to take concerted action in
regard to the matter. The paper read was as
follows: 1--WE, the undersigned, subscribers of
the Central Union Telephone Company, in view
of the recent action OF the said company to nuify
the laws Of the State respectfully ask ali inter
ested in this matter to meet with US at the Board
of Trade rooms tomorrow afternoon, July l. at
o'clock, to discuss and take such action as may
be deemed best for our mutual interests" There
we're only three of the Meridian street wholesale
merchants who refused to sign this call.
What action 90 you think will be taken at
this meetinGl" was asked the gentleman who
circulated the call.
'The question of whether or not it is advisable
for Us to enter into this contract with the tele-
phone company will be discussed, and
whatever conclusion is reached will
doubtless be acted upon by all.
We want to see however, what is to our inter
est. L believe that another company will soon
enter the field, to operate an exchange in accord
ance with the law limiting the rental or tele-
phones to s. month. Much will depend, how
ever, upon what action is taken at this meeting
in regard to the signing of the new contracts.
Nearly all of our business men, | find, have de-
sired that some general understanding should be
reached in regard to the matter, and it was from
a desire to know what others thought that put
this call for meeting in circulation"
a Journal reporter called yesterday afternoon
to interview Mr.. Beach, the general superin-
tendent of the Central Union Telephone Com
pany, about the action of the Meridian street
business men in calling meeting to discuss the
question of whether Or not to sign the new con-
tracts.
The course which we will pursue" Mr.. Beach
said lis fully explained in the circular letter
which was sent out to patrons last week.
The interests of the company and the patrons
are Identical This contract is offered to
the patrons simply for the purpose of
bridging over short period of IN
certainty We believe it to be strictly
in accordance with the law. We are not trying
to take any advantage of our subscribers. AS q
temporary arrangement to continue the service
until there is some certainty as to what can be
done, this contract is the best thing that we can
offer. 1t is all folly to talk about running the
business for less than we have been receiving 1t
simply can't be done"
IF the business men, at their meeting to-
| morrow, should determine not to sign the new
contracts, what will the company do?"
II would prefer to say nothing as to that We
are ready to discuss any question of difference
with our subscribers, and to explain our reasons
for pursuing the course that we take This new
contract, as have already said, is simply for
the purpose of bridging over a brief period of
uncertainty, and in relation to it the interests
of the company and the subscribers iden-
teal"
How many have signed the new contract"
'"The~e are about $50 Of the old subscribers
who have signed the contract Many have asked
time to examine it, but generally it has been
received quite as favorably expected and
we very we'll satisfied"
Mr. n. S. Byram, the president of the Over
land Telephone Company, in reply to the state
ment made by Mr.. Beach in an interview last
week, that the offer of the Overland company to
take the plant of the Central Union and operate
it at the rates allowed by the law, q
bluff" writes card, saying of Superintend-
ent Beach thinks it is game bluff, let him
submit proposition for the sale of his plant,
and if the price is a fair one we will accept the
same and promise to continue the business I'M
der the provisions of the new law. We mean
business"