The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-05-12
FRANCHISE GRANTED
The American Telegraph and Telephone
Company VIII Enter Norfolk.
A MOST BITTER FIGHT OVER FRANCHISE.
ihc Long Distance Co,npnny Wins
Nowcvcp nnd the Charter Giving
II sc Right to Enter the city WINS
Finally Passed E.nst Night Hy select
CouuciI-Tw0 Councilmcn Resign.

The Select Council, ut its meeting last
evening, by vote OF s TO t. adopted
the ordinance granting franchise to
the American Telephone and Telegraph
company, to O.. 4 local and long dis
tanCc business III tn" city OF Norfolk
Ihc vote stood, With regard TO per
Sonnel, as follows:
TOY inc ordlEance-Counc Bald
win. Briggs. Jacobs. Eizer, ROLAND. vii
liams, Wombla and Lowenbcrg
Against the O!dlnance-Counclm
Cooper. Freeman, Jones and Greenwood.
TWO MEMBERS RESIGNED.
The session was one Of the most en-
citing ever seen in u Norfolk Council
chamber. The adoption OF the ordinance
was imediately followed by the Drcsen-
lntion Of the designations OF Nlessrs
Cooper and Freeman, who had been very
active in their opposition TO the measure.
While these gentlemen did not assign
ihe adoption OF the ordinance as the
reason for their retirement from The
council. their action was very pointed
and the Council declined to consider
the designations, but laid them both
over
THE ORDINANCE COMES UP.
Vice President Lowenberg occupied the
chair, when at 9:55 o'clock the ordinance
came up for its final consideration.
There were present General T.. u. Mea-
ney, Mr.. Hunt Chipley. Captain 4. p
Thorn and Judge II. II. Wilcox in the
interest OF the American Long Distance
Telephone and Telegraph company
while General Manager j. a. Helvin
Judge ID. Tucker Brooke and Mr. l.. d.
Starkc, Jr., We're present in the intncrest
OF the Southern States Telephone COM
pany.
There were also present several mem
pe.s OF the Common Council.
| The clerk first rpn1 thf, lat tor of Ar
j. p Andre Mottu and Grandy & Tay-
| lor, withdrawing their opposition 10 the
ordinance. Some thirty-fvc petitions
that it be not granted were read.
FIRST TEST VOTE.
The first test vote was taken when
Mr. Jones moved that the matter be laid
over. 1t was lost by a vote Of to Z.
Mr.. Jones then moved an amendment
to section 6, increasing the bond given
by the American company to indemnify
the city against damages secured by The
Southern States Telephone company as
result OF the passage OF the franchise
from $4,000 TO 100000.
Mr.. Baldwin then asked that Il letter
he held in his hands be read. Mr. Jones
insisted on his amendment Ncng put,
and it was lost by a vote Of to 7.
Mr.. Baldwin then stated that he had
letter from the president of the South
crn Bell Telephone company, agreeing to
accept an ordinance similar to the long
distance company's,' including the mini
mum rate to prevent price slasning. The
city attorney had stated, he said, that
the letter was binding as a contract
The minimum rate, he held, would pro-
tect the Southern States company from
q destructive rate war.
Mr.. Freeman moved that the letter be
referred to the City Attorney for his
official opinion. This was lost by vote
of 5 to Z.
Mr.. Freeman opposed an amendment
that the American Telephone company
be forbidden 10 make connection With
the Southern Bell company, until it shall
have procured a franchise.
This was lost by q vote Of to L
Mr.. Jones offered another amendment
providing for a maximum rate fc-
phones. When this was lost. .Liso by a
5 10 vote, Mr.. Jones offered 4 resoil-
ton pOstp0ninG consideration Of The
franchise until the city can ascertain
whether the Southern Bell Telephone
company intended TO procure Il fran
chisc. The fatal seven to five killed this
also
ALL AYE AND NAY VOTES.
Then Mr.. Jones moved an adjourn
ment which was lost by a vote Of eight
to four. After every amendment some
member moved that the ordinance be
placed on it's passage. The chair had
previously ruled, however, that the
amendments had right Of way, and on
each one Mr.. Jones offered he demand
cd an aye and nay vote.
Finally Mr. Freeman requested that
the ordinance be read Mr.. Williams
protested and he withdrew the request
TIE ORDINANCE ADOPTED.
Then came the supreme moment The
ordinance was placed upon its final pas
sage, destined for sure adoption every
one who had tailed the previous test
votes felt certain.
The aye and nay vote was called for,
eight to four
General Mcaney and his lleutenants
arose and walked out Of the chamber
with an air Of duty well done. Some
Of the members Of the Council started
out also, but the chair recalled them.
THOSE RESERVATIONS.
Immediately following the adoption Of
and handed the clerk his resignation,
with the remark II would like to say
that l have been harassed, worried and
deviled by paid attorneys. 7 have my
own business to attend to. I have been
TO every meeting of the Council and
committees. l have done my duty, and
l hope you gentlemen will accept my re-
sigma tion.''
MIR. baldwin and Mr.. Williams pro-
tested, and Mr., Freeman insisted Mr..
Jones moved acceptance. and Mr.. Bald