New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-28
SECURING THE DEFEAT OF BIS OWN BILL
MN. HAMILTON OPPOSES R1s TELEPHONE MEAS
gmE AFTER THE ASSEMBLY yoTEsf
DOWN MS AMENDMENTS

TIRE AFTER THE ASSEMBLY yorEsf
DOWN HIS AMENDMENTS
Albany, March ~ tspeciaI. Robert Ray Hamilton
hss been defeated In his efforts 20 lower the charges
for telephone service In New-York City. When he
brought up his bl in the Assembly to-day he offered
amendments TO IT. which he considered indispensable
II tho telephone companies Of New York were TO DC
tied down to charging only 800 year for the use Of
their instrumental instead Of $50 as at present.
These amendments were rejected by the Assembly,
although no one made the slightest opposition TO
shen so far as speech making was concerned. Mr..
aamtl,ou's surprise. therefore. was great when he
onnd his bi practically killed. and be therefore voted
against 1t; whereapon those who had rejected bis
amendments tried 10 pass his bill In It's vaueess shape
despite his opposition In this last effort they failed
Mr.. Youngman, OF Albany, opened the debate by
saving that the committee of the Assembly which In
vestieated the charges OF the telephone companies IN
! The summer Of 1857 caIne to one conclusion unani-
mousy, and that was that the telephone subscribers
IN New-York City we're tremendously overcharTed.
The chief telephone company was putting up big
buildings on it's profits, and was paying dividends
amounting 10 4s per cent
Mr. Hamilton came next, saying that his
biz would be yalneless unless the amend
ments he suggested were adopted. ostensibly, he
SAID the bun reduced tho charges OF the
islephone companies In New-York from $50 TO 800
sesrsy but as tho bill was DOW shaped they could
cyade this provision, and n the bill became law
there would be no reduction of the charges. The
Assembly, thereupon, rejected Mr.. Hamlton's amend
ments By vote Of 60 to DO.
! Mr.. Hamllton's aim in these amendments, was to
define 90 clearly Especial CLASP Of service as to
prevent the telephone companies from putting all their
subscribers down IN the special class and maintaining
rats accordingly. when he saw that HIS amend
mants had boon rejected he asked MS friends TO vote
against the bflL Mr.. Connolly Of Nsu-York, one Of
those friends said Mr.. speaker the bll amended is
baud and VIII not BIO 9 party TO it,
Mr.. Creamcr. in meilinuous tones expressed sur
prise at Mr.. Conney,s wrath am surprised at Mr..
connnIlys speech he said, for here have cor
poraaion censenng to reduction of 80 I3 per cent In
is rates. I shall vote for the bills
Mr. Crosby was laughing as he arose 30 speak.
= never knew before,a he said thai Mr. Creamer
was humorist.s
q am afraid" said Mr.. Hamilton, significantly,
that the telephone companies have yielded up 700
much Of their profits This Is an extraordinary
spectacle; the Assembly is forcing down my throat
my own biii. don't want H. When gentlemen
voted down my amendments, they played int the
hands of this telephone monopoly
Mr. Horpidge and Charles Smith, Of New-York,
expressed the opinion that the bill did reduce rates
and announced that therefore they should vote for
ii Mr. shechan said sThe fact that the telephone
companies arc willing, after Mr.. Hamilton's amend
ments have been rejected, 10 permit the bill 70 pass
II sscient Indication Of its true value vote no.
The bin received sixty three votes. two short Of the
number necessary 10 pass r.: and roryye votes wore
cast against II. Mr. Hamilton voted against IT.; Inn
,aedlatcly aftcrwar chairman Of the COMMITTEES on
ssensraI Laws OF the Assembly, he reported favor
nS7y bin Of Mr.. suliiysa's lowering the rate for
fslsnlons sc-vics 10 New-York 10 80 o month, and
reSnaded tho Assembly TO order n TO third reading
~ ne senate to-day, Mr. Pierce introduced bill
esiendne the time Of Bfookyn's Board o. Electrical
Sssaroi untl 1891, and authorizing the Mayor to MI
Tss senate had long discussion q the silI which
So sde = speelal order from Monday night for this
,sos4snc rsquiflag tho consent Of the RaiIroad
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for the construction OF new imes o.
ysjispad me bin was recommtted.