The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-11

doors here. with It's vast power un,l
wealth ana capital, would bc incon-
renient TO handle after they got here. Il
seems l WAS entirely of the line or his
argument. But il he was referring 10
The Bell company then we may take Mr
Wakes statement that this company,
which Is trying to come here HAS $50
700 600 capital, ana they cover all that
ground Showing u map). Look Mt the
may" says he. "look at the man and
sec what they have done" Gentlemen.
this map is the strongest argument for
caution that could possibly be made 10
The Councils of the city or Norfolk. With
an authorized capital more than twice
the value Of all the real estate II, this
Guy OF Norfolk, more than our rail-
roads that come here, more than the
! Norfolk and Western at any rate, II Is
II DANGEROUS FR1END-A danger
Gus FRIEND to admit into our house
uhtll we have got some idea how he Is
soints to behave when lie gets here.
NOW, says my friend, Mr.. Wake
these gentlemen will appeal TO your
suspicious and to your fears-dont lis.
zen to any counsel that comes OF fear,
oh. gentlemen. have a stiff baclzbonr
and don't be scared" Gentlemen T saw
this: That it is not suspicion; it Is not
iecar, but it is the plainest business cali
.iol 10 Keep this immense company
Under some sort Of security that YOU
may see they do not force Il tclephonIc
monopoly upon this city. !,
New, gentlemen, what would YOU say
II 4 man lends another man money. and
the fellow who lends says to the fellow
Mho is borrowing, give me n deed OF
trust, and the fellow who is borrowing
says, my goodness alive, my friend
don't be scared. Why, you are ans.
Dlcious Of me; don't listen to your fears
lust give me this 1T any rate nnd trust
20 e, your getting 1t back. Would YOU say
~ Ian. Hon.
Gentlemen, would not undertake 10 tell
lhis council what is their duty as a
council, but it seems to me that the gen
tiemen on the other side have tried, and
possibly succeeded, in changing this
.Ssue AROUND. They say that we are
gong 70 play upon your fears and Your
suspicious and that you should make us
prove how and when and where these
people are going to take an advantage
OF You In this franchise which YOU are
giving them. / should ra Their think that
The duty OF The Council would be. in
vidc asains, its becoming h monopoly,
whether there is anybody In the com
mnnity OF not who can show exactly
how that monopoly Is going 10 be
brought about, and it would be 4 very
poor ex cuse for the Councilman to say
20 his constituents afterwards, Why wa
didn't know these people were going to
40 what they have done. The answer
ni the constituent would have been:
You had method there-sL patent
apparent method of preventing the thing
mat has happened. Why did you not
adopt it? Why, what would be thought
Of a man who left the stable door open
and when the horse got out, said to his
employer. never thought the horse was
gong To come out? The answer would
he. You had a very good way Of Keeping
the horse from coming out; common
IL tnfn tod ~
shut the stable door.
Now these gentlemen are willing
under this ordinance to give you amy
protection EXCEPT THE ONLY
Thing THAT WILL PROTECT. say
That 4 maximum rate will protect
agains, ali possible contingencies. Pro
tect whom? Why, the people you all
we won't do that, but we will agree
that we won't charge any LESS than
YOU DO" and that proposition they dish
up in the incest sort OF style, put on a
platter and Offer ii 10 the Councils with
the air of giving them more than they
nave right To request.
Wen. suppose it is all that can be
claimed for it, what is the limit OF its
protection? That the monopoly will not
be brought about by cutting rates; tina IS
all. That's all il protects against Civ
ing it all the claims these gentlemen
make, that is all it protects against.
Who is going 10 say how many other
getting monopoly? Gentlemen ! say
this: They say they can't work under
the maximum under which our COM
pany is working. ] say ask them what
maximum they will pnt, and then At
least we will know where we stand
The citizens Of Norfolk will know where
they stand. Then when the monopoly
DOES come--anti il WILL come il Won