The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-27
THE BELL INJUNCTION.
JUD0E GOFf-S DECISION IERi ms,
Pleasing TO CIYIzEA>.
They Must Now Act Individually by Re
fusing to Use the Ecll phone w hat
touncilm.n say.

Thorc was great Indignation expressed
yesterday over the opinion Of Judge Coll
published I'm fun u yesterday Times
ovcrrullng the demurrer Of the city 10
his order restraining the city from w
terferiEg with thc poles and wires ~ ne
Bell Company The matter was discuss
ga at length and the opinion was freely
expressed on the streets that the only
remedy now 10 Doe found was in the hands
OF the citizens as individuals.
The story OF the citys nght with tho
Bell Company ls an interesting bit OF
history. though somewhat distasteiul in
view of ths result ln years us lines
were tho only ones upon the streets. and
its rule WAS absolute. as 30 was case on
Bell phone or none. Dissatisfaction with
its service existed. and complaint was
made OF thc rates. Finally the culmin1-
lion of the matter was reached when the
company refused 90 grant the city free
phones and shortly thereafter. iis ran
chisc having expired. the Council rctus-
al 10 renew 80. but granted the privilege
90 the Richmond Telephone Company
WITHOUT a FRANCHISE.
From that day 20 the present time the
Sell Company has been operating In kich-
mond without "a franchise. a short tlme
ago "a movement was inaugurdtcd by the
city 20 have ITS poles and wires remove"
from the streets. whcrcupon the toniph-
SN llWNiNNA. AIVNlfA ~ "'t.tr
cor. through It's attorneys. Mcssrs.
stiles and Holiday, and that eminent
Jurist granted am Injunction IeslidiHinE
the city from in any way interfering WIN
the said poles. wires &c.
The application for am INJUNCTION was
based on the ground that the Bel COM
pany through DTS connection with the
Western Union Telegraph Company, IS a
part of the postal system OF the tnlieo
States. and. az such. comes under the IN
tcrstltc commerce law.
DEMURRER ARGUED.
The injunction was argued on demurrer
presented by Mr.. q. y. Meredith ON The
part of the city. before Judge Crump.
Able speeches were made boy Mr.. Mere
dith for the city. and by Mcssrs. stiles
q Holiday and Inl Carter for the COM
psny. The matter was taken under con-
sidcrdtion by Judge Con-. and the opinion
given I'm another part of this paper Us the
result
II was difficult yesterday morning to
obtain expressions Of opinion on the sub
3sct. AS no one had yet had time TO dl-
gest the lengthy paper.
Alderman Reuben Burton said that
while De had not read the opinion with
care. yet he knew us PnIport ana. ia
his opinion the time had come when
the citizens must fight the battle indi-
Nidualy.
Let each man refuse 10 use Bell
phone said Mr.. Burton. 'dnu the Qurr-
lion will be solved The company will
hardly insist ON staying here n they do
no business
a call al the office Of Mr. @. V. Mer-
edith. the city attorney. brought out the
fact that that gentleman is ont of town.
and viii not return 10 Richmond before
THE TWO PRESIDENTS.
Mr ". NJ IUrpin. president of the
Board of Aldermen when asked for his
opinion ON the subject as 10 what course
the city should pursue said that he had
not yet been able TO arrive at any con-
clusion. and deemed 10 best at present
10 say nothing ON the subject
81 would like 10 express my views
though. regarding the Street COMMITTEE.
proposed trip 90 New York bee said. 81
wish TO state emphatically that ] am not
going. and deem the committees decision
unwise and impOltic.
Mr. James Caskic said. "As ! under
stand the matter. Judge Golf has pcrpctu-
ated the Injunction on the demurrer. and
there is nothing that the city can do un-
less the people refuse 10 use the Bell telc-
phone. / am not familiar enough with
the case TO know what course Mr. Mere
dith Will pursue. but at the quickest
believe 10 will Doe some time before the
case Will Doe definitely decided. As FAR
cas- / know judge Con u.s. most able and
impartial judge. and ! would Doe prCsump-
tous were I 10 Crlticise his opinion. tie
s. familiar with the case and the authou-
Ties bearing upon 10. and has no doubt
arrived at his opinion after mature con-
sldorafion OF the subject