The times., 1898-02-17
THE FIGHT ON TELEPHONES
Initial Steps Taken for a Cheaper
and Better service.
MASS MEETING TO BE HELD
Fifty Business and Professional Men
1nauEurate the siove.nent and Ask
the Cooperation of All-Commit-
tees Are Appointed-Senato Nc
MILAN and the Company.

Fifty or more business and professional
men responded to the call for a confer
ence OF those interested in the question
of cheaper telephones and an improved
service, and the initial steps were taken
to fight the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company.
The meeting took place last night at the
Fredonia Hotel and Mr.. w. w Danen-
hover called the gathering to order.
Col. o. c. Staples was unanimously
elected chairman. He stated that he was
a sufferer from the eNorbitant charges of
the Chesapeake and Potomac Company
and that he proposed to fight for an inn
provement, though he realized the
chances We're against victory, as 55 per
cent of the stock of the local company is
controlled by the Bell Telephone Com
pany, of New York, The influence of the
latter company was something enormous,
ne held.
Mr.. II. f. Woodward was then unani-
mously elected as secretary.
DR.. Ii. T. Johnson said his strongest
objection TO the present telephone COM
pany was due to the seeming impossible
ity TO secure privacy in sending Il conf
Dental message. Or. Johnson said that
he had once been placed in a very en-
barrassing position because a message
sent by him 10 New York, concerning a
business matter had leaked ont.
Col Thomas Z. Marshall, Mr. f. h.
Laffcrty and Mr.. Danenhower also spoke.
They found fault with the service and
the eNtravagant charges made
Mr. ID. c. Daniel furnished consider
able of a diversion owing 10 the indirect
charges brought by him that the de-
sired legislation provided for the charter
ing of an independent telephone company,
contained in a rider on the District APP
preparation bill would not pass the Sen
ate.
THE provision will pass the House.
said Mr.. Daniel. but il will meet its
death in the Senate. Three Senators will
kill it
Who are those Senator's" Mr.. Daniel
was asked.
Il have no hesitation in saving that
Senator Mcmillan is one Of them" replied
Mr.. Daniel FOR the Bell Telephone has
him on its side
THAT is serious charge To bring
against Senator Mcmillan" said Mr..
Ferry. MIR. Mcmillan told me he would
offer the resolution and push it. He also
said he did not own a cents worth OF
Bell Telephone stock"
Yes he told me that he did not own
any OF the stock said MIR. Daniel. but
l know that be transferred his Bell stock
TO a member Of his family when this rider
was proposed
Col Staples then read a communica-
tion from an officer of another telephone
company offering to establish telephone
service here charging s. per month for
phones in residences. and 81 q month for
those in business places
DR.. ii. l.. Z. johnson then offered the
following resolution which was unani-
mously adopted:
Resolved, That IL is the sense of this
meeting that we disapprove the methods
and rates of the Chesapeake and Poto-
mac Telephone Company in the District
of Columbia. We further approve the
rider on the amendment To the District
appropIia don bill regulating telephones
in the District of Columbia and We re-
quest the subscribers to indorSe this res 4
oluton. We further urge Congress to act
promptly on this measure and give us /
promptly the relief desired.
it was decided that a big mass meeting |
OF those interested in the fight be held al
Willard Hall next Monday night at S !
O'Clock
Chairman Staples then announced the /
following committees to formulate meas
ures pertinent TO the question which will I
be presented at the meeting.
The committees. whose members repre-
sent nearly every profession and business
OF the city, are as follows:
Real estate l.. p. Shoemaker. Fred
Thomas +. Waggaman. James
n. Green. Undertakers-R w Barker.
f. Gawler. Commission merchants-John
5. Miller Joseph T. Roth. Flour and
feed - B. b. Earnshaw BottleTs - 6. G.
Palmer, F. Finley, Charles Jacobsen. Ex-
DTessmen-J. L. Newbold, W. s. Knox. l..
; AlroFd- 1nsurance-F. X. Raymond. #. |
W. Tyssowski HaTdware-J. Il. Iambie,
samuel Ross. Banks-F. s. Parker G. p.
Williams Dry goods--Gus Lansburgh, A
N. Lothrop, A. Lisner Furniture-Will-
am H. Moses, w. II. Hoeke Brewers
Aug. Dietz. Coal-V. Il. Johnson. ]. Miller.
iotel-O. G. Staples. ". ". panenhow-
r. PhNscians-I. l.. i. Johnson, 4. Il. |
Sewers, +. +. Thompson. Druggists-R.
Harper, w g Downey. Grocers-Ho-
alto Browning, J. f. Swain. Restaurants
Thomas r. Marshall, r. T. Warwick.
'ress-Reriah Wilkins, Frank T. Moves,
Stilson Huichins. Florists-J II. Small, :
J. l.. Loose. 'Lawyers-E. II. Thomas &. :
/. Daniel, =. r. Birney, II. e. Wood
ward. Lumber-William Galliher George
A. Sheehan. Thomas ". Smith.