The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-09
THE TELEPHONE SERVICE.
Commissioners wight and Mr.. Bryan
Appear Before "A Committee.

The special committee appointed by the
House to inquire into the telephone
service in the District of Columbia held
a meeting this morning for the purpose
of hearing the statements of interested
parties.
Commissioner Wight was the first to
give his views on the subject. He said
that the House had added an amend
ment to the appropriation. and since
then the District Commissioners had
prepared a tabuated statement respect
ing costs and charges in respect to tel
ephone service in other cities. supplied
by the Bell Telephone Company, under
conditions similar to those in this city
He added that in Nashville Tenn, where
the population is about the same as in
Washington, the company pays 81 to
the city council for each subscriber, and
charges SO Is per cent less than in
Washington.
In Harrisburg. Pa. rates are per
cent in excess of those in Nashville
There is no apparent reason for the in
crease.
He added that the Commissioners had
written to thirty or forty mayors Of
cities for the information in the tabu-
lated statement which he submitted 10
the committee.
Mr.. Dockery asked IL any OF the re-
ports covered operation by the under
ground system, and Mr.. Wight replied
that the one from Baltimore. which Is
partly an underground system. did.
The Commissioners felt that IL they
were required to report as to the cost
Of the company to supply service. they
could not do ii without more specific
information than they have. They We're
unable to ascertain the local company's
legitimate expenses and receipts. The
company claims that the increase of the
number of subscribers increases pro-
portionately the cost for service.
Mr.. Wight said that the rates IN
Newark and Jersey City, y. J., are $l.jO,
and i'm Washington the cost is $l.25.
Jersey City has 1.2CO telephones and
there are 2200 in Washington. The local
company is operated under a charter from
New York and not from Congress, and
in the opinion of Mr.. Wight, il pays no
taxes.
Mr.. S. NJ. Bryan. president of the Ches-
apeake and Potomac Telephone Company.
was sworn and he testified that the infor
nation desired by the committee is being
prepared and will he ready within a week.
and that he could furnish partial report
by Friday. The difficulty in preparing a
statement, he said. because the company
does business in West Virginia, Maryland
and the District of Columbia, the ac-
counts OF which are kept together, and
not separated.
He was directed to prepare a partial re-
port to be submitted tomorrow and a de-
tailed statement Of every particular relat
ing to the company and its relations with
the American Bell Telephone Company,
which Mr.. Bryan admitted owned a con-
trolling interest in the stock. He must
also furnish annual reports Of the compa-
ny since 1891, for since that date no re-
ports have been made to stockholders.
and he shall also show the nature of the
contract between the Western Union Tel
egraph Company and the Bel Telephone
Company.
In addition to this, all the details of the
equipment must be supplied.
Before the committee adjourned
Mr.. Bryan admitted that his company is
incorporated under the laws OF New
York and that il has no charter from
Congress.
Attorneys 4. A. Birney and Thomas
were present at the hearing. representing
the Telephone Subscribers Association.