Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-29

discussion, refused, BY the decisive NOlo
o. 10 10 4. 10 grant franchise 20 the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany Of Virginia 20 establish its plant
and do business in Richmond.
Thus ended one of the longest and most
stubborn fights made before the City
Council in recent years. From the fling
Of the American Company's petition
months ago. the Richmond Telephone
Company had contested every point, every
session Of tho committee or Council ~
which the matter was considered was
splrited. and the aggressive fight waged
by Captain Guigon on behalf of the local
enterprise was crowned with brilliant
victory.
The closing act was naturally the most
thrilling OF the entire play. Seldom have
,,ch interesting sessions Of the Council
soen held. and rarely, indeed have the
,rizens generally manifested such great
concern over the decision Of such
natter. The session Of the Council was
memorable for many things-for the
rerv able and entertaining speeches
ts3da on both sides; for the great throng
chamber. ante-rooms and lobby; for
!he earnest pleas made by businessmen.
toth by petition and in person, for the
orotection of a local industry that they
feared might be imperined, and for the
very decisive majority by which the
body rejected the recommendations OF
The street Committee.
INTERESTED PEOPLE PRESENT
Among those occupying seats in the
CHAMBER were Senator Daniel General
Aleany. Colonel George Wayne Anderson
Mr. Clarence =. Young. representing the
Iong-Distance Company, Mr. John =.
Robertson and Captain a. B. Guigon OF
the Richmond Telephone Company MA
jor y. V. Randolph, Colonel John -
cary Mr. r. w. Powers. MAJOR .. -.
Patton. Mr J. B. Tree, Of the western
r-nion Telegraph Company: Messrs. f.. II.
Deane. W L. White John 5. Elicit, WI
liam II. Turpin James Hayes, Frank
Powers. Graham y. Hobson. w l.. Quig-
lev. Frank NJ WoOn, Colonel a. W.
Archer. Edgar II. Ferguson, and many
others interested IN one way or another
with the subject 10 be handled by lhe
Council during the meeting.
The session was one Of intense Interest
from beginning to end. and the extreme
leat which prevailed in the Council
chamber did not prevent large assem-
hiaRe OF spectators from throngng thr
lobby Of the hall, where they remained
unfU the meeting adjourned. In this au-
diouce were men representing almost all
av0caHons-there were business and pro
fessionaI men workingmen. and proba-
liv "a few who do nothing but who were
drawn TO the chamber out OF curiosity or
10 hear the able speeches IL was expected
would be made touching the telephone
question.
n was twenty minutes after o'clock
when clerk August raped the body TO
order President Caskie being absent
from the city. Mr.. Marx Gunst was elect
ed president pro TEN. Those present were
Nsssrs. BLANKS. Bloomberg Briggs, Ebel
Foster. Cottreu. Gunst. Harrelson. Haw-
k.ns Jones, King Mosby CARRIER, Mil
I,r Noble. Pollock. Rountree, Ryan
Tanner. Wallerstein, Whalen, Williams
and Woody.
ON motion OF Mr. CARRIER, the ordinance
cf the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company Of Virginia was taken from the
table and read. After this Mr.. Bloom
berg called the attention Of the body 10
the presence Of the representatives OF the
two companies and moved that they be
accorded the privileges Of the floor ana
that deputations Of citizens present also
o.. heard This was agreed 10. and Mr.
NautrstCn moved that the telephone
companies be allowed one hour each and
OBJ. citizens half an hour in which to
present their respective cases TO the Coun-
CI but the Council refused TO limit the
time al au
PRESIDENT MEANY SPEAKS.
Colonc! Anderson then introduced TO
the body General l.. r. Meany. president
a. the American Telephone and Tele-
graph Company. of Virginia. who. in the
outset. said he would give a brief history
az DIS company. its aims, its objects,
ana IT'S accomplishments. After refer
Ia- tO the birth OF tclcgraphy, for which
Professor Morse was responsible, Gene
DID Meany said that Alexander Graham
Ll had founded telephony and the
american Company was organized In
ln5 after several years Of labor and after
Erat expense After great develop
r.nt am over the country, this COM
lay came to Richmond and asked to be
Permitted TO enter The speaker cited
t.e TACT that the ship-builder in Maine
could talk with the cOtton-grOwer in Mis-
s-pui. the manufactures in New York
could talk with his customer in Omaha.
and Iu a few weeks the merchant in Nor
FOLK would be able to hear the sweet
music of Niagara.
General MeaEy said that he very much
deprecated that his company was put
l..e to its opposition in Richmond.
We had hoped when we came here that
". would only have an cX-parte case
%, aid but the case had been very
ottrolt onc-his company really APP
l''ol in the light Of a defendant. "We
nave been accused and we defend
general Meany spoke Of the alleged re-
loas of the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company to the American Bell
'9mi ny, and said the Bell was i'm
NO way connected with the American.
-lf hcll Company was "a manufacturing
concern. Ii manufactured telegraph and !
telephone equipments. electric light, |
tUlet-car. and other electrical appli- |
"n'es. II does not own one mile of |
telephone system" declared General |
"eany. The speaker also denied any
'.Ai ction whatever between the South !
"n Eeil Company and the long-distance |
system The companies were entirely |
separate and distinct managed diffe- |
ltaiy. with different ideas and objects |
npo King OF the charges made against |
lN' American Telephone and Telegraph |
.omfany, that II was an octopus which |
imposed "a great burden upon the people |
GENERAL Meany said: "Go look at the /
wrecks we have made I'm New York, |
Washington. Louisville. Omaha Minnea- |
ols. ana In thousands Of other cities
d llese charges were true IN cities where
We have been our opponents would |
liodnco evidence OF the fact. II an
earnest desire TO foster. create. and de-
oop great business Is crime, then
W plead guilty"
'~Aeial Meany then turned his guns