Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-28

| 90 Win now MANY phohto toAh-
pany is operating"
STAND BY THE COUNCIL.
Mr.. Myers said he thought the associa-
tlon was standing by the Council. They
were I'm the act Of adopting a resolution
practically in support Of the Council sec
tlon by section. Let the Richmond Com
pany state how many phones they have
in operation.
Mr.. Montague said: I'VE tread on tine
danger line when we ask questions OF a
private nature Of corporation. Why
not 10 at once TO the principles involved
and decide the matter before this body
Mr.. Guigon. counsel for the Richmond
Telephone Company. rose and said his
company had 1.257 subscribers on its list;
OF this number. only one was a free
phone. and all were situated within the
city limits in reply 10 a question. Mr..
Guigon said the Richmond Telephone
Company paid sl.7Oo a year pole-tax. slco
city tax. and about $2,Oc0 a year State
tax.
Mr.. Christian moved that the preamble
should be left out altogether.
| This brought up the old point OF order
raised by Mr. Lecky. Messrs Gordon,
Montague. and several other gentlemen.
insisting that IT should be decided before
The Chair then ruled the question out
OF order A gentleman at the back OF
the hall. who could not be distinguished
said he hoped the resolutions would not
prevail for II they did it would make
| Richmond seem very small.
| Manchester merchant urged that the
resolutions should be tabled, or referred
to a committee He thought the matter
should not be passed upon without more
mature consideration. He lived where
the Bell telephone was the only one he
could get, and he used II i'm his business.
and If the spirit Of the resolutions was
carried out it would be detrimental to
his interests.
JUDGE GOFF'S DECISION.
Mr.. Myers made ringing speech in IA
| vor Of the resolutions. He said the in
| junction of the United States Circuit
| Court was a tramplng under foot of the
| rights of Richmond. Are our represen-
| tatives to be walked upon" he asked
with Indignation. Are our streets 10 be
Uttered with the apparatus of this COM
| pany, whose lease has expired. and who
| refuse to vacate?" He scored the Bell
| Company I'm bitter terms, and said that
| they were on the streets to-day on a
technicaity raised in the United States
which. with all due respect, strikes man
unversed i'm legal lore as unjust.
| "The only thing we can do he said IN
| conclusion, sis to enter our protest against
| government by injunction. We pay the
bills and we want the rights"
MIR. Myers's speech made n great i'm
| pression. and when he resumed his sea-
the applause was loud and long.
sUOIJD INVITE CAPITAL.
Mr.. Montague ventured the remark thai
| the temper of the meeting was rather too
| hastv. The United States courts were
all right. he said. and the United States
| Government was moved by no petty con
| siderations. Personally, he would prele
that there should be only one teiephone
| ''The question between the city ana IN
Bell Company" he said, will be passe'
upon by the Circuit Court OF Appeals TIM
| autumn or next spring. Let US wait
| then. our action should not De hurIleu
The object of our association Is TO Yea
down the walls which it is said circum
rent our CITY" he continued. "and L
invite capital TO come in. We DON'T car
where the capital comes from so long a
Il comes. We shall realize beIor
| ,Ifs association Is year OIL
,bat Richmond needs outside capital
| We ought not to draw inyidous distinc
| tiore. The matter has to be fought ou
e. inc courts. Let US not publish TO tn
| outside world by our action to-day ina
Richmond doesn't want any outside en-
terprises; that she will protect only sue
as spring up within her walls MI
Montague's speech was loudly cheered.
DON'T WANT SUCH CAPITAL.
Mr Garland Pollard took issue wit
Mr.. Montague. There was no Jaw, II
asserted. which could prevent man fror
doing business with whomsoever h
would. He spoke with indignation q
the defiant attitude Of the Bell Compan
towards the city. I'VE don't want sue
cauital as that" he said. "and we ca
patronize any company we choose. W
want TO say by our action this evenin
IN everv CORPORATION Of this city, 'Yo
shall not do business here If we refus
IA let you.' We want to preserve ou
rights Of local self-government"
Mr. Myers replied 10 Mr.. Montague
who ne had understood to charge the as
sociation with desire to build Chimes
walp' round the city. He said he wa
as much opposed as any one could b
to such policy, but how could we eXpeC
capital to come here, he asked, as Ion
as IL was treated as the Richmond Telt
phone Company had been treated.
ADOPTED AS A WHOLE.
There was lull in the storm, and the
loud cries of question.
Mr.. Lecky moved that the resolution
should be adopted as a whole, and HI
motion was carried, with only few dis
sensions.
A motion to appoint a committee {
ten TO carry out the spirit of the resoit
tions was also carried, and the Cha
appointed Mr.. Robert LeclSy chairman
with authority to appoint his coadjutor
CHAIRMAN HUGH HANNA.
| ~ form, Conn m IL ii IN 4