Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-02
REGULATING TELEPHONE RATES.
Amendment to the District Bill
Adopted by the House.

Amendment to the District Bill
Adopted by the House.
After The Stars report Of the debate on
the District appropriation bill closed yes
terday, Mr.. Shafroth's amendment to re-
duce the police force was defeated.
Mr.. Berry of kentucky made a raid upon
the telephone rates existing in this city,
ard was joined by Mr.. Pitney of New
Jersey, member of the appropriations
committee. who offered the following
amendment:
Provided, That from and after the pas
sage of this act it shall be unlawful for
any person or any telephone company do
ing business in the District of Columbia to
charge or receive more than $50 per an
mum for the use of a telephone on sep
crate wire; $40 for each telephone there
being not more than two on a wire; $50 for
each telephone, there being not more than
three on wire, and SO for each telephone
there being four or more on the same
wire
The amendment was adopted after de-
bate. Mr.. Berry said:
THE charge for telephones in Washing
ton is the most extravagant of any city
that know of in the United States The
monopoly here charges $3.50 for private
telephones. whereas in other cities they
only charge from $50 to $50 The dividends
upon the stock of the telephone company in
the city of Washington are very extrava-
CANT.
$3.50 for telephone. and yet cannot COM
municate with the next hotel without drop-
ping dime into the slot That is in addi-
ton to the $3.50 that they receive from the
rent OF the telephone paid by the proprie
tors of the hotel. If there is any remedy
for the people of the District of Columbia
through this body, l want to call attention
to the fact that the rates of this company
are wonderfully extravagant in the city of
Washington. want to know. If can find
out, what rentals We are paying to this ex-
travagant corporation
Mr.. Dockery said:
MI Chairman, am very glad the gen.
tleman from Kentucky has brought this
matter to the attention of the House. OF
course, this general subject does not under
the rules of the House, come before the
committee having charge of this bill. But
nave an impression, amounting, in fact to
a positive conviction, that the telephone
service as now operated Is perhaps the most
odious monopoly in this city save and ex-
eept the gas monopoly. Possibly the tele-
phone monopoly takes the first rank; from
complaints that have been made to me by
private citizens in whose Judgment and
veracity l have full confidence, 1 think 1t
does.
II am sure that the District committee
should report without delay bill putting
the restraining power Of the law upon this
telephone monopoly in the District of CO.
lumbia- AS the gentleman from New Jer-
sey remarked during the last two or three
Congresses amendments have at various
times appeared on this bill in the House
limiting the amount to be paid for tele-
phone service: but when the appropriation
bills have. returned to US in conference we
find long black lines across such para
graphs. striking them out. We have been
unable to secure the consent of the other
body to reduction OF rates.
am glad the gentleman from Kentucky
has raised this question: for the power Of
this odious, grasping monopoly should be
checked, and trust that after the ventila-
tion which this matter has already had the
very efficient District committee Of the
House viii forthwith proceed to consider
the question and report . suitable bill on
the subject"
The remainder Of the day was consumed
In political discussion.