New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-06
MODIFYING THE GERST BILL.
MODIFYING HE bI-itSI iii-|
TEL rpIIONE RATES ~ THIS CITY FIXED AT 1925
INSTEAD OF s7s-MR. STERNE BEFORE THE
SENATE CITIES COMMITTEE.

INSTEAD OF s7s-MR. STERNE BEFORE THE
SENATE CITIES COMMITTEE.
Albany March "a continuation Of the hearing
on the Telephone Rate bill was had before the
Senate cities Committee this afternoon simon
S,ernc representing the Telephone Subscribers As
sociation was first heard He explained the several
amendments which ne proposed TO make to the BIZ
to meet the objections Of the companies. ne sdIn
the bin had been amended so as To raise the rate
I'm New-York City from s7s to So a year. IN l'iook-
lyn from sec to $50. while In cities OF from lrlvD
10 $1,000 population it was left at BY Fify-three
messages were 20 be allowed each subscriber TO
his telephone from any pay-station Any company
not making % per cent on rs Investment might
appeal 10 the commission provided IN the biii Tor
an investigation and an increase. PROVISION was
made for either the toll or nat-rate system EH-
penses Of investigation were to be borne by the
telephone companies but not to exceed $1,000.
Subscribers might complain Of rates and II the
complaint should be upheld the company would
have to paw expenses; II not. the subscribers.
Discussing The comparative cost OF service IN
New-York and London. Mr.. Sternc SAID:
Now II there were the sllgie,t cement OF ttuts
in the statement made by General Tracy, on pchail
oil the METROPOLITAN reephonc Az ieits'1 IN cam
pahy tof course on data firEis''i ny .nho ~,
ptny and for which ne Is not mordIy iespohsIDs:
and amount Of the scrvic" per caplta anu III In
expense Of furnishing telephone service sensipy III
creases the square OF the subscribers WINE re-
ceplts based on liked tax. increase ony piI'on-
tlOnaley one charge for telephone service III ",'i-
York; II seems to me II the l-of don company en-
render this service for % 90 subscribers yeidihp 10
II for the halfyear nOtwithsaI ding the ~ per Spn
pad - the Government, net result OF a9' w.
$4,000 paying interest upon all IFS bonus an" ~.
addition every haf-year dividend OF per cs"t
upon its first and second preference snare anu d
per it, third preference and ordinary shdi'
the Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph '1inpdmy
viii have cause Of complaint II we rrnu'c ~
charges 70 sl25. which is an average Oh ~ NOR more
than the London Telephone Company 0Dih,hs. me
Metropolitan Telephone and Telegraph COMPANY ma,
no payment of 10 per cent 10 make 10 the ecnrIa
postoffce such the Lond Telephone company
Is called upon to make. and f. not under me fhoI
nous add iional expense Or tn" statement OF .eI
Tracy be true) involved In serving 1VO SUBSTITUTES
instead Of but 10WN
MI Humphrey. speaking Cor the Buna'o IT,
phone Subscribers Association. presented o'o 'e''''
from business men. many OF whom favored io"'i
rates X. X. Smither. President OF the buii'Io
common Council, denied that that heard had ac'eu
adversely on the bill. Counc.lfn Hanrahail, VI
BuHaio, SAID he would corroborate the PresldthtS
Stdtcihents, that ne favored the Gerst oil! ana w
AeVed the people OF Buffalo did also. 80,
.Johh u Ali.Durn, OF Buffalo, said tina; the Dl,
II enforced, would result IN a poor service, ana
ne peneVed the people would rise Up against IL
ana demand IT'S repeal. He promised 10 present
report from the chief electrician OF the Lon,
ION TeIephone Company. showing hat there could
be no fair comparison OF prices between the cities
OF NewYork and London
In accordance with requests from the companies.
the final hearing was adjourned for two weeks.