The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-28

ued Mr.. Hawes. that his ground for oo-
lection was that the committee was asked
TO mako the trip at the expense OF rne
Iong-distance company. He thought that
the Chamber should pay their expenses.
The Chamber however, Is impecunious.
and | can see no objection. whatever. to
the committee going as the guests OF the
American company. Those who will make
the trip are all hIgh-toncd. honorable
gentlemen, and no one can imagine for
a moment that they could be Influenced
by any attentions paid them in New YORK.
Il am sorry" he went on, that Captain
Guigon thinks that this Investigation
trip will injure his company. Nothing
could be further from my intentions. l
think however, that In the past the
Chamber of Commerce has been firing
in the dark, and that this investigation
will yield some valuable information.
should the question ever be called up in
the Chamber which Is not at all certain.
Mr.. Hawes concluded by saying that
there was nothing at all unusual In the
appointment OF a committee by the tele-
phonic methods employed last evening. 1t
had been done time and again, he said
MIR. ELLYSON WILL NOT GO.
Hon. j. Taylor Ellyson. who had been
NGElS4dAtG Il "a NA+S
had not been officially notified OF the
fact when seen at his residence last night.
lie said. however, that his engagements
would render ii impossible for him 10 90
with the committee.
Colonel Cowardin had just returned TO
the city from a trip when seen last night.
81 have not yet received an official noti-
fcation OF my appointment on tile COM
mittee." he said, but if DO / shall 60"
What DO you understand 10 be the
object OF the trip?' 1 asked.
'Why, to investigate the plant OF the
American Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany." answered Colonel Cowardin.
Colonel Cowardin went on to say that
he could see no objection TO the trip at
all. and did not think 1t could result
I'm any injury TO the Richmond Telephone
Company.
Mr.. James r. Gordon, another gentle
man. DESIGNATED as a member of the COM
mittee. said that he had been visited by
Mr. Young several days ago, and asked
to make one OF a party TO visit New YORK
on behalf Of the Chamber OF Commerce.
but that he had neither accepted nor
declined the invitation. Since that time,
he said he had been taken SICK ana nad
only been out OF the house one hour
NNilIN tAe Nt'hs iit "tN' "i'"'~i 49,
fore to undertake the iaugues incident
to such a long journey
MR.. BRYANT'S VIEWS.
Mr.. Julian Bryant said that after con-
sideration he had determined to make
one Of the party.
Captain Guigon and Mr.. Robertson"
he said, "came to ny office yesterday
afternoon and protested against the pro-
posed trip i listened carefully to what
they had to say. FOR, II there was any
reason why / should not go l wanted 10
know H. From what they said, however.
l could gather nothing TO make me
change my mind. / would not for the
world. do anything 10 injure the Rich
mond Telephone CompanB, and ! am sure
that this trip cannot harm them.
'I would like to say further" continued
Mr.. Bryant, that when the company
first began business ] subscribed for
phone. My office IS near that Of Messrs.
Ieake & Carter, however. who prefer the
old phone, which I use by paying one
third the cost. and ! found therefore.
that I would have no use for the new
'phone. I am going 10 New York for
what / believe to be the interests Of the
city, and not 20 hurt any one"
Mr. w o. SHELTON. the last member
Of the committee. could not be found last
night, but . wa feal aca that he would
certainly DO one OF those who viii make
the trip.
Bv what seems a singular coincidence.
the names OF none OF the gentlemen who
have decided to make the trip are at the
present time in the phone book Of the
Richmond Telephone Company