The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-16

G. W RDANIEL GIVES HIS VIEWS
OF TELEPHONE QUESTION.

Present License is 10 be Enforced. His
Company VIII Fight the Levy to the
Bitter End. But He Proposes Settling
the Controversy Outside of the Courts
He VIII Make a New Proposition TO the
City Council at Its Next Meeting.
Telephone rates are again forcing their
way upon the people Of Wichita. For
some cause the late demand made for
another system has lost the prestige il
had few weeks since. Whether or not
this Is brought about by the experience
OF cities having more than one system
Or not, it cannot be definitely stated.
There is one thing certain and that Is
every patron Of telephones in Wichita
wants cheaper rates and wants that re-
6uction bad He does not want il so
nluch for the future generations as ne
wants Il for the present time, and how
this can be brought about speedily is
q question which interests not only the
patrons, but every citizen Of Wichita as
well.
1t is well known that the fight over
the habeas corpus case at Topeka re-
suited in favor Of the city. This is that
tribunal decided that the case must be
7 tried upon its merits, and hence the case
will be tried here. But will the farther
prosecution Of the case rebound to the
benefit OF the patrons of the telephone
exchange during the life time of the
present generation or not is the ques-
ton which most interests all, and the
views Of Charles W. McDaniels, super
intendent Of the Missouri and Kansas
Telephone company, who was in the city
last night was seen by an Eagle re-
l-r~ea . !, -
gagged in conversation. He said:
4 have not yet seen the decision rem
dered by the supreme court, and conse-
quently cannot speak adVisedly with re-
ference 10 the same. l will say, how
ever, that I understand that ii remands
the case back to Wichita fortrial, and
Of course, 1 expect they viii re-arrest
Mr.. Chipchase and he will be found
guilty Of violating the ordinance. We
will make no fight in the case, simply
let them take judgment by default
Then we will appeal ii to the district
court, which will be the first court of
record Then viii be raised the justice
Of the ordinance and the two license or
dInances now IN effect in this city will
be placed side by side and examined as
to whether or not they are discriminate
ing or not.
Just look at the two ordinances
Here Is one making a license tax of $50
per six months an each telegraph COM
pany and $50 for each express company.
Now the volume of business done by
these companies is many times that
done by the telephone company, and vet
when II comes 20 levying a tax the tax
against the telephone company 1t is plac
ed at $500. Is this discrimination or
not?
Suppose We are beaten here we would
then take an appeal TO the supreme
court Wbsre all the issues would be
raised, and If beaten there then to the
I United States supreme court, where if
( decision was rendered Ii would be
found that at least five years had
elapsed
IN the meantime the patrons Of the
company would be compelled 10 pay the
old rate, which 1 acknowledge is burd-
ensomG I was anxious to find how our
patrons stood upon the question and to
ascertain the true feeling. l had our
collector. Roy Cochrane, interview them
as to whether or not they would be will
ing to pay rate Of $50 for business
houses and $50 for residences. and he
reports that they were all agreed with
probably two exceptions.
This Is the rate 1 made TO the city
council and they rejected it saying they
were entitled to the same rate as a To-
peka, which Is $50 and S24 Now this
looks reasonable upon its face, but the
people of Wichita should understand
that 1t Topeka We had a big competi-
ton fight on hand. A new company had
been organized with a superior plant
even than What we had. George r.
Peck had put in 5000 in the company,
and with his influence with the Santa
Fe railroad and others we were COM
PEELED 70 reduce our rates even below
paying expenses.
often men don't stop to figure the
telephone company business right. They
viii figure up 50 many phones at 50
much and then deduct the running eX-
panses. and count the balance as profits.
They forget a very material part of the
business and that IS 10 count the neceS-
sary repairs called upon to keep the line
in operation.
u was talking with Postmaster Fitch
this evening about this matter, and he
said that was just what was the mat
ter with the street railway company. He
said that the cOmpany's receipts We're
equal 10 the expenses, but that it was
the continued outlay for expenses which
took the company from Wichita hands
and placed il in the hands OF eastern
capitalists.
''Thera Is another mistaken idea in the
minds Of many Of the Wichita people,
and that IS that our company object 10
playing tax. Nothing is farther from
the truth. I doubt wheher there is an
other company IN the city which pays
as large tax a 5 the telephone company
Previous 10 the passing Of the ordinance
the cijy's telephones were furnished
free, hut when the tax was levied, OF
: course, this courtesy was cut of
up 10 January l the city owed Us
exactly S6Z5.50. and at this time they
owe $40. Now how much would the
city owe the company by the time the
five years necessary to obtain decis-
ION had elapsed. and at the same time
the patrons who they claim they levy
pass in The interest Of have been
forced 10 pay the present rate.
I've desire 10 make many improve
ments in the service here, nut Of course,
this VIII all stand in allegiance until az
ter the decision is obtained.
AT EmpOria. Marshall. Bonneville,
Carleton and Fulton, No, We have
made Improvements which amount 10
much more than the first cost OF the
plant
Z viii try and meet the council at cts
next meeting and see If some arrange
-nent cannot be made which viii prove
% benefit 10 the patrons and do justice
- the city. All we ask Is fair and
square treatment at the hands OF the
council and We VIII meet them half way.
We VIII gladly pay a reasonable tax.
and VIII undoubtedly fight an injustice
as long - possible. What is needed
now is less warfare and more business
sense n NggueI -