Evening star., 1898-02-08
The Telephone Decision.

Judge CoX's decision rendered today on
the telephone case is TO a certain extent
Disappointing in that 1t does not clearly
define the exact rights of the guests Of a
hotel to the use OF the telephone in the
house. 1t is a mixed d. cision, enjoining
the telephone ComFany from removing the
instrument and at the same time enjoinng
the hotel proprietor from permitting the
guests of his esta ablishment TO use the
phone improperly. just where the line is
TO be drawn between the proper and
Improper" use OF such phone is left to
the imagination of the individual and per-
haps to the discrininat ton of the listening
telephone operator. As the case now stands
there is no determination as 10 the right
of the telephone company TO maintain an
espionage over the subscriber and thus it
is doubtful whether there is any legal
manner in which the company can ascer-
tain whether or not the terms of the
courts orders are Icing followed.
But this case is only a minor feature of
the telephone controversy, which hinges
mainly upon the question of whether the
rates charged by the local company are
fair extortionate. and further whether
Congress, regarding them eXtortionate
will lower them or permit them to remain
as at present. Much of the present fric-
tion between the company and its patrons
would be removed if the rates were low
cred. The lowering OF the rates would not
only decrease the number of improper
users of the service by Increasing the num-
ber of subscribers. but ii would also in
crease the volume OF business and pre-
sumably the amount of profit. The COM
peny by consentins 20 reduction of the
tate schedule would tighten its hold on the
nonopoly that 1t now possesses. for as
long as there is any disposition on the part
of the company now enjoying the franchise
to treat its patrons properly there will tie
no disposition on the part of the ocm-
munity to question the exclusive possession
of the company.
The goodwill of the community within
which it operates is a factor of great ad-
vantage to any corporation, whether
rnonopolistic or in competition, whether 1t
deals N gas or rapid transit. or in facil-
tiles for long-distance conversations. The
local gas company by an illiberal policy
Incurred the ill-will of the gas users of the
District and 1t was eventually compelled
to lower its rates. The telephone company
has assumed the same attitude of con-
temptuous Indifference and is paying the
penalty of being subject TO persistent as
saults upon its privileges that will surely
result in material reduction of the rates.
All the efforts of this company have been
in the direction of strengthening its hold
On the purses OF the people. The various
projects advanced have tended only to the
enrichment of the company and in only the
least degree Incidentally 10 the benefit of
the people.
Washington does not desire that the
problem be solved by the passage of such
a bill was yesterday introduced In the
HCUse providing for the incorpora ton of a
rival telephone company. That remedy is
questionable. yet the Introduction CT the
bill is the logical result of the situation as
it stands today. The only sure and lasting
cure for the local telephonIc Ills is the
adoption of the pending provision in the
District appropriation bill lowering the
rates or the passage of an enactment clear
ly defining the rights and obligations of
The telephone users in this District. 1t
is plain from the decision rendered this
morning that there is need of new statutes
this subject.