Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-29
LONG DISTANCE DEAD
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE)

4 necessity to use long-distance phone.
| The home company. he declared, now
bad 1900 subscribery, Notwithstanding
| the untoward conditions which had pre-
vailed against II. and would soon be cir
| culating In Manchester and the suburbs
around Richmond II that matter were
| settled at once. He urged prompt action
Colonel John y. Cary. OF the same
delegation. also spoke against the
passage OF the ordinance. referring TO
the dangers OF monopolies and govern
ment by injunction. BY the passage OF
/ the measure, the city would. he claimed.
put itself i'm the meshes OF an anaconda.
| General Meany tells you that his COM
\ pany will not connect with the Rich
mond Telephone Company. but will con-
meet with the Southern Bell II proper
| facilities are afforded. How. then. can
YOU ever expect 10 rescue yourse yes
| from the Bell Company II you grant
| this franchise?" asked Colonel cary ear
nestly and he went on to explain why
| the Richmond Company. especially
merited protection at the hands OF the
City Fathers. He spoke briefly upon the
rate question, referring to the fact that
/ North Carolina had fixed a 15-cent rate
! for the telegraph companies all over
that State, and contendng that a maxi
/ mum rate could be made for this long
| distance company.
IF they had a worthy cause" said
Colonel Cary. In conclusion. they would
not need to defend IT n man OF such
elOduence as John ". Daniel has" (Ap-
| plause)
WAS SORRY TO SEE 1T.
The next speaker was Major n. V.
Randolph. who also spoke in behalf OF
tho Citizens Committee and the petition
that II presented. Major Randolph be-
gan by saying he was sorry TO have heard
General Meany intimate that the
name American was offensive to the peO-
pie OF Richmond. He assured the Gene
raj that such was not the case. The
speaker asserted that the American
Telephone and Telegraph Company was.
in fact the Bell Company under another
name He referred 10 the importance
and significance of the petition for the
rejection OF the ordinance. which was
signed by 1888 bankers brokers. manu-
facturers merchants. professional men,
and other taxpayers OF the city of
Richmond. and called attention to the
small sums of taxes the city had got
ten out of the Southern Bell Company.
During the first eight years of exist
cEce OF the southern Ben HfAt II iulAtb
every roof on Main street and so far as
I know. never did pay Tor but one Of
them. and was forced TO pay for that
said the speaker.
Major Randolph referred briefly to the
course OF the Bell in going into the
United States courts. and then discussed
the merits of the two telephones, de-
claring that that of the Richmond Tele-
phone Company was the best although
he was compelled TO have both Of them
i'm his place of business. The Major con-
tinued by saying that he had heard
businessmen OF Richmond declare that
If the Council did not encourage ~
Richmond Telephone Company, they
would never put another cent OF their
capital I'm any enterprise which the COun-
ell of the city Of Richmond could tax.
He begged the city fathers to Kill the
measure at once. and concluded by say
ing that he was sorry TO see Major
Daniel who had barred his breast in
defence Of Richmond and lost leg by
the operation, representing corpora
ton which would crush Richmond capl-
tai and industry.
Mr.. John S. Elicit affirmed what these
gentlemen had said relative to the
Long Distance Company.
DANIEL TAKES THE FLOOR.
This concluded the speeches on behalf
OF the citizens, and Senator Daniel next
addressed the body IN the American
Company's interest His speech was
listened to with great interest and At
tention, and IL lasted just two
hours and a half II dealt with every
phase Of the question that had been
presented and even laid bare many tele-
phone matters that the councilmen and
others present had never heard Of. Sem
ator Daniel began by referring TO the
manner In which he had been spoken or
In his connection with this contest and
said that his old friend. Norman Ran
dolph. II seemed, would have 1t appear
that he was stranger In strange
place n such were the case he QanieD
was harmless. The Senator said that
the corporation he represented. as any
honest lawyer would represent, was
corporation chartered under the laws OF
Virginia and entitled TO do business In
Virginia. Said Senator Daniel: II did
not hear General Meany's remark, re-
ferred TO by Major Randolph insinu-
ating that Rchmonders did not nave
due appreciation OF the word American.
/ am sure that | know no better Ameri-
can than my friend General Meany. who
Is a native OF Kentucky. and man de-
voted to American principles. As FOR
myself. I am a Virglnian first, last. ana
all the time. but | am more OF an Ameri-
can than my friend Norman Randolph
am American enough 10 welcome a
gentleman from New York, especially II
that gentleman brings little 'chlnk
along 10 spend I'm Virginia daughter
Senator Daniel then turned his atten-
ton 10 n remark made by Mr. Powers
about never having used long-distance
telephone. saying that this was because
there was no long-distance telephone
here
CRITICIsES THE NEW COMPANY.
The Senator took up the ordinance OF
the Richmond Telephone Company ana
pointed out provisions, which, ne SAN
had not been complied with declaring
that by the very language OF It's chartel
the property Of that company under Ia"
had reverted 10 the city. and that tne
company owed the city Of Richmohd nan
a million dollars i'm fines lie reaa
cIause in which the company was 10
uee a ,phone with a lever within ninety
davs: another in which 1t was 10 estaO-
lish factory here, and still another IN
which It was 10 have its wires In . GER
tain mart Of Richmond underground py
uly Is. 1871. all Of which PROVISIONS
the Senator asserted, haD been violated.
Senator Daniel laid before the Couneli
very plainly what the American leie-
phone and Telegraph Company desired 10
do He said that the company
could not come into Richmond I'M
less 1t had the privilege to con-
struct local exchange as such
a thilg might be necessary TOT
conduct of its business. The company
has no desire to pass around Richmond,
but would be forced TO do 50 unless The
city gave II permission TO enter. He
begged the Council not to act hastily In
this matter. but 10 give the petition OF
the Long-Distance Company patient and
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