Evening star., 1898-07-08
THE TELEPHONE RATES
Course to Be Pursued Pending the Proposed
Litigation.
The Company Not Disposed to Sus-
pend Collections While the New
Law is in Dispute.

Now that 1t is conceded by both sides in
the controversy over the telephone rates
that the question ut issue. as far, at least,
as the legality of the rates fixed by the new
law Is concerned, is to be settled by test
| cases. which are to be brought shortly In
the courts, subscribers who have not paid
their bills for the next quarter are wonder
Ing what course to pursue.
a representative of the telephone COM
pany tersey remarked to a Star reporter
today, when that phase of the matter was
brought to his attention, You don't sup
pose the telephone company is going to do
business for nothing do your?
This seems to outline the course that the
company expects to pursue in such cases.
and 1t follows that when payment is re-
fused the service will be discontinued.
Truce Proposed.
There las been some suggestion that a
sort of a truce be agreed upon and, pending
the decision in the proposed litigation, that
no bills be collected and the telephone sub
scribers be allowed to continue the use of
their instruments. This, however, is not
apparently, the view the company takes. 1t
has been the policy of the company to ac-
cept all checks paid according to the old
rates, but under protest, and also checks
drawn In accordance with the new rates,
OF course, where the subscriber has noti-
fled the company to remove the instru-
ment unless the new law is complied with,
the phone, 1t is stated, will be removed
upon the expiration of the ten days notice
as required in the company's contract. 1t
is also likely the company will remove in
struments where the rent agreed upon has
not been paid.
Subscribers Resolution.
The First Cooperative Building Associa-
tion of Georgetown gave a check to the
collector Of the telephone company, which
he afterward attempted to return, but
which was refused.
The company, however, has returna d
the check by mail, refusing to accept the
rev rate and claiming payment under the
old contract. The following reply has been
sent to Mr.. Samuel NJ. Bryan, the presi-
dent and general manager of the company:
on this date your letter received. re-
turning check given you July g. for s1o 30
for telephone service. Said check is held
subject to your call. Due notice is hereby
given that should any attempt be made by
your company or any of it's representa-
tives thereof to remove the phone or IN
airy manner interfere with our service a
suit for damage will at once be instituted
We are complying with the law created
by Congress, which body reserved the right
at the time your company was chartered
to amend or annul said charter at any time.
l reserve the right to communicate the
above to the press"
The letter was signed by the treasurer of
the First Cooperative Building Associa-
ton. Mr.. George w. King, a well-known
resident and prominent business man of
the West End. The sentiments expressed
by Mr.. King are echoed by all of the busi-
ness men, though the building association
has taken the initiative in the matter.
Commissioners Interested
At the suggestion Of Commissioner
Wight. the question of whether the Dis
trict in paying for its telephones, should
be guided by the provisions of the current
District appropriation bill governing tel
eIhone rentals here, was recently referred
to the attorney for the District for his
opinion. That official submitted his opin-
ion to the Commissioners today, holding
that they are bound by the law in aues-
ton.
The law makes II unlawful for any per-
son or telephone company doing business
here to charge or receive more than $50 per
annum for the use of a telephone on a sep
arate wire; $40 for each telephons, there
being not more than two a wire; $50 for
each telephone. there being lot more than
three on a wire, and $25 for each telephone,
there being four or more on the same wire.
In view Of the opinion of their attorney, it
is understood the Commissioners will invite
President Bryan of the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company 20 confer
ence with them on the subject tomorrow
morning.