The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-25
TO FIGHT THE MONOPOLY
INDEPENDENT TELEPHONE MEN
FROM FOURTEEN STATES MEET.
National Organization Formed Under
Advice of Judge TayIOr-Leach
After FIambeau Burners.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
FORT WAYNE, Ind, May 24-An impor-
tant meeting in the telephone business was
held in this city to-day. Those present
were managers of the independent COM
panies over the country, and Judge j. G..
Thomas, of Chillicothe, was elected presi-
dent, with ]. C. Duncan, of Tennessee, sec
rotary. A provisional committee of five was
appointed to take preliminary steps toward
the organization of a national association,
and a meeting of all Independent telephone
lines will be held in Pittsburg within thir-
ty days. The committee is: VIM. l..
Holmes president Detroit Telephone Com
pany; Judge j. NJ. Thomas president Ohio
Telephone Association; Burt Hubbell sec
rotary Pennsylvania Telephone Association
of Pitttsburg; j. G. Duncan, president
Southern Telephone Company of Knox
vile, and George NJ Beers, president Home
Telephone Company, of Fort Wayne. Pres
ident Beers, who is at the head of the In
diana companies, called the meeting, and is
principally responsible for the national Or
ganization.
Judge Robert S. Taylor has been retained
as permanent counsel, and made long re-
port relative to sthe chances for a success
full opposition to the Bell monopoly. Judge
Court decision has been of great advantage
to the Independent companies. 1t had kept
the Bell Company at bay for four years,
during which time they had time to en-
ter the field. enlist the patronage of the
public and get into condition for strong
fight much stronger than they could have
made four years ago. One important ques-
ton of defense is that the patent as granted
is not for the same invention which was
described in the original application. An
other question is whether the microphone
was first discovered by Berliner or Edison
Many other questions were discussed in
Judge Taylor's report. The matter of delay
has aroused public sentiment to the wrongs
done by loose practice in the Patent Office
and contributed greatly already to reform
the patent laws. Summarized, the result Of
to-day's meeting is:
/. A national association of the one thou
sand operating telephone exchanges of the
United states, Independent Of the Bell Com
pany, for mutual protection and develop
ment.
2. Long distance toll line connection by
the connection of the various Independent
telephone exchanges of the country.
3. The establishment of an independent
long distance service, connecting the great
commercial centers in field now occupied
exclusively by the Bell Company.
4. The completion in the near future of
an opposition telephone exchange in the
city of Chicago, for which purpose a com
pany composed of capitalists with expert
ence In large enterprises has already been
organized.
5. Cooperation for resisting any action
the Bell Company may take in the courts
in reference to the Berliner decision.
Representatives Of the Independent tele-
phone companies from Ohio, Pennsylvania
Tennessee, Virginia, Michigan, Missouri
Illinois, Indiana, Arkansas, Iowa. Mime
sofa South Carolina, Wisconsin and Texas
were at the meeting.
A dispatch from Pittsburg says f1fty-f1ve
district Independent telephone companies
of western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and
West Virginia are to attend the first an
nual meeting of the Interstate Local Tele-
phone Association, to be held June g. at
the Monongahela House. A convention of
the different companies will be called for
central point, probably Columbus, o., and
there the possibilities Of extending the long
distance system will be considered.