The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-09


melce urgently recommend 10 all citizens
that they forthwith cease 20 patrOnlze
the old company on any terma and cause
its phones to be removed from their
premises, az In no other way can the
rev company be adequately sustained IN
ita enterprise and enabled TO succeed.
Captain Dean in submltting this reso-
luton said he was actuatod by 10 ami
mostly against the Bel Company, bu,
solely by q spirit o. citizenship; that
the suggestion contained I'm the resolu-
ton might appear radical. but that
the Chamber had done an IN It's power
some eighteen months ago 70 open the
roid g. oTnstitiOn. en- 10 secure tcle-
phone service at iovor cost 10 the
Public. that the action or The CITY Council
in repeating the franchise or the Bon
Company had done nj end that a new
company had established plant and was
giving n Satisfactory service, and that it
was only consistent for the Chamber 10
recommend that the new company te
patronized: that by this course IL was
practicable not only 10 save the citi-
zens OF Richmond some $4,000 but 20
have the service greatly extended with
out additional cost 90 each subscriber.
Under these circumstances he said he
hoped It woui be rhc pleasure Of the
meetir g 70 adopt The resolution or refer
4. 10 the Board Of Directors.
MR.. MCLUER-s DEFENCE.
Mr.. c. r.. McCluer. the district super
intendent of the Bel Telephone Com
pany. expressed great regret that such
resolution had been offered and said
that he did not think it the part Of the
Chamber 10 take either side in the light
which was now going on between the
two telephone companies; that Of course.
it was the privilege Of every subscriber
II he did not Ike the terms Of the Bell
Company to cancel his subscription. bat
the Chamber should not exercise its IN
fluence, which was powerful. IN behalf os
either party 70 The light; that the IleIl
Company had come to Richmond a num-
be, ~ years ago in the early history -
the telephone business: hl1, bt great cost
cor tiuued 70 improve It's service until Il
was acknowledged by telephone people
70 be the best service Tor its cost enjoy
ed by any city OF the size o, Richmond:
ttat they had invested not less than
$4,000. were paying taxes to The city.
and a large amount for oDert-'ng tpoir
plant. and nat he I'D not believe ifey
charged one cent more than was prudent
o. reasonable as Il fair TCturn Tor the
investment, and 10 set aHIe aWaiaily
fund 70 meet contingent expe1res and
damages to which such companies were
exI cseG.
There was a great deal OF misappre-
hension on the part OF the public as 70
the expenses and profits Of telephone
companies; that therefore his company
did not respond 20 the Chamber when lt
originally demanded q reduction Of rates:
that now that q rival company was in
the field, the Bel Company was loath TO
fight. but that Il intended 10 protect IT'S
interest as 10 was perfectly natural that
IL should do 10 the best Of IT'S ability.
Alr. Mcclure said that since the 1st OF
October the rate OF HIS company was so
anywhere in the city N Richmond. and,
II necessary. 1t would 60 to a lower figure.
In conclusion he said that he did not
think II fair on the province OF the Cham
Der TO take part in this fight. and he
hoped Il would decline to pass the reso-
luton offered by Captain Deane.
CAPTAIN REGESTBR'S VIEWS.
Captain Samuel REGISTER in support
OF the resolution Of Captain Deane, said
he desired 20 disclaim all hostility TO the
Bell Company, but that every possible
courtesy had been extended TO the COM
pany when a reduction OF rates were
originally asked, that at that time other
scOmpanies were rendering cheaper
service at other points and that The
Chamber looked az tho matter purely
from a business standpoint; that a new
company was now in the field backed by
q long-headcd business man Of Richmond.
and that It was fair 10 presume that be
understood what he was doing I'm putting
his money into the business; that TO be
consistent, the Chamber. he thought, was
bound 10 take some action, as both com
panies could not exist. and a crucial Test
OF strength would be made; that the old
company had invoked the power OF the
Federal Court. 0nd we were having an
cxDerience OF government by Injunction,
hut that he thought the question could
be much more effectively dealt with by
the citizens Of Richmond. and by the
influence OF tho Chamber; that on the
one hand We had the Bel Telephone
Company, operating 10y sufferance. its
franchise from the city having expired
on the other hand the new company.
with n franchise from the city and
local enterprise. the profits OF which would
remain in Richmond
WOULD REGRET 1T.
Mr.. McCluer again addressed the meet
ing, saying that Le desired TO call the
attention OF the Chamber 10 the fact that
the new company was not actuated Dy
any philanthrOp.c motives, and that he
honestly believed IL The Chamber adopted
the resolution under consideration. the
time would come when they would regret
u. lie then gave the history OF the qucs-
tlons which had arisen between the city
authorities and his company antedating
the action OF the city Council In annul-
lug the franchise OF his company. lie
said il was first proposed to force the
electric light and other strong current
wires upon the poles OF the Bell Com
pany, and then il was claimed that op-
position telephone companies should have
The privilege OF running their wires upon
the Bell Company poles. The hrst prop
osition was entirely impracticaOle on ac-
count OF its interference ana danger TO
the telephone service and The second was
also Objectionable ard combatted by the
Sell Company. and the city Attorney
gave il as his opinion that the Bell Com
pany could not be- forced 10 allow other
wires upon it's poles. After the expiration
OF the franchise gwen the Bel Company
hy the city. lt d.l NOT retire from the
field. as IL had valuable plant and eX-
lstng contracts. hrf continued 10 do busi-
rass as IL believed it was entitled 20 DO,
uAder national lusf al Of municipal law
lie further stated that his company had
contemplated building l5-"ay for IT'S
wires u cost from 100000 o. $4,000 and
that If tie city w0lll l4ve a reasonable
ffanchise lt was still prepared 10 DO so,
and also TO AFFORD accommodation to the
police and lre alarm wires. which the
city wants 70 get under ground. but that
OF course 1t v-rs not his company's pur-
nose 10 make th' expenditure for tie