Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-10-09
FIGHT OYER PHONES.
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED BEFORE
THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
FRIENDS OF THE NEW COMPANY.
Several Members Urge That the
Business-Mer should stand by
This Enterprise, and the Question
Is Referred.
Is Referred.

The discussion of the telephone ngnt
consumed the greater portion OF the
time, and while final action was not
taken II was apparent that this infu-
entail body of businessmen is with the
new company. A significant feature or
the discussion was the statement made
pubic for the first time that the Bell
Company has cut under the Richmond.
and now only charges $50 per annum for
it's phones.
The only report made from standing
committees was that Of Mr.. Charles
Slaus. Of the Committee on Health and
Sanitation, who stated that a meeting Of
that body had been recently held. at
which the doctors reported the health Of
the city as distressngly good
THE TIMES OF MEETING.
Under the head OF New Business" the
Chair suggested that the time for the
annual meetings Of the chamber and for
the quarterly meetings should be changed
from June, July, october. January, and
April to January February, May. Au-
gust. and November. AS a reason for
these changes, he stated that experience
by the constitution of the Chamber for
holding it's annual meeting and its first
quarterly meeting uhe second Thursday
in June and July. respectively we're not
the most favorable for securing a good
attendance Of members or an interest
in the proceedings proportionate to their
Importance. To carry into effect this sug-
geston, Judge George l.. Christian sub
mitted the following motion to amend
Article III. of the Constitution:
Annual meetings OF the Chamber shall
be held on the second Thursday in Janu-
airy. Quarterly meetings on the second
Thursday in February. May August, and
November OF each year; the August quar-
terly meeting TO be held only on the call
OF the president or az other special meet
ings are called. The terms of all officers
and directors now In Office shall expire
on the election of their SUCCESSORS at the
annual meeting in January next after
the adoption of this amendment"
This motion, having been seconded VIII,
according to the constitution, be acted
upon at the next meeting OF the Chamber.
THE TELEPHONE FIGHT.
Captain F. II. Deane offered the fol-
lowing. which precipitated an animated
discussion:
Whereas. the Southern Bell Telephone
Company has instituted proceedings by
| Injunction TO prevent the city OF Rich
/ lliOilN AiOuI dorCAtlhb dih1 maintaining ieS
rights and power over its streets. and
seeks to force itself on the city and on
the community; and
Whereas, the Richmond Telephone
Company Is a local enterprise. originated
and carried out by local industry and
| local capital, and is now giving salts
| factory service to the citizens at a price
| far below what has been charged for
many years by the old company: now,
| therefore be IL
Resolved. That the Chamber OF Com
merce urgently recommend to all citizens
| that they forthwith cease to patronize
| the old company on any terms, and cause
| its phones to be removed from their
/ premises. as IN no other way can the
new company be adequately sustained in
its enterprise and enabled to succeed"
Captain Deane, in submitting this resO-
| luton, said he was actuated by no ami
mostly against the Bell Company, but
solely by a spirit OF citizenship; that the
| suggestion contained i'm the resolution
might appear radical but the Chamber
had done all In its power some eighteen
months ago 20 open the field to cOmpeu-
| tion and to secure telephone service at
n lower cost to the public; that the action
of the City Council in repeating the fran
| chise of the Bell Company had done this,
and a new company had established
| plant and was giving a satisfactory ser
| vice. and il was only consistent for the
Chamber TO recommend that the new
company be patrOnized; that by this
| course II was practicable not only TO
save the citizens OF Richmond some so. =.
| 900 annually, but to have the service
| greatly extended without additional cost
to each subscriber. Under these circum-
stances he said he hoped it would be the
| pleasure Of the meeting TO adopt the
resolution or refer 1t to the Board OF
| Directors.
SPEAKS FOR THE COMPANY.
Mr.. c. f. McCluer, the district superin-
tendent OF the Bell Telephone Company,
I II.
| luton had been offered and said he did
not think II the part Of the Chamber 10
| take either side in the fight which WAS
now going on between the two telephone
| companies; that, of course, 10 was the
| privilege of every subscriber, II he did
not like the terms OF the company, to
| cancel his subscription. but the Chamber
should not exercise its influence which
was powerful, I'm behalf Of either party
| 10 the fight. that the Bell Company had
! come 10 Richmond a number OF years ago
I in the early history Of the telephone busi-
| ness and had at great cost continued to
Improve its service until II was acknowl-
| edged by telephone people 20 be the best
service for It's cost enjoyed by any city
| of the size OF Richmond that they had
| invested not less than 10000, were Iaying
| taxes 10 the city. and large amount for
| operating their plant, and he did not be-
| lieVe they charged one cent more than
was prudent or reasonable as q fair re-
turn for the Investment and 10 set aside
annually a fund 10 meet contingent eX-
penses and damages to which such COM
panies were exposed. There was a great
deal Of misapprehension. Mr.. McCluer
said. on the part Of the public as to the
expenses and profits of telephone COM
panies therefore his company ala lot
respond to the Chamber when it originally
demanded a reduction OF rates. Now that
a rival company was IN the field the Bell
Company was lOathe 10 fight, but ii in
tended TO protect It's Interest. as II was
perfectly natural that IT should do to the
tasf Of IFS ability. that its rate since the
LIST of October was $50 anywhere In the
CITY of Richmond. and, II necessary. IL
would go TO a lower figure. In cpnclu-
sion ne said he did not think n fair or
part in this fight. and he hoped IL would
decline TO PASS the resolution offered by
Captain Deane.
THE CHAMBER SHOULD ACT.
Mr.. Samuel REGISTER endorsed all that
Captain Deane had said. and added. that
To be consistent, the Chamber, he thought
was bound 10 take some action, as both
comranies could not exist, and a crucial
tssf Of strength would be made; that the
old company had invoked the power OF
the Federal courts, and We Were having
an experience of government by injunc-
ZION. but ne thought the question could
he much more effectively dealt with by
The citizens OF Richmond and by the
irfuence OF the Chamber: that on the
ono hand we had the Bell Telephone
| company. operating by sufferancc. its
franchise from the city having expired,
and. on the other hand. the new COM
Uanv. with franchise from the city, and
| a local enterprise, the profits OF which
would remain In Richmond.
Mr. McCluer again addressed the
| meeting. saying he desired 10 call the
| attention of the Chamber 70 the fact
| thai the new company was not actuated
nv anv phfanthropic motives. and he
| horesflv believed II the Chamber adopted