Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-05-07
WILL THE BELL GET IN
Comment on Thursday
Nights Proceedings.
LEFT THE BILLS UNPAID.
a Scheme 10 Gust Captain Foster OF tie
First Ward. Captain Palmer Con
vicied. Keith Wray
out Again.

The sudden collapse of Thursday
nights meeting OF the town council.
caused by the Withdrawal of MessrS.
Segar Whiting and s. S. Cunningham.
was the leading local topic OF discus
sion yesterday. The action of the
councimen IN leaving the chambt.
met with both condemnation and APP
provul. Those who favuE admitting the
Bell Telephone Company to the city on
equal terms with the home orgauiZa-
ton are out-spoken in their diSapprov-
III Of the course of the two councdmen.
While of course those who think the
Bell should be kept out find it easy TO
Justify their retirement. The question
raised by the incident tranScends the
telephone controversy. 1t is doubtless
safe to say that Il majority of the citi
Zens Of the city, regardless of their
feelings With respect to the contention
between the two companies, believe
that Messrs. Whiting and Cunning
ham should have remained at their
posts. Indeed. expression was given
to this opinion many times yesterday.
1t was not generally known that the
application of the Bell Company would
be received at Thursday nights meet
ing. Mr.. Foster, who was absent,
knew it, because Mr.. Cumming. the
attorney for the Bell people. had called
upon him during the day and informed
him that the request for admission
would be presented. MIR. Foster WAS ill.
hence could not attend. AS he was
the only absentee it is argued that
there was no valid reason for post
ponlng the public business by breaking
the quorum. Many people With bills
against the city We're forced To go
away without their drafts and, in some
cases, 1t is said. the unceremonious
adjournment has worked rdsh1ps.
But the most interesting feature of
oh,
lies in the fact-if information obtain
ed by the Daily Press correspondent is
worthy of credcnCe-that the policy OF
the town lawmakers is marked by q
decided political tint. The colored pop
ulation Of the city is represented by
Messrs Andrew Williams and Simon
bryant, two or the best known and
most popular colored men in the coun-
". How they would have voted on
the telephone question cannot be stat
ed, but there is reason to believe that
they would have supported Mr. Book
er's ordinance. But. however that may
be, there appears to be a disposition 10
antagonize them on account of their
color. Oddly enough, however, both
their friends and their foes are mem
berS of the Democratic party. But it
must be said in behalf of the two col
ored members, despite the antip!athy
toward them. that as members of the
'oNii SouiiCii tHeS nave conducted
themselves in a manner worthy Of
commentator. Either of these men
If he We're inclined to do 50, could re-
late 4 most sensational. but absolutely
truthful. story growing out OF his
councilinanic experience. If it is ever,
told-and Il may be before many DAYS
the names of several widely known
men will figure in it IN star roles II
will reveal combination of politics
and Doodle which will afford the Cos
Sips in both petticoats and pantaloons
an abundant of chatter box material
for months to come.
But the question at the present time
is. will the Fell get inc There is a d.
cided disposition to believe that the
action of Messrs. Whiting and Gun
bingham will make friends for the an
plcant But whether it will or not h
Press cannot say. The home comma
nE's service has undoubtedly been
greatly improved recently and those
who. a few months ago. We're wont to
complain are now satisfied There l..
good Newport News and Norfolk
service and everything is being done
by the company to please its patrons.
But the Bell promises to give the peo
pie better telephons at the same price
charged Try the home people.