Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-05
MAY BE A TELEPHONE WAR
The District Commissioners Threatened
With an Infringement Suit
Sequel to an Effort Of the COmmlR-
sioners to Introduce q
Cheaper Service.

right here in Washington within few days
with the Commissioners as defendants.
Shortly after the Commissioners moved
into their new quarters it was proposed, as
the offices were widely separated, that 1t
would be good thing to connect them all
by telephone, SO that when a Commissioner
desired the presence of one of the subordi-
nate officials all he would have to do would
be to make the proper connection, ring the
bell and have the official appear. When it
was decided to introduce a telephone sys-
tenn in the District building President
Bryan of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company was not consulted. al
though the District has contract with
that company for large number of instru-
ments. Superintendent Miles, in charge of
the District fire alarm and telephone sys-
tenn, was called in and asked what could
be done. He called attention to the in
struments manufactured by the Manhattan
Supply Company of New York, which. he
said, he did not consider an infringement
of patents held by the Bell company. He
was confident he could arrange a system
of communication between the different
offices, with competent switchboards in
each of the Commissioner rooms and SUBJ
mitted an estimate for doing the work. This
was accepted, and the Commissioners at
once gave orders for him to proceed with
the work. For weeks worlxmen were en-
stringing the wires. At length everything
was in readiness, and a test was made.
Everything worked beautiful. and the
Commissioners were in high Gather. So
pleased were they, in fact, that they i'm
mediately directed Superintendent Miles to
get facts and figures in relation to this new
receiver and transmftter. with view of
substituting it on the Districts police and
fire lines. Such move seemed to be COM
mendable as a matter of economy, but there
lurked suspicion in the minds of the
Commissioners that it might involve an in
fringement Of the Bell patents.
An Indemnity Bond Asked.
Whereupon they gently limited and after
ward GemaI ded that a guarantee bond to
indemnify the District against loss in case
CT suit be filed, agreeing in that case to
purchase the instruments which were Of
fered at 1915 per set. But the Manhattan
Supply Company demurred, and in a letter
to their ager is in this city said they would
have to refuse the order. Negotiations
were then opened with the western con-
cern-the same one that put In the sys-
tenn in the Interior Department-but these
negotiations also fell through. Then the
Commissioners began to think. They pom
dered deeply, and called Superintendent
Miles sgain before them. After discussing
the matter for some time, they directed
that official to see what could be done with
the Manhattan Company in the shape of
d
1t was developed that the company was
willing to give personal bond, but would
not give real estate bond, secured by
property in this city. This was better than
send on it's bond. This was done, and the
bond is now before the Commissioners
awaiting action.
A Notice From President Bryan.
In the meantime the Chesapeake and Po-
tcmac Telephone Company has not been
idle. President Bryan strolled down to the
District building several days ago and
looked over the situation. He entered the
board room and examined the instruments
there n detail. He declared emphatically
that they were infringements and left the
office.
The next day he indited an epistle to the
Commissioners, which was certain in its
terms, and set the triumvira:e thinking
again. President Bryan. in his letter, said
he had been informed that the District had
in use between the different offices a trans
mitter for telephone communication, which
was unquestionably an infringement Of
the Berliner patent. dated November II,
1891, and numbered 463, SGD. The validity
of this patent, he stated. mad been affirmed
by the United States Circuit Court of APP
reals. He cautioned the Commissioners to
be careful and 10 investigate thoroughly
<the position the District would be placed
IL as an infringer.
Nothing has been lone regarding this
letter beyond referring it to the attorney
for the District. 1t is understood. how
ever that the telephone company will not
let the matter rest, but take the Com
missioners into court at the first oppor-
tunity.
The action Of the Commissioners In put
ting in this system without inviting bids
has aroused some unfavorable comments.
The cost, however, did not amount to quite
$500. The telephone company has stated
that it would have put in the system and
only charged the District 50 per year each