Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-11-21
REVOKE THE RIGHTS.
COUNCIL ASKED TO TAKE AWAY THE
TELEPHONE coMPANY'S PRIVILEGES.
The sub-comwittee's Report to This Eject
Adopted After n Long Discussion-
Other Work Done.


The Council Committee on Grounds ana
Buildings last night. by a vote OF 10 L.
decided TO recommend that the franchises
which the Southern Bell Telephone Com
pany now enjoy be revoked by the city.
This Is the upshot Of the long fight tnae
has been made over the question OF free
phones being furnished where needed IN
the City Hall or other municipal ofnees'
The report agreed upon will now go 70
the Council, and IL adopted by poth
branches the telephone company VIII nave
either TO surrender the rights which II
now has, or, as was suggested by MAJOR
Stiles last night. make fight In the
courts TO retain them
Chairman Carter presided over the ses-
sion Of the committee. which. Ike all
others at which this subject has been
considered, lasted for several hours, and
was marked by liberal display OF couh-
cnmanic oratory. And at times the us
cusslon waxed warm, though the members
took the thrusts OF their associates In
Good mart Besides the chairman there
vare present Messrs. Blake. Gunst Roy
Ems. Mountcastle, and Snead Clty-thsl-
neer Cutshaw occupied seat In the PACK
,.~o,,rd Superintendent McCluer and Ma
tor Robert stiles were in attendance as
The telephone coinpany's business ana
legal representatives.
sUB-COMMITTEE's REPORT.
Nv Gunst. from the subcommittee ap-
rointod 10 consider this entire subject
p,rase,ted a report embodying the views
~ Mr. King and himself. This paper
which was brief, stated that the colhAl'-
| toe had caused "A phone TO be put IN the
| CIV Sergeant's Office for the convenience
| OF the Hastings Court; that the co1npahy
| had offered 10 furnish the city the uiiI's :
nine Instruments that II needs at h'lt vi
| the commercial price. when one. N"s "
tocted. and recommended that the CONF
| Danv's franchises be revoked 80 as "
| omen the neld for competition
| Mr. Blake. the third member OF the
! suh-conrulttee. favored ratifyng all that
Nessrs. Gunst and King had done' pu.
! wanted 10 stop there. lie wanted 20 JIM.
| Tho recommendation entirely. In the hts'
! place such proposition as 10 teN"Ne 'n'
/ franchises should come from some nl'i''.
her of the Council individually, anu no,
! fror,, tho committee Besides, IL woulu
,,ot Iool, rich, for the committee, upon
| tho heels OF being refused free phones
10 ask that the c0mpany's privileges ue
nnnulled. such proposition came WIN
poor grace. and would be condemned aS
i'm his Judgment II should be
AR Gunst defended the action or MT
Ei,y aud himself with some warmth; de'
clared that he had always been opposed u
! free phones or free anything else' IN
| sisted that Il was the committee uulS
to shane legislation by making recoiilineh ~
| dations. aud In closing characterl%ed Mr
Ilf
! kind 10 himself al his ASSOCIATE WI" N"'
done all OF the work.
THE COMPANY's SIDE.
Mr. King came in after Messrs. blak'
end Gunst had both spoken at SOM
length. and said he endorsed every s,n
! tarce and sentiment In the report. h'
was in favor of annulling the franchises
NOT because free phones were denied pu
asa matter Of principle and with view
giving the citizens chance for the peS
and cheapest service possible
Major stiles was granted the priNleE
of the floor, and spoke brieiiy. lie Ieb
the correspondence between Colonel Cut
shaw and Mr. McCluer 20 show that Whn
the company had felt constrained 10 aeh'
SO large a number OF phones without an;
remuneration, IT had shown most ltlehi
lv spirlt. wanted 10 meet the city IN al
fairness. and proposed that action b
| deferred until the whole supJecl
changing to an underground system dc
could be considered. MAJOR stiles DOT
stated that the rates here were as chet
as anywhere and cheaper than the hotlI
crn cities and asserted that they had II
doubt that a satisfactory arrahseih0'
could be made when everything va
taken into consideration. The cOmpah
had It's petition for permission 10 put II
wires underground ready for preseniauof
and was willing 10 submit 10 even sTea'i
taxation II this privilege was granted
After q long discussion the committee
report was adopted "a whole only Nj
Blake voting for his amendment.
OTHER BUSINESS.
Colonel Cutshaw reported that Nursery
, man Ham had moved into the city q
, suggested. and was now a voter. III
arpointment was therefore confirmed.
: Citv.Attorney Meredith's opinion abou
tbe application Of the ordinance proYidin
for sami-monthy payments applying
certain employees was read, and on m
ton OF Mr. MOuntCastle II was declie
that the janltors and all employees
fine department be paid twice month.
d Captain Cunningham's application 70
parmission 10 allow the use Of the Armor
a in the DAYTIME for a bicycle tralnln
school the proceeds 10 20. 10 the uhiiotl
fund. was granted, subject 70 the con
mittee's pleasure. The prop lsltloh IA
D been approved by Colonel jon ?.
4 \ good deal Of other routine bushes
: was transacted.