The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-13
LONG DISTANCE PEOPLE WIN.
Committee Virtually Agrees 10 Let En-
Come in With Local Privileges.
WILL SOON CAST The FORMAL VOTE.
Mr.. Allen Opposes the scheme and Wants
Maximum Rate, but 1bis Was De-
featcd-taptain Guigon Tells the
Committee Some Plain Facts.

terday afternoon practically decided 20
grant the much discussed franchise to the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany Of Virginia. The committee did not
take the final vote. but considered the
ordinance by sections. making number
OF changes and amendments, after which
IL was referred to tho city Attorney %
put into proper shape. with the under
standing that It would then be adopted
by the committee.
The following members OF the committee
were present. Messrs. Allen, BiOomDeis'
Burton Bahen, carter. EOei. Foster.
John j. KING. John VI. King, La"dei,
Pollock and Woody.
There were also present General Me""s D
president of the American Telephone 4"a
TELEGRAPH Company of virginia Messi b
George Wayne Anderson, and clarence
Young. representing that company, FIe7l-
ANT Iohn e.. Robertson aud General
Counsel \. j. Guigon, OK the hichilona
Teleuhone Company. city Engineer cut
shaw. and several outsiders VINO appear ed
10 be- Interested in the proceedings oi l"e
committee.
Tho clerk. by request OF Chairman Allen,
road the application Tor the charter ny
the long distance company, and thtn l"e
ordinance in regard 90 the franchise, ailei
which a question arose Is 10 whether OFT
isot Captain Guigon. representing the
Kichmond Telephone Company, should no
heard before the committte. Colonel An
derson. representing the long distance
company. stated that he thought their siao
sbould also be heard in the argument IL
there was 10 be any. The committee oe-
cided that Captain Gmgon could make MS
statement. and Colonel Anderson Withdrew
his affections upon condition that MS side
should be entitled TO reply 10 captain
Guigon.
SHOULD KEEP FAITH
That gentleman then stated that IL had
h,en si,gaested that i'm order for the long
distance company not to run the local
companv out by cutting rates, the Coun-
ell might put limit on the minimum
rates. lie did not ask the committee 10
grant his company any privileges because
n reprcsented local capital. lie did ihink
the committee should keep faith with ihe
citizens who were financially interested lil
the home enterprise. Captain Guls'h l'-
frrrod to Judge Gon S recent decision IN
the case Of the Southern beH IeIepNon1
companv AGAINST DE city of Richmond
tion known as the American Telephone
and TELEGRAPH Company was allowed TO
enter the city it could not DE cOnuoiiea d
bv the Council That the company was "a
fret couein Of the Southern Bell Telephone
COMPANY. which was giving nominal rates
and in some cases was giving free service
I'm order solely 20 undercut and crowd out
tho local company. This was the case li
Durham. y. O.. where the Bell was giving
a comparatfvelv free service. II the COR
noration was upheld the local company
would have TO be crowded out of eNial-
cncc.
To the argument that the Southern Zen
Telephone Company could remain ln lhe
field as q competitor Of the local company
without there being necessity lot lNo
long distance company being given d li"n-
cbiee CAPTAIN Guigon said what the long
distauce pcople wanted was 10 get the
annroval of the Council for their enter
prise. This company was practically the
esmo as the Southern Bch Company
which would 20 back 10 its high rates as
soon as they crowded out the local COM
many. Mr.. John T.. Hutson the president
Of the American Bell Telephone company,
was also president OF the American Iele-
phone and Telegraph Company, known IS
the long distance company, now ASKING
for a long distance and local franchise.
I4o ,vae also president Of the Southern Bel
Telephone Company. Most Of the direct
ors I'm one company were also directors
I'm the other
Afr Meany stated that for several
months Everett j. llaw had been presi-
dent OF the Southern Bell Telephone COM
uany. ....-.-....,
OFFERED 80 PROTEST
After this interruption, Captain Gmson
went on to state that another PROOF mat
the American Telephone and Ielegfapn
Connany and the Southern Bell Telephone
Company were the same was that the
Southern Bell Telephone Company had
not onered a word of protest or argument
through any Of It's representatives against
the granting OF a franchise TO the long
distance company. The Richmond Iele-
phone Company were working under a
much more narrowly restricted ordinance
than the one proposed for the long-dis-
tance company. His company paid 81 tax
on each pole. while the lOng-distance COM
pany proposed in their ordinance 81 tax
on their poles. His company SAID cap
tain Guigon. would be glad TO compromise
ON ten free phones, as the other company
proposed TO give. The local company was
held down in their rates through their
franchise. while no limit was put on the
long-distance cOmpany's rates. There was
no necessity for another local service, and
if the Council permitted the long-distance
people to enter the city, he asked that
they be not allowed 10 operate local
service. and, If so, that. maximum limit
In rates be fixed by the city.
THE OTHER SIDE.
In reply 10 Captain GuigOn, General
Meany stated that 1t was true that the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
panv did want the approval OF the city
Council. 1t could not expect TO operate
successfully otherwise General Meany
then went on TO explain the condition and
operations Of the American Bell Tele-
phone Company.
This company was organized 10 DO
general telephone and telegraph business,
and the construction OF telephone and
telegraph lines. the manufacture OF cleo
tric apparatus &c. The American Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company was entire
ly Independent OF the Bell Telephone Com
pany and there was no connection be-
tween them. From the maps before the
members Of the committee II would be
seen that his company wished 10 make
a Southern circuit complete. They did
not wish 10 be restricted 10 one sort
of service. as long as they were in the gen
eral telephone and telegraph business. So
far as the arguments as 10 the protection
OF the local company were concerned his
company had nothing to do with that II
the city Of Richmond wished 10 protect
-. 80, ], lin. 80 business or any on. aufer-