Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-30
TELEPHONES IN FRANCE.
The Government Assumes Control of
All The Systems.


On Sunday last the government took
forcible possession of the telephone sys-
tenn throughout France, says a Paris
correspondent OF the New York
Tribune. The Soclete Generals des
Telephones protested against the seiz-
ure of its property, but as the delegates
appointed to take over the lines ma
terial and offices on behalf of the
government are accompanied by com
missarles of police, who were ordered
to proceed militari manu- in case of re-
sistence, the officials of the company
were obliged to yield. Q The action of
the government in the matter origin
ated in the theory that the telephone
system is too vast IL monopoly to be al
lowed to remain in the hands of
private company of limited liability,
and that like the postal and telegraph
system throughout Europe, it should be
run by the nation al government for the
benefit of the community at large. The
charter which the "Societe Cen
erals des Telephones" obtained
from the Minister of Industry and Com
merce, in 1873, contains clause where
by the government is authorized
to acquire, at any time that it deems fit,
the rights, privileges and property of
the company, in return for the payment
IL
is to be fixed either by mutual agree
ment, or, in case of dispute, by experts.
In June last the chamber of deputies, in
compliance with the request on the part
of the prime minister, NJ. Tirard, voted
sum of So, ,000, 600 for the purpose OF en-
abling the government TO acquire the
telephone system, and few days later
the premier addressed letter to the
president OF the company, wherein he
notified him that the charter would be
withdrawn on September 1. AT the
same time M. Tirard requested the So
ciete Generate des Telephones to declare
value of its lines and material,
stating that, in case of any diff
fe ..ence OF opinion of the subject
between the company and the govern
ment experts would at one be
appointed to arbitrate the points at is
sue. To this communication the man
agement of tue SocIete Generate des
Telephones replied, refusing to give
any information as to the value of its
material, and cOntesting the right of the
government to annul its charter. Moth
ing further was done in the matter until
August 18th, when M. Josselin, an cleo
trical expert, was appointed by the per-
feet OF the Seine to obtain an inventory
of the material of the company and to
estimate its value. The management,
however, refused either to furnish M.
Jousselin with an inventory, or to give
him any facilities for compiling one.
On August 2lst the prime minister ad-
dressed further letter to the presi-
dent OF the company, repeating the re-
quest contained in his former communi-
cation, and on receipt OF negative,
and even discourteous, reply, dis
patched final appeal TO the man
agement on August 24th. which was
allowed TO remain without acknowl edg-
mcnt whatsoever. Under the circum-
stances. therefore, the government felt
that IL had done all that lay in its pow
er TO come TO friendly understanding,
and accordingly issued orders to the de-
partment Of posts and telegraph TO
seize the property of the telephone COM
pany throughout France on the morn
ing of September ], at the same time
sendiug instructions TO the various ee-
partments 10 provide for armed force.
In case of auy resistance on the part of
the company's officials.
To what extent the community at