The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-28
THE BELL GETS ABLACK EYE.
The ChambeFO Commerce Endorses the
Richmond Telephone Co.
EVERYBODY URGED TO SUPPORT 1T.
4 Long and Interesting session OF the
Chamber Held with the Above Result
The B,Ii Telephone company De
nounc.d Other Business.


her of Commerce met IN the assembly
han Of that building last night, and al
ter being ia session Tor nearly two hours
accepted resolution calling upon all
citizens 20 get rid OF the Bell telephone
as speedily as possible. and to substi-
tute therefor the instruments furnished
by the Richmond Tclcphon. Company.
As viii be remembered, tho Chamber
at It's last meeting, discussed at length
the questions as 20 whether any action
should be taken In the matter. the i'm
junction gotten odt by the Bel Company
having aroused eat indignation all over
The city. Upon second thought the Cham
Ter decided TO take no prccipitatc ac-
zion. and therefore. referred tie ques-
ton TO "a committee consisting OF Messrs.
j. ii. Dcane n. :. Boshcr ~. j.. Ca
lell. ID. S. Mccarthy. and p. r.. Well
lord.
TWO REPORTS. MADE.
This committee last night through its
chairman. Captain J.. ii. Deanc pre-
scented two reports, the one signed by
The majority OF the members of tho com
mittec. advising the Chamber for rea-
sons set forth TO take no action in the
matter. the other. which was adopted.
as stated. urging immediate action.
The Chamber was called 10 order at
6 o'clock President s. II. Halves In the
clalr. and it soon became evident that
tho meeting wouli bo q lons;hy and in
toIcsting one. The spccohmaSing was
nocun Dy Captain Deaue. and & number
OF others followed him.
Although som. % fhc speakers strong
lv deprecated any lcion ocins taken
hy the Chamber. set al OF them declared
that they either had already or would
stop us.ue the Beli phones and become
subscribers OF the Richmond Telephone
Exchauca. Nearly AN Of them highly
complmenttl the efficiency Of the SER
vice rendered by the new company
which they said would still further i'm
prove with practice. and called special
attention TO tho fact that AN OF the em-
pioycs of the Richmond Company. with
tho exception OF two experts were resi-
dents OF this city and Manchester.
Colonel g. T.. NoClhcr. manager OF the
Southern Eel Telephone Company. in
This city. was present at the meeting. and
made % vigorous speech I'm behalf of
his company but nearly All the sem
timent was against him. as was shown
10y the hearty applause which greeted
every thrust at the Bel Company. fhe
majority of The Chamber evidently came
with the intention of passing a resolu-
tion adverse % the old company. and
! rythirg said On the other side was so
much breath wasted
THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
The report OF the committee was as
follows.
Your special Committe on the telephone
question. consisting of T.. ". Dcane. r.
S Boshcr, II. l.. Cabel. d. s. Mccarthy
and T. L. Wexford met che 10th instant
20 consider the resolution referred TO 30
$40 fhc general meeting Of the Chamber
After some discussion Of tho resolution.
one of the telephone companies having
sienifcd its desire for a. hearing before
thc committee. final action was deferred
until ana opportunity hId been afforded
fo both companies 10 Doe heard. and the
committee adjourned until the Goth in
stant
On That date tho old company, or. as
DO is known. the Richmond Telephone EX-
change. appeared before the committee
by its representative Mr. Hill Carter.
and the new company. the Richmond
Telephone Company by its representa-
tive. Mr. a. b. Gu.son After fully hear
ing them. the committee proceeded TO
consider the question.
In the course of its deliberations there
being "a division in the committee as TO
90 the proper course TO Dee pursued by the
chamber with the consent of the COM
drawn hy Captain Deanc. lind the follow
ing substitute was submitted for the
recommendation of the committee.
Whereas. the Richmond Chamber Of
Commerce heretofore urged upon the
city Council of Richmond the great inn
IOrtance OF securing telephone service
al reduced rates. and the city having
secured such lower rates by granting
franchise TO the Richmond Telephone
Company. therefore. bee it
Resolved by the Richmond Chamber
cf Commerce. That the citizens Of Rich
-loud Doe and are hereby urged TO patron
ize the Richmond Telephone Company, so
as 10 sustain 10. and thus secure pcrma-
ueuty tine reduced rates
After cue consideration OF the substi-
tlte. 20 take the sense of the committee
motion was made 10 the effect that the
committee repos the substitute 10 the
Chamber with the recommendation that
Do Dee NOT adopted.
Upon This motion Messre. Kosher Nc
Carthy and Wexford voted In the affirm
auyo-that De-. the original report hav-
ing been Withdrawn. that the substitute
De- not adopted-iu effect that the Cham
Der take no action whatever upon the
question. which is hereby submitted as
the majority report OF the committee.
MINORITY REPORT.
Mcssrs Cabell and Deane voted I'm the
negative upon The motion. thereby favor
ing thc adoption of The substitute OF Cap
iaiu Dcaue. which substitute, with the
rccomlntn lauou tnat u Doe adopted by the
Chamber. is submitted AS the minority re-
port OF the committee.
Captain Dtanc then offered those OF the
committee VINO favored the majority re-
port an opportunity 10 support their side
of the ques ton, but none Of them at that
time desiring TO do SO, he submitted the
following arguments iu favor OF the
minority report.
Mr. President and Gentlemen Of the
Chamber.
In presenting the minority report 7
beg 10 give a short account OF the orig
NAL causes which induced tho Chamber
10 take up this question OF telephone
rates The Committee on Postal ana
Telegraph Service held a meeting April
s. 1894. al which time they addressed
"a request 10 tho Southern Bell Tc.e-
phone Company fOr reduction in rates.
calling their attention 10 the fact that
other places were getting IT, and that
they should be- willing 20 reduce % since
as the committee understood DO. the
ROYALTIES on the transmittcr and nand
phone had expired. After several letters
had passed. the COMMITTEE OF the Cham
Der wrote the n. OCtol cT u. 1894 making
ibis specific request that the rates be
reduced so per phone. The Bell Company
wrote on November 23rd. that 10 wou'i