Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-17
THE PROMOTERS APPEAL
Representatives of Automatic Telephone Ex-
change Before the Commissioners.
Exceptions Taken to Report on Pend
ing Bill-The Compnny's List
of Subscribers.

The promoters CO the Automatic Tele-
phone ExchaI ge Company Qimited), which
company is seeking authority from Con-
gress to construct and operate a telephone
exchange in the District, today had con-
ference with the District Commissioners.
The Commissioners last Saturday recon-.
nepded to Congress that no action be
taken on the bill granting the desired au-
thorty at this time, and those interested
financially in the automatic telephone to-
day requested the Commissioners to either
recall that unfavorable recommendation CT
give them an opportunity to be further
heard in the matter.
Mr.. H. D. Walbridge, explained to The
Commissioners that their adverse report
of the bill came TO those interested i'll the
proposed exchange as matter Of great
surprise, they having been under the i'm
preston that their project would receive
the approval OF the board. He stated that
the new company has already secured s'g-
natures to five-year contracts from 23SI
people here, five-eighths of them being
subscribers of the existing company the
Chesapeake and Potomac.
Commissioner Ross said the Commission
ers had rot intended What their report to
Congress should be taken as an adverse
ore, they merely deeming it inexpedient to
recommend action on the bill at the pres
ent time, when the matter of rates and
service is being considered by Congress.
Asks for Recall of Report.
Mr. Walbridge then asked that the report
be recalled. explaining that the proposed
company would be perfectly willing to &C
cede to any demands which might appear
proper as to taxes, license fees, penalties,
&c. He introduced Mr.. Joshua Horner, a
well-known Baltimore capitalist, who is
interested in the new telephone, and Mr..
Homer repeated what Mr. Walbridge had
said as to the entire willingness of the
company to abide by such restrictions and
regulations as the Commissioners might
see proper to recommend to Congress. He
called attention to the number of sub
scribers already secured by the new COM
pary, remarking that the number will
shortly be increased to 5000, every man of
them representing the best of the District s
financial, professional and business con-
nectionS.
gress has reduced telephone rates here to a
sum not exceeding $50 year will not cause
the Chesapeake and Potomac Company to
give any better service, for it stands to
reason, he remarked that if the service
given by that company was not satisfactory
at, say, $1O0 year, it certainly will not be
at half that sum. Referring to the objec-
ton of the Commissioners to authorize an
other company to cut up the streets of the
city, Mr.. HOrner said that the nearly 5000
subscribers the new company has already
secured was the best answer in the world
that the people of the District are both
willing and satisfied to have the streets
cut up for awhile in order to secure to them
better telephone service, cheaper rates and
absolute secrecy in the use of their phones.
The Commissioners promised to give the
matter their consideration, and the gentle
men interested in the new company left
apparently satisfied that they will have a
perfectly fair show in the matter.