The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-02-13
LONG DlsTAg:C E PHONE
Special Councils Committee Considers the
Subject Of Granting a Franchise.
THE AMERICAN TELEPHONE WANTS IT
counsei for TINT Concern ana Also
For the Southern stn,es Telephone
Appear Before the CoI,n,ittee-Thc
Latter Company Wants ~ Maxi.
luHn Fixed.

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The matter Of granting I franchise to
the American Telegraph and Telephone
| company to enter this city, and to do a
general telephone business, was consid-
cred by the special Councils committee
havins IT under its charge last evening
| Gen. Meaney, representing the COM
pany applying for the franchise, agreed
| to put his wires under ground in the
business district, and to accept future
engagements OF the sections designated.
lie also agreed 20 pay the city per cent.
| OF his gross earnings, but declined to
submit to the fixing Of Il maximum
rate, or TO make connection with the
Southern States Telephone company
| There were present Messls. Davis
| chairman; Yeatman, Mccormick. Jones
and Williams, of the special committee
on the American Telegraph and Tcle-
phone company's. franchise There were
also present from the committee on UNI
dersround wires Nfessrs Kizer, Bal
| ientine and Ridgewell, who were inter
eStcd listeners.
y number Of other gentlemen, includ-
! ing MeSsrS. a. P. Thorn, Thomas r..
Wilcox and Richard Wake counsel for
and General Meany representing the
telephone company, and President Fink,
superintendent Kelvin. Manager Hobbs
ana Directors S. Q. Collins a. e. X rise.
OF the Southern States company. and
their counsel, Mr.. L. d. Starke, Jr, and
Judge u. fucker Brooks We're in attend
;lnce
Mr.. Davis called the committee to or
aer ana the hearing was opened.
\ BIG ENTERPRISE.
Mr.. Richard Wake led in the argu
ment for the American Bell Telegraph
and Telephone company lie said that
the Southern Bell, being here, was only
an incident Of the situation The CAPT
tal stock OF the Southern Bell company
IS Hl.oVo'ooo. The capital Of the Ameri-
II Y1T11o l.,
There are undoubtedly many stock
holders In the American who also have
interests IN the Southern Bell but so
great is the former that it completely
overshadows the Southern Bell, which
is confined to a few States. while The
othcS extends To ,wenty-three States
and is preparing to cover the country
HAVE NOTHING TO CONCEAL.
We have nothing to CONCEAL" said
Alr. Wake. regarding the connection
between the American and Southern
Rell companies The Southern Bell's
poles and wires would be worthless to
us. We have plenty or them. 1t is q
fact that that company has no fran.
chise to enter this city and could not
connect with us"
Do you agree not TO make traffic ar
arrangements with the Southern Bell?"
asked Mr.. Jones.
That we will answer later" said Mr.
Wake, who continued:
lt IS not necessary for us to pass
through Norfolk. but we desire to make
TINS one OF the important centres on our
line Southwark. Your ordinances here
are the most drastic imposed on us any
where. But we earnestly desire to come
here and are willing to submit ourselves
unrescrvedly, to the Councils of the city
OF Norfolk. We accept your clause of
provisional revocation.
we will make this $4,000 bond you
nv q
States we may make traffic arrange
ments with the Southern Bell but not
in this city.
ENTERS PROTEST.
But we DO not think Il maximum rate
should be imposed upon us. nor do we
think we should he compelled 10 CON
meet with the Southern States Tele-
phone company"
Here Mr.. Wake presented for ex-
animation a map Of the Bell company's
system with -ponderous national direc-
tory.
Continuing, he said: IT am asking no
privileges. say to you that it is your
ontv 70 admit this company, for you
have II in your power to regulate it and
restrain excuses. Don't. because of idle
fears and suspicious, say to this great
enterprise not. we don't want YOU
Maybe YOU don't want it now, but the
time will come in 4 few years when you
will regret your action. Meet this com
pany IN a manly and straight forward
manner gentlemen.
You have The right to regulate local
rates. buraon't, a the outset, make us
accept Il maSimumG trn to. Other cities
Will want fhe same thing, which would
affect the successful bonding Of our line
AMERICANS FACILITIES.
II say that we have better facilities
than our competitors. We are entitled
10 recognition on that basis. We will
agree not 20 undercut and TO start no
tate war.
Nlr. Jones desired 10 know how the rate
would be fXed-by the year or the talk.
ASK General Meany about that"
said Mr.. Wake.
I'VE will give ill.," he continued, .to
the Brown Kelvin ordinance. and agree
not to try to Dust the Southern States.
Now, as 10 connecting with the
Southern States company. This invest
mcnt represents q great risk. We
should be allowed 10 work our local tele-
phone system in connection with our
long distance business. We are entitled
TO make our OWE connection No othc.
city has required Us 10 make n maxi
mum rate Or to connect with q rival
company. There is jus. one more point
which General Mcaney viii explain to
you-:hat it is physical imp1ss.bility
for Us to connect with the Southern
States Telephone Company.
I'VE do not think Councils should
reach forward and attempt to%intcrfere
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