The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-11
. NORFOLK vIRGINIAN: SUNDAY APRIL H. 1897

far as / know. there was no evidence
OF an grce1:lent between the city and the
local company, recently chartered by
the city, and which is now giving an
extended and efficient service, at greatly
reduced prices.
I'VE further fear that the giving OF
such a local franchise by the Councils
of the city will result in the practical
extinction or the new local enterprise,
and the perpetuation OF the Bell COM
pany monopoly. from which the citizens
have SO long suffered With its greatly
increased and, III many instances, pro-
hibitory, schedule of prices.
I'm consideration Of these facts, as
they appear to us. we respectfully petit
ton your honorable body to reject the
application Of the American Telephone
and Telegraph company. and to refuse
to grant any additional local franchise
whatsoever And your petitioners will
ever pray"
l say, then that SO far as the petit
tons before this Council are concerned
coming from the citizens Of the city of
Norfolk. they recognize that some rights
have accrued TO the Southern States
company out of this relation which was
constituted by this agreement or prom
Use, or whatever you choose to call it.
Now. before entering upon a discus
sion OF the ordinance itself, l desire to
reply to some Of the remarks which
were made by my friend, MIR. Wake,
and by General Meaney. This course OF
proceeding OH my part may make this
part Of my argument to the Council
somewhat dcsultory. promise to hurry
through as soon as l can. and then to
take up the discussion OF the ordinance
as we'll as | can, if my physical condi-
ton Will enable me to do SO, Of which
now have very grave doubt.
To begin with, "a great many things
were said by my friend, Mr.. Wake. that
did not seem to me to have been in
tended OF at any rate to be entitled to
be ranked, as argument, and the fact
that so able n man as he is accredited
to be should have expended so much
time in which seemed to me- at least
not to measure up to the standard Of
argument-at least 10 the standard Of
argument such as he mnkes--wns uther
suggestive of the barrenness Of tho field
IN which he was cleaning. III the first
place my friend. MI Wailte, says he
was born in the city Of Norfolk. Wen
gentlemen ! was not. Now, If that is
going to have any weight III Mr.. Wakes
favor as against me. it would he sin
Eularly illogical. He is not entitled to
any personal credit for that chose
Norfolk us my home on my own deliber-
ation-l don't know that he was con
suited. But II ii was used for THAI plr-
pose tand, Of course, don't think ii
Was) the thing that puzzles me is TO
" a IL / L i
used 10 carry any Recommendations in
t1uence with this Council. why il seemed
to me that any influence which
it might otherwise have carried
ought Ia have been ncsativcd by
the fact that he is coming To the Council
Of his native city, urging them To do n
thing Of such n character that before he
did it himself the ground might open
In a vast earthquake and swallow him
anu everybody connected with him. Not
live up to n promise because he could
not be forced to. do it by law!
Well. my friend says-and as a cit-
zen of Norfolk felt myself ENLARGE
when he dwclt upon the degree of envy.
hatred and malice. from q commercial
standpoint. which was now poisoning
the life Of New York Philadelphia and
Boston. because of the great size OF Nor
fok-he says we are not too small 10
have excited envy, and say ] hope not
LARGE enough YET, not LARGE
enough fr our Councils to grant caiua-
bic franchises AGAINST THE WILL.
OF THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES. as
has been done In these enVouS towns
and cities Of New York and other place
We are mol too small not to have excited
envy, but we are just SO small that tho
individual members Of the Council are
brought into touch and contact with
public sentiment. and know better than
any man on the floor can tell them. how
the wind sets upon any question. Were
we large as New York, where, as
we walked down the streets, we would
not recognize our constituents and our
constituents would not recognize us. we
would not know as much OF public sen
timent, as members OF the Council rs
We know now.
But. say my friend. long distance teie-
graDhy is coming 10 stay. Yes, gentle
men. that's just what we are afraid OF.
If they get their hands on your throat
they will stay. That is what they have
come here for-to stay-and they have
come, TO COME ON THEIR OWN
TERMS AND TO STAY ON THEIR
OWN TERMS.
Just at this point find myself emhar-
raised at q divergence Of views cX-
pressed by the two gentlemen who have
preceded me. ! understood Mr. Wake
TO say that this company, which Was
now knocking at our doors had $50, 00u-
600 capital.
MIR. Walke-Authorized capital, hav-
ing expended $20,0O0,O00
Mr. Bruoke-Then what does Genera!
Mcaney mean when he says they have
s1,000.Q0O capital?
Mr.. Walke-That is the company in
Virginia.
Mr.. Meaney--I stated the capital Of
the Southern Bell Telephone company
was $1,000 600. That was my. statement
Mr.. Brooke misapprehended YOU
and make the Acknowledgement with
the utmost Willingness, because if
there Is ANYTHING in the world that Crn-