The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28
ANOTHER TRIP new YORK
This Time a Committee Of the Chamber
Of Commerce
TO EXAMINE LOKG DISTANCE PHONES.
Messrs. G. OBJ. Cowardin, w. %. SHELTON
and Julian Bryant to Go to New York
TosNight as the Guests of the Ameri-
can Telephone and Telegraph Co,

| night IS carried out, NOiOHtl =. " D. ~
wardin, Mr. w. o. Shelton and Mr.. Julian
! Bryant, representing the Richmond Cham
ber OF Commerce will leave tonight at
7:lO o'clock for New York city TO Inspect
the plant Of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company. whose application
for the right to do local and long-dis-
tance business in Richmond Is now be-
! fore the Street Committee, and VIII be
acted upon April 18th next The party
! will be accompanied by Mr.. Clarence f..
| Young, who represents the long-distance
company.
For some time past Mr.. Young has been
| in Richmond looking after the interests
Of his company, and several days ago.
armed with a letter Of introduction from
! Hon. j. Taylor Ellyson. he called upon
/ Mr.. S H. Hawes. president OF the Cham
| her OF Commerce. and requested TO be
! furnished with the names OF some mem
| bcrs Of the Chamber, with a view 10 as
certalnlng which of them could or would
visit New York to inspect the long dis
tance system.
Mr.. Young visited Mr.. Hawes on scye-
raj occasions, and was furnished by that
gentleman with the names of some twen-
" or thirty OF the Chambers members.
Yesterday afternoon. Mr.. Young again
called upon the president Of the Chamber
and showed him a list OF five gentlemen.
whom he said. would be likely to make
the trip. He asked Mr. HaWes TO appoint
them as committee.
Mr.. Hawes replied that he had no au-
thority 10 do 50 without the sanction OF
the Board Of Directors Of the Chamber.
but that he was willing TO call meeting
for that purpose as soon as practicable.
To this Mr.. Young replied that he would
/ Ike TO have the matter settled al once.
as lie had make all arrangements for the
committee 10 leave for New York Sun
/ day night.
TELEPHONED THE DIRECTORS.
After talking the matter over Mr. liawes
decided 10 attempt 10 get the assent OF
such Of the directors as could be reach
ed by telephone or special messenger.
There are twenty-five members on the
Board. and in this manner nineteen OF
Them were communicated with. Fifteen
replied At they could see no objection
TO the proposed trip. while four were op-
posed to authorizing the committee to
make the trip as representatives OF the
Chamber OF Commerce without further
consideration OF the matter. SIX mem
bers Of the Board were not in their Of
fees and could not be communicated
with.
After hearing from the fifteen members
as above mentioned, Mr. Hawes appoint
with the names submitted by Mr.. Young:
colonel C. OBJ. Cowardn, Hon. j. Taylor
Tllvson. and Messrs. w. Q. Shelton ana
Julian Bryant
The de.ails OF the matter wers so
ouietlv arranged that no one In the city
except those Immediately conccrne1' kne"
ANYTHING about It. Information that
committee from the cha n'er or 'or'-
roerce would be ~ 'oia'ed to WISH N'W
Norlr for the purpose indicated was cb-
tained accidentally by rep csc ,tatives W
The Richmond Telephone Company and
Cantain a. b Gulgon, general couns'i
~ that company, at once sought MT.
TIawes 10 ascertain the truth OF WHf1
he had heard. -. -, .ha cham
ber Of Commerce talking TO gehuenlai.
mon the steps Of his residence corner OF
FIFTH and Franklin streets ana lhloliicu c
him that he wished TO talk to nm upon
ar ,nnortant matter. Mr. Hawes replied
that he was just going IN 10 olmner, Du.
| ,,orld meet Captein Guigon at 4;lo o CLOCK
t., front of the Chamber OF Commerce
CAPTAIN GUIGON'S PROTEST.
,fr uawes was on hand at the appoint
Cd hour. as was Captain Guigon ana MT
John c. Robertson, president OF the hlch-
,,ord Telephone Company. Mr.. HaWes
saored disposed 10 discuss the matter on
/ Tho snot that the gentlemen met pnt
fnallv agreed TO an adjournment 10 Hle
/ Chamber Of Commerce where long cOh-
versation ensued.
Captain Guigon and Mr. Robertson pro-
tested vigorously against the aciloh oI
| Mr.. Hawes i'm appointing a ccmmlllee 10
Investigate an important auestion Wiei,ou' ,,-
0rst calling n meeting OF the Chamber
ana giving the Richmond Company an
opportunity to be heard.
His company. he said, would be injured
hv an act Of the Chamber which seemed
10 Indicate that the application OF me
American company was regarded with
favor. -. ,
"How can II hurt your company" asked
Nrr Hawes. for a committee from g
Chamber to investigate the claims OF the
American company
How can It benefit the American com
many. when we admit the truth OF al
! their claims" was the reply OF the lIch-
mond Telephone Company's counsel
''WelI. Il will give them the beneht CT an
Investigation" replied Mr.. Hawes.
"Just in that proportion you injure u.s.
renlied CAPTAIN Guigon. II wish 70 pro-
fest against the appointment Of COM
| rnittee in such manner. Such n thing
is bound TO result in injury TO your home
Industry. an industry that came into being
nj the request Of the Chamber and citi-
zens cf Richmond and should be fostered
by them. or, AZ least given chance 10
make a fight in the open"
CAPTAIN Guigon further saind that ne
meant no dlsdespect personally 10 Mr.
Hawes; nor would he say anything cal
culated to hurt his feelings hut that "
considered that the president Of the Cham
Der had been made a tool Of by the oppo-
sition. and by his actiCn was stabbing the
home company In the back.
WHAT MIR. HAYES SAYS.
The interview closed without any prac-
teal results. the committee being ap-
pointed as above recorded.
Mr. Hawes discussed the matter with
out any reserve when seen at his resi-
dence by a Times reporter last night. He
said In substance as has been mentioned.
that he had given to Mr.. Young the
npmes fiom twenty - thirty members
Of the Chamber at that Geutlemans re-
quest. end that Yesterday afternoon Mr.
! Young came 20 his Office ana asked Tor
J the appointment of five gentlemen whom
! he indicated. Of a committee on behalr
OF the Chamber
81 told him" said Mr.. Hawes. that
I I could not assume the right to appoint
them without the Endorsement OF -le
board OF directors He asked me what
| was tc be done as thinking that could
make the Appointments. he had completed
All orrangemcnts for the trip. / would