Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-07

which we were not invited, and OF which
We were not even informed by you.
We do not, therefore, contemplate any
thing else. and cannot permit the use OF
our system for the purpose of testing the
apparatus of other companies
c. T.. YOUNG,
Representing American Telephone and
Telegraph Company
GEORGE WAYNE ANDERSON.
Counsel for American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company.
REPLY OF MIR. GUIGON.
This letter was delivered by special
messenger. and about an hour and
half later Mr. Gulgon left at the West
moreland Club for Colonel Anderson and
Mr.. Young the following reply;
Richmond. Va, March 8, ls9'.
Messrs. Clarence r. Young, Representing
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company, and George Wayne Ander-
son. Counsel for the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company:
Dear Sirs.-At 20 minutes of y o'clock
this Saturday night, I received by spe-
oial messenger your note, bearing THIS
date. to which | beg TO reply as follows;
In the first place, your courteous re-
minder that no provision had been made
by you for me and my associates, as
your guests on the occasion or the pro-
posed trip of the Street Committee TO
New York, on your invitation. was un-
necessary. as your associate, Mr. II. NJ.
Smith. Jr., might have informed you that,
on the evening of the committees last
meeting. very promptly and very en-
phaticaly declined his polite invitation
10 accompany the committee as the
guest OF your company, but informed him
that we would meet the committee in
New York, and very gladly avail our
selves Of his promise that your company
would afford us every facility for the
proposed test of our telephones over your
lines. and in conjunction with your in
struments. In this connection it may
not be improper for me to state that
have in my pocket at this moment two
round-trip tickets TO New York, pur-
chased by me this afternoon, for the
use of our superintendent, Mr.. Duval
and myself.
The second part Of your letter is more
serious. You will permit me to say, in
passing, that we have never made any
formal exhibition of our system to the
Street Committee. but once, and that
was when our exchange was first opened
for business, and was required Of us by
the terms of our franchise. We do. how
ever avail ourselves Of every opportunity
to show and explain our system to all
members Of the Council. and TO the pub
lie generally; and. having nothing to con-
ceal, we take great pleasure In showing
our friends what has been accomplished
I'm our city by local industry and local
capital.
note with surprise and regret that
you cannot permit the use of your (our)
system for the purpose Of testing the
ftte Of oil |
with surprise and regret, because you
have refused to carry out and perform
the promise made by your associate. Mr..
Smith. to the committee and to me. very
nearly one week ago. The proposed test
was merely to inform the committee by
practical demonstration whether our
telephones were capable OF being con-
nected with your long-distance tele-
phones over your lines, and Of giving
satisfactory service in that conjunction.
Your representatives have repeatedly
stated. publicly. that this was a physical
impossibiity and, as you have at this
late hour. and almost on the eve OF the
committees departure for New York,
declined to carry out your associates
promise and permit the test, ] consider
that 1 am entitled to believe and to de-
clare that you do so because your COM
advantage, and in the complete demolish-
ment Of your claims.
Yours very truly. A. 3. GUlGON,
General Counsel, Richmond Telephone
Company.
1t could not be ascertained this morn
ing whether this turn in affairs would
affect the proposed New York trip. The
members Of the committee have made
all preparations to 90, and 1t Is pre-
sumed will proceed in accordance with
the original invitation accepted by them.
Need More Money for Schools.
on Tuesday night next the Board OF
Aldermen will meet In regular session.
and will consider the budget making APP
proprlations TO the various city depart
ments for the fiscal year 1891. The de-
tails of the budget were printed in last
Tuesdays issue of the Dispatch. Ii is
understood that one Of the features
which will meet with opposition at the
hands Of some Of the aldermen is the
appropriation for the maintenance OF the
public schools Of the city. The Finance
Committee and the Common Council only
allowed 100000 for the pay-rolls Of the
department, while the School Board
asked for SIP O0-the exact sum needed
for the pay-rolls this year. The ques-
one Of reducing the pay Of the principals
and teachers, or shortening the scho-
lastic year by about half month, II the
reduction holds. Heretofore, the teach
ers and other connected with the schools
have been paid 90 much per month for
nine months Of each year
1t is said that a letter has been sent
TO a great many in the public-schoOl SER
vice, submitting TO them whether they
prefer to work eight months or nine
months at the same salary. which VIII
necessarily be less I'm the aggregate for
the year. should the Board concur in
the budget 1t could not be learned yes
terday who sent out these letters.
WHAT MIR. FOX SAYS.
Mr.. w. +. Fox, Superintendent OF the
Public Schools of the city speaking OF
the matter yesterday, spoke as follows:
Il did not know that any letters bear
ing on the subject had been sent out,
but I knew that the question had been
up before the FINANCE Committee in
making up the budget. OF course our
plans are dependent upon the amount Of
the appropriation they make this year.
The budget has not yet passed the
Board Of Aldermen. We asked for sll2,-
90 this year TO meet our payroll. Last
wear we asked for 10000. and they gave
us $4,000: so that we had 10 rearrange
the schedule to make up for the 5000
deficit Since then the Randolph School
has been added, and this requires an ex-
penditure OF about 5000 per annum. The
Finance Committee are figuring on giving
us an appropriation OF 10000 this year.
We figured on $4,000 Unless we can
get that amount, / don't see what can be
done. except 10 cut down either salaries
or shorten the school-year, which latter
amounts to a reduction OF salaries, after
ALL"
GOOD STATISTICAL SHOWING.
BY a comparison OF the school statis-
ties Of twenty-seven cities I'm the United