The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-11
THE TELEPHONE FIGHT.
VIII me COUNCfL KERR FAITH
UITH NONE EATERPKfsE?
VIII Foreign Corporation. which the
City Cannot Control, he Ailowedto
Crush Home Industry?
Editor Of The Times:

ton of the local company side OF tnis
fight against the proposed encroachments
of the powerful Bell monopoly.
The Richmond Telephone Company came
into being at tho invitation OF the Cham
her OF Commerce and the City Council.
II obtained its franchise and erected It's
plant in response 10 the persistent de-
mands OF the people Tor cheaper ana
better telephone service.
When the fight was on for franchise
Il was opposed by the Home Telephone
Company" and by this same American
rone Distance Company. Neither branch
OF the Council seriously considered the
nronositlons OF the Long Distance Com
panv. but a sort OF compromise between
The two conflicting local companies was
made I'm thee ommon Council which grant
"a both OF them the SANE franchise. botn
conpanics promptly announced that II the
franchise was not 10 be in effect eXciu-
sive IN was valueless. and then the Board
~ Aldermen responded 90 the occasion by
Granting the Richmond Telephone Com
many a franchise by an overwhelming ma
iorirv. and by a like majority refusing the
aupIication of the Homo Company.
THE MEANING PLAIN.
Nov, A. this course meant anything az
all i'm the way of an Implied promise II
meant that the Richmond Company
should have an exclusive franchise as long
as Il showed that It deserved 1t by keep
ing It's promises 10 the people.
Everybody knows THAI if il had been
for a moment supposed that this franchise
was not 10 bee 90 effect exclusive the hIch-
mond Company would never nave Oh
tained q dollar Of capital with Wnich 10
build its plant. still moro certain IS II
horn n IL had been supposed that there
was the faintest possibility OF allowing
any branch OF the Bel company he"
rights and franchises.
So much for the question OF good faitn'
which the city government IL as -nuch
Obliged 10 consider and keep as an iINi-
vdual.
Now. what is tho situation in reference
TO the Long Distance Company? For sew
eral months rs application has been
pending before the Street Committee. RI
has taken on pleasure trip 20 New YORK
and Philadelphia as many members OF
the Street Committee as IL could per-
suade 20 go. and its invitation TO some
thirty members OF the Chamber OF Com
mere has been accepted By three. NO
BODY has ever known exactly what those
trips were for. There was certainly noth-
10
frankly admitted By every well Informed
person. because every one knows that
the Bell Company has a most elaborate
plant and has every facility for giving
excellent service both long distance ana
local and has unlimited capital with
which 90 sustain its business.
LONG DISTANCE SERVICE.
think that everybody agrees IN
general way that long distance telephone
service IS desirable thing. and there
seems TO be no objection from any source
10 the American Company coming INTO
this city with its long distance stations
which 10 may furnish 90 sucn or our
citizens as may be willing and able TO
pay for so costly luxury. But the peo-
plo DO not wish this company 10 be given
the rght TO DO a local business also.
It there was ever any doubt about the
efficiency OF tie local companys ie'e-
phones for long distance service. either
with or without connection with the Long
Distance Compaufs lines. 10 has been
removed boy the Test recently made by
fhe officials Of the Richmond Company on
the line between Philadelphia and Chica-
20. The success of this test showed way
the American com any rejected the official
test proposed and demonstrated that II
interchange OF bus ness should bee required
by the Council. the local company paones
would an the bill and would render %
absolutely unnecos airy for the American
Company 10 have any local station what
ever.
Representatives = this company have
repeatedly stated n public that IN no
city in this Union have they established
and operated a loCal service Of their own.
They have further declared that under no
81 r.F
do business with 0r interchange service
with the Richmond Telephone Company
or anv other com any not duly licensed
by the Bel Company and using Bell IN
struments cxclLsiy. y, and that they must
have local rights re.
They have firthr- stated that under no
circumstances will tley accept a franchise
which docs not re them the right ="
charge wlateve hey please Tor s..vir
j. al service as vl as their long dis
tance service.
10 would seem Nc when our Council
has put upon its O. people maximum
OF s24 and SIS cab 10 one-half what our
people paid for fit n years. and IN many
other respects fl.,I their franchise with
onerOus and hurd 1s0mc restrictions ~
would be somewha slow 10 give unlimited
rights 10 non-rc dent and a powerful
monopoly
Again. in the loc.i company's franchise
& is required 10 int rchange business with
any company Apr aching its lines. upon
such terms as mas Doe agreed upon oy
arbitration. superb ended and controlled
by the Street Conn uee.
Again. the local company IS forbidden
20 charge more t.3n hair the existing
long distance rates for any long distance
service II may render and yet these Ben
people demand thai hey shall be absolute
~ free Of all such limitations and restrlc-
tons.
They have taken much credit 10 them
selves for their uagnanm0us ofer 10
prove that they DO not propose 20 under
bid and under cut and freeze out our local
company. by agreeing 20 j minimum rate
IN their franchise.
a TRICK 10 bnSLEAD
declare without fear o. contradiction
that this IS simply a trek 70 m.sead and
misguide the Council ana the people be-
cause IL is an und1ubted fact which no
lawyer Will deny that no such Limitation
would be sustained or enforced by any
court OF Justice. nor would 10 be possible
for the city 10 declare forfeited the bond
waich they propose 70 put up that they
will not so undcrcut. Even IL the law
was not as plain as IL Is on the subject.
there is certainly now iaw which could
force this American Company 10 COLI
lect its bills.
In short. this proposed minimum regu-
lation is q vain thing. ana would con-
stltute no protection 70 our local COM
pany.