Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-06
DON'T CONFUSE THE ISSUE.

The monthly meeting of the Common
Council will be held tomorrow evening
and we suppose the long distance tele-
nhone ordinance will thef be reported
from the Committee on Streets and may
be acted on.
Members ought to be anxious to let
their constituents know how they stand
upon this question. and should resist all
efforts for delay and proceed TO reject
the committees report, forthwith.
The members Of the COMMITTEES who
voted against granting any charter that
did not impose maximum rates are:
Messrs. Otway S. Allen, Reuben Burton,
l.. NJ. Foster, j. ]. King, and j. II. Law
der-5.
The members OF the committee who
voted in favor Of granting a franchise
without any limitation as to a maximum
rate. are: Messrs. James Bahen, Sol. +.
Bloomberg, ii. l.. Carter, +. c. Ebel.
John NJ. King, G. X. Pollock, and w. r.
Moody.
1t seems 10 us that some of the seven
must have msapprchended the PROPOSE
ton or else could not have given it due
consideration. Perhaps they did not at
tach sufficient Importance to the fact
that 1t has become the established policy
OF Richmond to gran: no franchise for
local telephone service unless il be safe
guarded by a provision as 20 maximum
rates.
We say perhaps" because otherwise
II is inconceivable to us how any COM
mitteemaa could have voted to give TO
the American Telephone and Telegraph
Company privileges not possessed by the
home company. Ard this, too, at a
time when 1t must be patent to every
body that the maintenance of our policy
is more necessary than ever before!
Why? Because we have now gotten
reasonable rates for telephone sub
scribers. and, OF course, want TO keep
them. Therefore we ought not TO offer
10 the American Company. or to any
other company, premium to jump upon
and stamp 10 death the home company
the maker of low rates here. Yet that
IS exactly what the proposed ordinance
would dc--offer a premium TO the Amer-
can Company to root out and destroy
the home company! Under the proposed
ordinance the American Company might
come here at once and establish local
exchange, and by reducing rates, or offer
ing some other valuable considera-
ration. take away the business of the
home company.
With the home company out OF the
way the American Company would have
the field all 10 itself and could charge
whatever rates it pleased. Would il
make rates lower or higher? Not lower,
we guess. 1t would be natural for 1t
10 desire 10 recover the money it had
expended in beating down the home COM
pany and to enable it TO pay its stock
holders profitable dividends.
And so we say that for the city OF
Richmond to grant me American Com
pany franchise which would enable il
10 do these things would be marvel
of Observation-Disclosures. Ii would be walk"
ing no TO the lion and putting our head
into It's open mouth.
Mind, we are not seeking 10 impose
upon the American Company maximum
Of rates for its long-dstance business
but only for It's local business.
Let us hope that the members Of the
Common Council will insist upon a
prompt vote upon the main question ant
not permit that issue to be complicated
or befogged. The real issue is: Shall
I the established policy Of this city b.
abandoned or not?
Every member ought to be ready to
vote upon this proposition. II the con,
stituents OF any member have requested
Nm - to vote Us 10 make It probable