Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-22

| is indispensable or important to them that
they should use the most approved meth
DDS of communication with each other and
with other persons. as well in the city of
Washington as the other cities. and to this
end, that they shall have efficient telephone
service at a reasonable cost for unlimited
use by such subscribers.
Your memorialists further show that,
through the action of Congress. the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone Company. a
New York corporation. exercises the eN
elusive privilege to maintain a telephone
service in the District OF Columbia. and
| TO lay its wires in and across the public
streets and ways, and that such exercise of
these exclusive privileges must continue
until relief be granted by Congress. And
that, in reliance upon its supposed ability
| to exclude all competitors. the said COM
pany has most oppressively exacted anu
does now exact from the citizens of Wash
| ington the most exorbitant rates for tele-
phone service. which rates are far in excess
| of the rates imposed I'm other cities of sin
lar size or greater size, and afford to the
said company profit far above a Just and
reasonable return upon the cost of the
plant and the maintenance of its business.
And your memorialists further show that
Notwithstanding the exorbitant rates
| acted as rentals aforesaid, the said cor
poration has also imposed upon all SUBJ
| scribers the most arbitrary. unreasonable
and oppressive limitations upon the right
to use their telephones, and has exacted
| and constantly exacts the most extortion-
chimes by such subscribers. all of which
| is to their manifest injury and oppression.
| The premises considered, your memorial
| lists hereby pray that such legislation be
enacted as will permit and promote compe-
| ution in telephone service in the District
| of Columbia, and enable other companies
| to establish themselves therein, or that
! such lawful conditions may be imposed
| upon the Chesapeake and Potomac Tele
| phone Company as will prevent the exor-
| bItant and extortionate charges and unjust
| and oppressive limitations hereinbefore re-
| cited.
Mr.. Birney Explains.
In presenting the proposed memorial Mr..
Birney explained that the committee had
stated only in sharply defined words the
| grievances of the telephone subscribers.
| I'VE have not said anything we cannot
substantiate," said Mr.. Birney. II under
stand the same company that is operat-
| ing here makes charge of only So per
| month in Baltimore. In a section of West
| Virginia L an informed the subscribers
objected to paying $50 a year for phones
| in business houses and SIS a year for
| phones in residences. They organized a
| new telephone company and are now pay
| Ing dividends, while the annual rental of
| phones in business houses is SIS and those
! in residences $40
| THE object Of this meeting conclud-
| ed Mr.. Birney lis to protest against op-
| preston, the same as our forefathers pro-
| tested ore hundred and twenty-five years
| ago. All We want is fair play. If the
! Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
| pany won't act fair, then we must take
| steps to make the company do so''
| the memorial was adopted. After Pres
| lent Staples explained that a new cleo
| trio lighting company in this city has
| fourteen miles of conduit that 1t is will
| ing to rent for telephone purposes, Mr..
| Thomas r. Marshall, chairman of the
| committee appointed to wait on President
| Bryan, was called on for a report. Mr..
Marshall stated that President Bryan de-
| clined to listen to any proposition from
the committee unless it was presented in
| writing. The proposition was promptly
put in writing, and President Bryan was
| requested to give an answer. He replied
| that he would think about it,
| up to this time" Mr.. Marshall went
| on to say, mo answer has been received.
! President Bryan took occasion to remark
| that our committee represented only about
| one hundred subscribers. If he were here
| TO witness this gathering and should re-
| peat that remark, l think he would be
| nooted from the hail.
| general discussion followed. during
| which President Staples announced that
in the event a new telephone company was
| organized he would take $4,000 worth of
| stock.
| Advocates Removal of Phones.
| Mr.. George E. Emmons in a spirited ad-
| dress. declared that no necessity exists for
| the organization of a new company or
| the tearing up of the streets of this city.
| IF there is not a reduction in rates"
| urged Mr.. Emmons. "let us remove our
telephones. We should impress on the Ches-
| apeake and Potomac Company that We
| mean business and are not merely talking.
| The company may withhold action by Con-
! gress. but it cannot say that we shall not
| withdraw our phones
In keeping with Mr.. Emmons' remarks Mr..
| r. n. Harper presented a resolution which
| suggested the fixing of telephone rates at
| $50 a year for one subscriber on a line $40
| for two subscribers. and $50 for three or
| more a line. Capt. Tyler took the stand
| that competition is wanted. adding
| that the coming of a new company will be
| the only substantial way of securing relief.
| Mr. Birney explained the methods of the
| Automatic Telephone Company in carrying
| en- its business at Augusta, Ga. where. ac-
| cording to MIR. Birney, it drove the Bel
| Company entirely out of the field.
A Prior Protest.
Mr. John S. Miller who followed Mr.. Biz
| rey, said that he was of the original
subscribers in this city when the telephones
| were introduced. The rate then was So per
! year. The amount was soon raised TO s5o.
and an indignation meeting Of subscribers
| was held in Lincoln Hall. The speaker
was among the number who agreed to dis
| continue the use of the phone if the rental
was not reduced. He ordered his phone
out and has never used one since. In urg
| ing that the association endeavor to have
| a law passed limiting the price charged for
| the telephone, Mr.. Miller stated that there
| is no assurance that a new company, II
chartered, would not also raise its rates.
Nothing further of Importance was done,
| and the meeting adjournd to meet at the
call of the president.
On motion of Mr.. Emmons. Just prior TO
adjournment, a unanimous vote of thanks
was rendered the newspapers of the city
fnV fhntr hkop~ NrN1rc N in hn
ment and to Mr.. Staples for the interest
manifested by him. Mr.. Danenhower was
| thanked, on motion of Mr.. Lee B. Latimer.
| for inaugurating the war against the tele-