New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-15
TO FIG HT The TELEPHONE PEOPLE.
ANOTHER CONCERTED EFFORT AGAINST HIGH
CHARGES AND POOR SERVICE.

ANOTHER CONCERTED EFFORT AGAINST HIGH
CHARGES AND POOR SERVICE.
The Telephone Subscribers Association, which was
organized by the Board Of Trade about two years ago.
is preparing to wage active warfare on the Metro
politan Telegraph and Telephone Company in the
Legislature. The association formed TO secure
the passage of bill for the reduction OF telephone
charges. It's first bill introduced IN the Legs
aturc Of 1890, and made an arbitrary cut In rentals
II was defeated. and last year a different bill was
brought forward, providing for the appointment Of
commission to investigate the subject of telephone
charges with view to the establishment Of an equita-
bic and reasonable rate At that time telephones in
New York City cost $50 year, and the service was
VIGOROUSLY bad measured by the standard Of the
service in foreign cities and the lonidtan service
in this country. Yet the company reapng en-.
OrmOus profits having In six years earned returns
amounting to s23i34j4 % on original cash invest
mcnt Of 100000. This bill, Ike the other, met
defeat.
Members OF the Subscribers Association declare
that every means nj the command of the company
brought to bear on those most prominent in the
movement TO buy them or. but without avail.
Having defeated the bill. however, the company
turned around and proceeded to raise rentals from
$50 TO $40 year. urging an excuse the expense
involved in placing their wires underground. This
unWarrantod and outrageous acton has eNas
pcrntcd the subscribers that they have now returned
the fight with renewed vigor and propose to carry
# through 10 the end.
The first difficulty which presents itself this year
IS 10 get the bill introduced Tho association wishes
Ia have this done by Democrat 80 that the bill can
not be opposed Republican measure. but no
Democrat Of any standing whatever be found who
iarcs take charge Of tn, bill without the pcrnis
sion OF &" Hoses Murphy and Croker TO act in
dcpendently IN the matter. would be political suicide
tightly is the Tammnny halter adjusted about the
nccks ~ the legislative puppets. ON the other hand
10 secure Mr. Croker's permission is apparently an
impossbllity. rs the 10000 year which the
Metropolitan Telegraph and Telephone Company pay
into the Tammany campaign fund Is too fat plum
to be regarded lightly. An appeal will be made to
Messrs Croker aud Murphy this week, and II 1t Is
not successful the bin will be placed In the hands Of
"A Republican member. Then the association will
adopt the plan Of campaign successfully followed
some years ago By the gas consumers.
At that time the gns companies spent hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars prevent the passage Of tho
bill fixing the price OF gas. The first year the bill
up eighty two members Of the 'gisature voted
against IT, Tie hoard Of Trade made active
canvass against each Of those the n'Xt
election. and only thirteen Of them returned to
tn, Assembly. \ vote forced the bin Mt
every possible opportunity and careful rcord mad,
Of the atttud Of each member At the next election
Ute Board Of Trade into the districts Of the men
who had opposed tn, bill In any way. and lld their
rccOrl, before the electors. IN" result VA, that
10 Albany who worked and voted for
The bill. aud II WAS passed. In case OF failure 10
pass the present bill regulating the rental ~ tcle-
phones, similar tactics VIII be- employed Rt TIE polls
next fall.
The association l. rcNving aid and CJmmendnt on
all sides. t're 1, no one besides the peOp' direct
~ Interested In the til phone companies who hns any
word Of excuse or dclrnc, for the eXOrbitant and
cAtOrtlOnatc rates levied the long suffering sub
scrbcrs. In Other city I'm the world the
charge, one half a, high rs here and in few. II
any. /, the service For obviCus reasons th1
names Of ia" subscribers who are banded together
10 ,ccur' relief cannot be made public. few
have taken II upon Themselves to conduct the fight
in their own names and take what punishment the
company chooses u nfict upon them. These men
arc James TAlcOtt &. g. Shayn". George L. Pcaee, Of
E0omm ~ p"nsc, william -. stewart OF the stewart
Ceramic Company, simon Stcrnc. >llas VI. Gliding.
~ OAlcy. Giddlng, EnOS. II. II. l5rOchvay II the
Ashland Home: David Ilir,ch, Of the Defiance Cigar
Factory, and William Irwin Martin. of RaynOr ~
Martin.
Frank : Gardner, OF ~. IS Liberty ST., acting
secretary Of tho Board Of Trade. is secretary Of the
association.