New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-26
TELEPHONE MEN IN DANGER
LEGISLATION WHICH SHOULD STOP THEN.
DEMOCRATIC INFLUENCE skcvRSp-BXToRT1oN-
AYE CuARGRS 10 BE ENDkD.

ATE CHARGRS TO BE ENDED
Members Of the Board OF Tipde aud Transportation
and OF the Telephone Subscribers Association "tre
llblant 70 scrlay the excellent prospects Of Il
slcce.sful termination Of their war against the eS
tortionate and unreasonable charges made by The
Metropolitan Telegraph and Telephone Company fcr
telephone service In This city. They have been nght
Ing for lower rates for nearly three years without
success and the lack Of good results from their cam
paign against the monopoly has apparently encouraged
the telephone people In tie belief that they "u'u
exact any tribute they chose from long suffering
and seemingly helpless public.
In former years the subscribers have been outvot"d
IN the Legislature This year tho nUuble to get any
man OF weight and inliuelcc In the Democratic party
10 Introduce the bill Yesterday afternoon james
Tseot and Frank s Gardner, representing the B"4rd
Of Trade aud tho subscribers Association, called on
Richard Croker Mt Tsmmhny Hall. and held long con-
ference with him In regard to telephone legislation.
Mr. Gardner told Mr. Croker that they had called for
the purpose OF securing his cooperation and Influence
with members u the legislature Ia pass bill winch
would dve relief 10 telephone subscribers IN The cities
OF New York and Brooklyn. Mr. Croker received them
pleasautly and asked the nature Of the legislation do
sired MIR Gardner presented 70 Nj, Croker a copy OF
the the bill witch has the approval VI the 0rg'nfa
tons which he represented.
They talked over tue features Of the bill and Mr.
Croker expressed his approval Mr.. Gardner c-
questsd Mr. Croher to name a Senator and an Assem-
blymaD for whom he would Ia responsible. who would
Introduce the bill and tat 1t had fair treatment
Mr. Croker volunteered Ia take copies OF the bill aud
secure IT, Immediate Introduction In both houses VI
the LEGISLATURE. When asked II tte Late date OF III
PRODUCTION would militsts against it, passage, Mr..
Croker replied that il wonld have no such Influence
The interview was In every respect satisfactory 10
Mr. Tnlcott and Mr.. Gardner, and they believe uat'
With Mr. Cookers assistance the bill can be passed al
this session Copies Of the bin will he handed TO Mr.
Croker to-day and he will hand them to the senator
and Assembyman he shall select TO Introduce IL Ia
the Legislature.
With Mr.. Cookers active support and that OF I'd
ward Murphy IT,. Of Troy, there can be little doubt
Tint the bill will become a law. the Dill
drawn up by the association provides for the
appointment Of Boards OF Telephone Commissioners IN
cities having 100000 inhabitants aud over. whose duty
N shall be to institute inquiry into u" facts AFFECT
Ing the cost Of telephone service In their respective
cities and within four months after the passage OF th
art ITO fix and declare suoh charge aud price a. u
then. shall Just and rcss0nable' Ihe boifus
will have power issue tuhpOfnaS Tor all witnesses
necessary 30 an intelligent inquiry, and a IN" com
panics affected by the act VIII be required - make
annual report; the boards. showing the details OF
the business done.
II (, probable that the bin will be placed In charge
II senator Edward l.. Ilagan, Of the KIN senate Ds
trIct. and Assembly man Daniel j. Marlin, ~ the
XVIIIth Assembly District