Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-13
FOR LONG DISTANCE.
STREET COMMITTEE ADOPTS AME-
nICAN co.'s ORDINANCE.
ACTED ON SECTION BY SECTION.
The Opposition Failed TO Have In
serted the Maximum Rate Clause,
and the Measure H. Completed and
Forwarded to the city Attorney.

The Council Committee on Streets met
IN special session yesterday afternoon,
and after four and a quarter hours Of
lively debate and hard work. had passed
upon every section OF the ordinance
Granting the American Telephone and
telegraph Company Of Virginia the privi-
leec TO do local and long-distance business
in this city.
Each feature OF the measure was dis
,,lssed as 10 It's merits. and the ordinance
was not acted upon as whole. The
sentiment was pronouncedly for the adop-
zion Of the ordinance as amended. Prob
ably the only test vote OF the evening
was upon the proposition TO fix maxi
mum rate Of charge for local service. The
vote upon this stood four for and eight
AGAINST. on all other points the majority
was larger.
The long-distance people regard the ac-
-ion Of the committee last evening as
Indicative OF a decisive victory in the
fight which they started in this city
nearly TWO years ago.
The committee convened at o'clock
sharp. those present being Chairman Al
'en and Messrs. Bahen, Bloomberg Bar
ION Carter. Ebel. Foster, John NJ. and
robn ]. King. Pollock. and Woody, of
tbe committee. the City Engineer Gene
raj T.. F. Meany president, Colonel
George Wayne Anderson, Of counsel, Tor
the American Telephone and Telegraph
rompanv. and Mr. Clarence Z. Young
M0gST-
John O.. Robertson. president and A.
r Guigon. counsel for the Richmond
Telephone Company; Mr.. James CasNe'
president Of the Common Council and
"A number of the City Fathers. who were
more or less interested in the matter
before the body.
CAPTAIN GUIGON PROTESTS
As soon as the Clerk had finished
reading the ordinance, Mr.. Garter
said he understood that Captain
Gulron counsel for the Richmond
Telephone Company, desired TO be
heard before the committee took
IN the ordinance seriatim. To this Colo
mel Anderson counsel for the Long
Distance Company, raised opJecuol'
saving that If the opposing side were
this matter. his side should De gwen
the opening and closing Of the question
as they were in the affirmative ana cap
tain Guigon's people i'm the negative OF
the subject Captain Guigon stated that
he only wished TO call the committee
attention to a few points IN reference
"a this matter which ne did not thlnk
the members fully understood. Coionel
Anderson's objection was subsequently
Withdrawn. and Captain Guigon began
his argument before the committee. lie
smoke Of the proposed amendment 10 'he
ordinance of the Long Distance Com
many fixing a minimum price Tor the
nhones I'm order TO prevent II from
under-cutting the home company, anu
driving II out of the field.
SOUTHERN BELLS CONNECTION.
The speaker referred to the opinion OF
Judge Goff. Of the United states Clrcul.
Court. which he asserted went cle"iIS
"a show that the city had no such thlhs
az the right of repeal in such cases.
Cantain Guigon spoke of the southern
ReI here as the first cousin or the Long
Distance. and a. trespasser upon the
streets OF Richmond. The cutting oi
prlces of the Southern Bell TO the nonh-
nal sums OF $50 and SIS, or $40 was as
tinctlv with "A view of driving Out nome
enterprise and local capital and INDUSTRY
Guigon. "to say that If Colonel Ander-
son senator Daniel. or any other re-
rntohle aw,ver in this land will tell you
that such a contract viii be Dihdlns'
! will withdraw all opposition 10 the
granting Of this franchise declared cap
tain Guigon. ..,i,
give bond that We would carry OUT 'Ho
provisions OF that ordinance?
4a,r... rofchf mile bonds mOuildliS
hieb but YOU know. and Senator Danlel
knows that you cannot forfeit a bona
uuon a contract which has been declaIed
10 be null and void. and no such con-
tract would stand" asserted Mr.. Guigoh'
OFFICERS TIE SAME.
Going further into mis- argument. Mr..
Guigon said: Il stand prepared 10 say
here to-day lhat John L. Hutson, presl-
dent Of the American Bell Telephone
Company. which is the parent company
is also president Of the American Iele-
phone and Telegraph Company, and also
president Of the Southern Bell Telephone
Comuany. and that General Meaney Is
president Of the American Telephone ana
Telegraph Company of Virginia. but the
cats-paw. or an offspring of the Ameri-
can Telephone and Telegraph Company.
] will further assert that five out OF nine
Of the directors OF these companies are
magnificent plant some Of you gentlemen
saw I'm New York city is not the property
of the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company Of Virginia. but Of the Aneri-
can Telephone and Telegraph Company
declared the speaker, as he dehed con-
tradictiOn.
General Meaney here asked Captain
Guigon II he wanted to be interrupted
regarding these points at that time. re-
ceved an affirmative answer. and Gene
RAJ Meaney stated that Mr.. Hutson was
not the president Of the Southern Bell
Company. and had not been for several
months Mr. Guigon said: "Ah. and some
OF YOU may readily understand why Mr.
Hutson IS not now the president Of the
Southern Bell"
Mr. Gulgon spoke Of the application
o. the long-dstance company. character
izing as cheeky its proposition 70
come into the city OF Richmond and
and charge the people Of this city just
exactly what II chooses for its service.
GENERAL MEANEYs REPLY.
General Meaney. president Of the Ameri'
ssn Telephone and Telegraph Company
Of Virginia, was the next speaker. and
he addressed his opening remarks to
ihe allegations OF Mr.. Gugon. General
Neaney said II was true t1at his cOmp3ny
was anxious 20 have the stamp Of APP
Droyal upon the franchise 10 asked.
without this gentlemen" said the
General I'VE Will not come into your
city Notwithstanding what our rights
may be-" He went on 20 explain the
difference between the American Bell.
the Southern Bell the American Tele-
phone and Telegraph. and the American