Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-02
FIGHT FOR LOWER RATES
Contest Between the Druggists and the
Telephone Company.
Circular Issued by Postmaster Willie,
-Ultfmatum Presented by the
Physicians-Situatio Discussed,

A feature in the fight for lower telephone
rates which the druggists of the city are
making, and which has been thought as
likely to be a troublesome factor is the
phones in the drug stores where there is
also postal substation. 1t was supposed
mat possibly IT would be necessary to re-
tain the slot machine in use, but the fol-
lowing letter from the city postmaster Mr.
James F. Willett, addressed to superintend-
ents Of substations relieves the situation:
You are hereby notified that the Post
omce Department has a contract with the
chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany Tor the instrument now In your sta
tlon, which does not expire until one
year from date of contract and that under
the terms of this contract the telephone
can De used on official business by any one
VINO may wish to call up the main office or
any station or substation. The instrument
Is TO be allowed to remain on your prem
Uses, and, in the event of any controversy
between you and the telephone company il
Is 10 De used only on post office business
ana Is not to be considered a public tele-
phone
Meeting Of Association.
a meeting Of the association of druggists
was held this morning to especially con-
siuer THIS matter, and as result the secre-
tary WAS directed Ito notify members HAY
Ing branch post Offices to request the tele-
phone company to remove the slot machine
Wlthin ten days. a rental of $40 per month
pelng charged in case the machines are
NOT removed and IL it is necessary for the
business of the post office to have a phone
on the premises. an ordinary instrument
Will be placed there"
Edwards & Wilson, firm connected
with the association, in whose store there
is a substatior, have after taking legal
he toll
remove the slot machine from their store
ana IL II Is not removed in ten days a
charge OF $40 per month will be made
President Harper's Views.
understand the telephone company is
much disturbed" remarked President
harper OF the Druggists Association this
morning to Star reporter, because the
pubic is inconvenienced by reason of the
action of the druggists in ordering the tele-
phones to be taken out of their stores. As
the company some time ago deprived the
pubiic OF the convenience of using tele-
phones IN drug stores in calling a doctor in
case OF sickness, or for any other emer-
Sency call, ii seems to me that this consid-
Grafton OF the dear public on the part OF The
managers OF the telephone company is
rather late. Tine fact Is. as everybody knows
the druggists have made this fight against
the company for the very reason that their
CUSTOMERS are denied the privilege of using
INC piioites. IN tne majority oil cases teie-
phones were placed in drug stores for the
convenience of the public, and the regula-
uons made by the company requiring a fee
OF ~ cents for the use of the instruments is
properly looked upon as unjust. Our fight is
that of the public.
Granting, however, that the people do
suffer an inconvenience, l think it will be
conceded thai it is better to endure tempo
rary disadvantage than to continue to suf-
fer under the excessive charges and the ex-
actions of the telephone monopoly. BY the
LIST of July, in my opinion, we will have
telephones with unlimited service at $50 per
year"
Action by the Physicians.
A committee. representing the doctors of
the city, called on President Bryan of the