The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-31
INSIDE MONOPOLY FACTS
Gen. ButterWorh Anaigns the
Bell Telephone Company.
AGREED TO HOLD UP RATES
He Declares That tho Local Concern
Entered Into u Contract with Other
Telegraph and Telephone Compa-
mics to Prevent u ReductiOn-New
Police Regulation Explained.

The District C6anfassiohers gave hear
ing to representatives OF the several tele
phone compaue$ncM seeking 10 gain an
entrance To the city, apd among Others who
addressed the III that behalf was Gen.
Ben Bntierwortn, whose charges against
the present Ben mohopoly were OF some
what startling character.
Among other things, Gen. Butterworth
SAID the Hell ContIlty had not made Il iair
presentation OF the Question as IL came 10
the Commissioners when II gave out that
from an economical standpoint IL was I'M
able to reduce I'D rafes
! Mr.. Butterworth said the real reason for
the dcclinatiUn. not inability, TO reduce the
charges was that the Bell Telephone Com
pany, several years ago, when II was seen
that rapid strides We're being made in telc-
phony. had entered into a combine with the
Western Union Telegraph Company. and
| two other corporations, whereby it was
! pledged not to reduce the cost OF its instru-
ments, anu that If investigation were made,
| 1t would probably be found that some such
agreement is still in existence.
| The Bell Company, the general said,
could never reduce its rates to subscribers
when II had no opposition, but wherever
| competition could find Il footing the Bell
was swift to bring down the tariff. and he
had known of instances when II had act
ualiy Offered to render the service for
nothing.
''Ir tn" Bell Company should come TO the
Commissioners and say, We are bound by Il
| contract with the Western Union Telegra phi
Company and two other corporations not
to reduce our prices' that would be the
truth. hut if that company says IL cannot
render good service for less money and
still make u fair profit. that is not correct.
We offer here and now to give as good Il
service al One-haif or one-;hird OF the cost.
The Bell Company reduces charges only
for the purpose Of wringfng the nccks Of
rivals. That accomplished. il returns to
high prices upon a false plea"
Gen. Buttcrworth said, further, that
the present high rates were directly opposed
to the interests OF the humber tradcsnIen
and the struggling physicians. and then,
quoting from recent speech in Congress,
he said; That monopoly that widens the
breach between those who can and those
who cannot; between those on the one side
who are able 10 pay and those on the other
who are not does us all an irreparable in
jury"
Mr.. T c. Daniel representing he CO'um-
bia Telephone Company. one OF those seek
ing a franchise. presented a list Of petit
TONERS containing the names of all but
800 of the Bel >ignerS. who pledged them
selves to take the Columbia service IN case
pI HIS tNld D.l>fltllPni. lneN signed II. con-
ditioned tsat it would rot conflict with
their existing contract within thirty days
after the decision of the Supreme Court
annulling the Bell patent, and agreed to
take the service for three years upon the
pledge that it should not cost more than
$50 per annum.
There is not the slightest doubt that
these signers will he heard from in Con-
gress." said Mr.. Daniel.
In response to communication, under
the date OF the 9Th instant the Commits
sioners today sent to Hon. James No
Milan chairman OF the Senate Committee
OF District 4 fairs, copy OF section l.
OF article 10 Of the police regulations. to-
gcther with statementof their reasons for
adopting the same H.
The section refetre1i toersaises follows:
mo horse shall be driven nor vehicle
moved faster than "A walk on Fifteenth
street. between Rennsylvania avenue and |
the north line Of New York avenue north |
west, or on cross streets where street car |
lines intcrSect.' = ".
In commenting irpen the necessity for |
the enforcement OF the order. the Com |
missioners say: l. E
This regulai ton was adopted for the |
protection of the thousands OF passengers |
who are taken up Ind diScha rGed daily by !
the street cars atithe points named, and |
after numerous complaints had been made |
n nd verified OF the great danger TO which |
they Were subieCtedi on account of the |
reckless driving.
IN DANGER OF INJURY.
Many OF the persons who transfer at
the points referred TO are old and infirIl,
and as the avenue is broad they are liable
10 be knocked down and seriously injured
by passing vehicles.
'One man was killed at New York ave
nue. and Fifteenth street. and a number OF
persons have been more or less seriously !
injured on the avenue at the Seventh and
Ninth street Crossings by carriages.
THE press and many citizens demanded
that something should he done to protect |
human life at these dangerous points. and, |
litter scarefuI investigd ton and mature
the Commissioners made the
referred to. which they felt
in duty bound to do under the tenth statute
Of section one of the act To authorize the
of the District of Columbia
10 make police ROTATIONS for the gov
arnment Of said District approved jan
uary 26. 1897.
''Since the regulation has been in force
lot single accident has occurred al any
~ /,