New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-03
FOR CHEAPER TELEPHONES
BUSINESS MEN ASK THE LEGISLATURE
FOR RELIEF.
HEARING on SENATOR BRUsHs BILL CREATING
COMMISSION TO INVESTIGATE THE
MATTER AND PREPARE SUIT
AELE LEGISLATION.
lBy TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuSEl

AELE LEGISLATION.
tBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE]
Albany. Feb. AN interesting hearing was held
this afternoon by the Finance Committee OF the
Senate Senator Brush's BILL which provides for
reduction in and regulation OF telephone charges
In the State. Numerous bills have been before
this and previous Legislatures having the same oo-
ject in view but none OF them previously presented
has attempted TO make an investigation or excess
sive charges possible in practical way. The
measure to-day considered does not create spe-
cal commission to investigate the charges made
by the various telephone companies OF the state
but provides that the Acknowledgement. the state
Controller and the State Engineer shall constitute
commission TO investigate the many Complaints
OF overcharges for telephone service. and TO pro-
pose remedial legislation. To prevent groundless
complaints from being made, the expense Of In
vestigations where charges are not proved must
be borne by the complainant. The bill. after Its
introduction. was referred to the Finance COM
mittee. as 1t carries appropriations III would
otherwise 60 TO tho Committee on Miscellaneous
Corporations.
At the hearing to-day Frank S. Gardner. secre-
tary Of the New-York Board of Trade: g. Waldo
Smith, president of the Wholesale Grocers Asso-
citation, and Mr.. Franz, OF the Brooklyn Druggists
Association, appeared In favor OF the bill MT
Smith made a strong speech in favor of reduction
of telephone charges. He said that seventy-one or
carnations In all parts of New-York state had
passed resolutions asking for some sort of legisa
ton which would relieve them from excessive teie-
phone charges. Comparing the charges IN New
York and foreign cities he stated that teIephone
service which cost $40 In New-Iork CITY could pc
obtained in Berlin for 500 and in London FOR ~
a year.
MIR Smith then said that an investigation by
competent commission which could devote Its entlre
time 10 the consideration Of telephone changes was
what was wanted Senator Mullin, chairman OF the
Finance Committee, called Mr. Smiths attention 10
the Iexow Trust Investigating Committee, ana
directed him 10 make his complaint to that commit
tee at one of its public hearings. Mr. smith rephed
10 the suggestion that the LeXow COMMITTEE was
only a temporary affair, and that permanent IN
vesticatlon commission was wanted. This sugges-
,io, was not favored by Senator Mullin, who de-
rlared that the taxpayers had all the commissions
10 nav for now that desirable. . -, ,
Secretary Gardner. of the New YORK Boarn o.,
Trade expressed the opinion that this measure, II
na ssed would produce the results desired az VOL az
ary other measure. he believed the state ofhcers
named I'm II could be depended upon TO make an
Franz who uttered the protest OF the druggists OF
BROOKLYN against exorbitant charges for telephone
service ,..-. l.. -
The hearing was closed. and ;he committee IN eH-
ecutve session decided 10 report the bi!i 20 the sen
ate in order that II may be referred 10 me Coni-
mittee on Miscellaneous Corporations. win the
M lersa nding that that committee shaH give an
other hearing the bill on Thursday afternoon
February II.