Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-02
I came here. or certainly not within the
last ten or twelve years"
NOT FAIRLY PRESENTED.


NOT FAIRLY PRESENTED.
Colonel McCluer continued:
1.-The position Of our company. I think.
was hardly fairly presented by the mem
bers OF the Committee on Grounds and
Buildings the other night. or course,
when we were asked whether or not we
would furnish thirty-nine free phones TO
the city, we supposed, as every reason
able man would suppose. that the Ques-
ton was Intended TO bring out whether
or not we would give this additional free
service upon the basis or our existing
rights and burdens. That Is, we supposed
the question meant-as II must mean
having what you now have and giving
for II what you now give. are you willing
to give for Il, In addition. the use Of
thirty-nine free phones? Are you willing
TO pay. say 81, 400 annually, In addition to
what you now pay for what you now
have? To this question. thus understood.
we returned n distinct negative answer.
We were not and are not willing to fur
nish the thirty-nine free phones In addi-
ton 10 what we now give for what we
now have. But, In connection with this
refusal we suggested that, as both the
city and the company wanted and needed
something additional, these wants and
needs ought properly to be considered to-
gether: that our proposition for addi-
tional privileges ought to be considered
In connection with the city's demands for
additional revenue.
TO GO UNDER GROUND.
I'm other words, we wanted to go under
ground, and desired this particularly be-
cause you complained OF our poles in the
streets, and for months. even years,
would not allow us to extend our lines
additional nnllQ rannirpd
to reach new subscribers. or even to re-
place poles in our existing lines that were
in n dangerous conditlon-thus at once
lettering and Gripping our business and
exposing us to claims for damages. and
denying the accommodation Of the tele-
phone to the citizens of Richmond. unless
we would consent that the strong cur
rent wires should be crowded on our
poles"
"Major Stiles said distinctly TO the
committee that, II the Council would per-
init US TO go under ground the citizens
would be benefited by better service.
and we would thus secure larger patron
age. and for these increased facilities,
would be willing to pay a larger tax TO
the city-in such form as IL should pre-
fer He stated that the company ola not
think the free phones the the tax
in kind n proper or desirable basis for
the increased revenue the city needed,
or the increased tax we would be willing
to pay, and in this view II seemed the
committee agreed with US; that we would
prefer to pay larger tax In money,
and were quite willing to do so for the
larger or better facilities; but II In
sisted upon, the company might be Will
ing TO pay any specified part of It's tax
to the city in the form of free service.
WILL CARRY CITY WIRES.
1--WE have never failed to observe and
faithfully carry out the obligations I'M
posed upon us by our original ordinance,
by virtue of which the city to-day has
it's wires-fire-alarm. police Telegraph.
etc.-upon some 100 OF our 1000 poles.
OF course, we are In Ike manner WILL
ing that the city shall enter our con-
Quits with it's wires. If we shall be per-
mitted to go under ground.
in conclusion, cannot but believe the
entire matter Of our relations to our city
government and to our citizens has been
the subject OF grave Misrepresentation,
and we cannot but hope that this plain
statement of facts, which you have en-
abled me to make. will do something TO
bring about a better understanding OF
our positlOn."