The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-07

be charged by the Southern Bell ,Tele-
phone and Telegraph company, It's sue
cesSors and asSignees for the use of It's
phones in the city OF Norfolk, provided
thAt any such regulation of rates or
tolls shall be reasonable; and the South
ern Bell Telephone and Telegraph com
pany, Its successors or assignees will
| abide by such regulations, provided the
same are reasona BILE.
This resolution was sent to the Coun-
Gus from the committee on June 3d.
On June 29th, after having notified the
company to appear, at which time said
company did appear by its counsel when
ne stated that he had no answer from
the company to the resolution adopted
June 1st. Thereupon your committee
adopted the resolution as rollows:
On motion, IT is resolved by the Ordi-
nance Committee, That their meeting
ADJOURN until Tuesday, July 9Th, at 80
D. M, at which time it will consider and
make report to the Councils on the ap-
pllcation of the Southern Bell Tele-
phone and Telegraph company to do
business in the city Of Norfolk
ANA on Tuesday, July 9Th your COM
mlttee met and counsel for the company
appeared and asked for 4 postponement,
Which your committee refused 10 grant
our committee thinks it is warranted
III assuming that the company does not
propose to accept either the clause fixing
maximum rate or allowing reasonable
regulation Of It's rates by the Councils
your committee having allowed thirty
days in which the company might have
made known it's determination.
AT the second meeting Of your COM
mittee the Southern Bell Telephone and
Telegraph company haid before it and
asked for a franchise, which, in the
Judgment Of your committee, it was not
ndvfs fsable to grant.
After careful consideration Of the sub
t,ton ,,,1,r rot "a
clare their unwillngness to recommend
such action as would again place the
patrons OF telephone service at dsad-
vantage, but in lieu thereof we most re-
spectfully suggest to the Councils that
the Southern Bell Telephone and Tele-
graph company be granted q franchise
strictly on the lines Of the franchise un-
der which the Southern States Tele-
phone and Telegraph company is noW
operating SO satisfactorily to their pat
rons and. as we are reliably informed.
with profit to themselves
And should they refuse a franchise
on IA line OF the Southern States Tele-
phone and Telegraph company, that the
City Attorney be instructed to proceed
at once by such steps as he may deem
expedien to compel said company to stop
doing a local business III the city Of
! Norfolk.
| (SigneD J. LEE SENECA,
- ..saess-J JOIiN.L.-IEARANT, 6
Members Of Ordinance Committee.
MINORITY REPORT.
The. minority report differs but slight
ly from the either, and is as follows:
AS a member of the Ordinance Com
| m.ttee on the Southern Bell Telephone
| and Telegraph company's franchise, in
view of the fact that the company, by
it's long delay. seems unwilling to ac-
cept either q maximum rate or a clause
allowing the Councils to reasonably reg
ulate It's rates. l recommend to the
Councils the adoption of the following:
Whereas. the company, by its neglect,
has indicated that 1t Will not accept
clause OF regulation in it's franchise the
City Attorney is hereby directed to pro-
ceed at once by such steps as he may
deem eXpedient to compel said company
to stop doing local business in the city
| OF Norfolk. w. l.. WILLIAMS,
Member Of the Ordinance Committee.
Immediately after the reading OF The
reports DR.. Andel son rose to make per-
! sonal explanation. EIe :aid that when
the telephone matter was mentioned
some weeks ago he was not ~ familiar
as' he was at this time He found that
IN the last twelve yeals Norfolk had in
creased her revenues $4,000, 900, while
New York, with her long distance ser
vice had decreased Sl2,001 00O. He had
learned that the Bell, The American. and
! the Long Distance Company were one
ana the same, and that they We grad
ual!y absorbing all competitors DR.,
Anderson made some reference 20 broken
pledges. al the conclusion oc the late
war, and strongly intimatcd that the
I3ell Telephone Company was no great
respector of pledges
At this point President winston re-
minded tile Doctor that the war wax over
and that If he wished To be heard
ne would have to connne himself 10 q
u.SSusS SION or the question under con
sideration.
On motion DR.. Anderson was allowed
20 continue his remarks. Ie,aid That il
was 10 be hoped that the great monetary
corporation would not be allowed to
iasten liz fangs on Norfolk. Hc thought
that il would be no trouble for them 10
elect Council OF their own. backed 1Sa
said. by their millions. lie closed ,hv q -
earnest appeal to the Council to adont
the majority report. After some further
discussion the lcpor; OF the majority ws7e
adopted. MI. II. G.. Davis alone request
ing to be recorded as favoring tho mi
nority report. ~
The report OF the Building Inspcctor
vas referred 10 The Public Building
Committee. .
An order to Issue 4 warrant 10 r. IT
Richardson for $o.i0 was adopted
Mr. II. c. Davis offered an ordinance
imposing license taxes on roiJrna1
steamboat, and canal companies. IJnder
suspension OF the rules the ordinance
was adopted.
\ request from the w. c. II. u. as,,-
ing mat tour fountains be set aud water
furnished free, was referred to tho wa.
ter Committee
Mr.. Thomas r. Ra'lentine rendered ,;c
resignation as member Of Tie Council
frcm the Second Ward, which was ac.
ccptcd.