Evening star., 1898-02-21
CALL ON Mr.. BRYAN.
Result Of the Visit of Committee Of
Telephone Users.
REPORTED At fODATS MEETING
A Letter From Gov. Pingree About
the District Citizens Movement.
AT WILLARDS' NIGHT

A meeting Of the committee of telephone
subscribers was held today at 1890 at Will
lards Hotel. for the purpose Of hearing the
reports of the subcommittees appointed at
the meeting Saturday night. Mr.. o. G.
Staples. the chairman, presided, and Mr..
Henry F. Woodland was secretary.
A report which aroused considerable in
terest, not to say Indignation, was made by
Mr. Thomas r. Marshall from the commit
tee appointed to wait upon Mr.. Bryan the
president of the Potomac and Chesapeake
Telephone Company Mr.. Marshall said
Mr. Bryan received the committee. but de-
clned to receive any communication except
in writing. Therefore Mr.. Marshall pre-
sented the following letter, signed by the
committee:
"At a preliminary meeting of the tele
phone users of this city, held in the Riggs
House. Saturday evening. February ~, we
were elected a committee to wait upon you
and submit to you the following questions:
First. Will your company make any re-
duction in the present charges for tele-
phones?
Second. VIII you furnish unrestricted
service?
Third. VIII you guarantee absolute
privacy?
There will be a mass meeting this even
ing at o'clock. in Willard Hall. Of this
telephone users Of this city. and we have
been requested. and are expected, to make
report to this meeting of your reply to
the above questions. You. therefore, see
the necessity of our receiving your reply
before the hour named above. and we hope
that you will do US the courtesy of getting
1t into our possession"
Mr.. Bryan's Response.
Mr.. Marshall added that Mr.. Bryan told
the committee he would give a response to
the question. but he did not say positively
It would be in time for the meeting this
evening. Mr.. Bryan also, Mr. Marshall said
informed the members of the committee
that they only represented about 100 tele-
phone subscribers. while he had letters from
2O subscribers to the effect that they were
not in sympathy with the movement repre-
sented by the committee.
Mr.. Marshall was of the opinion that ev-
cry effort she lid be made to get out a large
number of the telephone subscribers to the
meeting this evening at Willard Hall. In
order to show Mr.. Bryan that he was mis-
taken in regard to the numerical strength
OK the opposition to the rates and methods
of the telephone company. Others present
i1c orsed these Views of Mr.. Marshall.
Gov. Pingree Furnishes Information.
From the committee appointed TO gather
II formation about the rates of telephones
in other cities Mr.. James NJ Hoge submit
ted the following letter from Gov. H. 3.
Pingree of Michigan. dated at the ex-
ecutive office. Lansing. February IL. and
addressed to Mr.. William W. Danenhower
of this city:
Replying to your telegram of the 18th
IL slant, would say have obtained the fol-
lowing Information for you relative to tele-
pi one matters in the city Of Detroit. and
trr st the Information will be OF service:
First. Two years ago the telephone
rates in Detroit were ST. per annum for
business on the ground wire of the old
Blake transmitter system. The rates for
the same character of service for resi-
dence was from $50 up. These were the
minimum rates for downtown districts.
and there was an additional charge Of 50
for every ore-half mile additional distance
from the city hall. The lowest rates for
metallic service was 800. and from that
up to $3.50. according to the distance from
the central exchange.
''2d. The new telephone company, or the
Detroit Telephone Company, received its
franchise from the city two years ago.
This franchise provides for business rate
on three-year contracts of $40 per year
and residence rate on three-year con-
tracts of $25 per year, no increase of price
being allowed for distance from exchange.
An additional charge of SIS wa allowed
upon one-year contracts. The system of
the new company is what is known as the
metallic or long distance as provided In the
ordinance.
I'D The success of the new company
has been remarkable. 1t has now over
$500 contracts and has already installed
800 telephones. The central exchange
accommodates 5000 subscribers. One SUBJ
exchange has already been opened with
capacity for 900 additional subscribers.
Two other substations are now being built.
each with a capacity of ] 900 telephones.
"4th. The new company uses very fine
equipment upon which 1t pays no royalties.
The telephones and switchboard are man.
ufactured by the Detroit Switchboard and
Telephone Construction Company, which
4 hto YfrN-
ment Is said to be superior to any in use.
18th The ordinance under which the new
company operates requires 1t to furnish to
the city seventy five free telephones. twen-
ty-five of which are for the use of the pub
lie schools.
9th. When the new company secured it's
ordinance the Bell company had about g.
100 subscribers. They have now about e.
200.
nth. The Bell company mads every ef-
fort to embarrass the new company. and
endeavored to discourage the purchase OF
the new company's stock by published
statements that an exchange could only
be operated at a loss at the rates fixed by
the ordinance, but as soon as the company
was in successful operation the Bell COM
pany reduced Its rates to $36 for business
and $24 for residence telephones in all
parts of the city.
THE new company has the enthusia site
support of the public and Is reported to De
we'll satisfied with its financial returns. 1t
is now collecting over $4,000 each quarter
for telephone rentals. 1t has issued $5OO.-
600 Of stock and about $5OOOO Of bonds
After paying interest on it's bonds. taxes Of
3 per cent required under the state law and
all operating expenses and fixed charges,
the company is now earning about per
cent on its stock. 1t employs about 125
telephons operators"
Permanent Organixa tion.
Mr.. Danenhower, from the committee on
permanent organization, reported A draft
Of constitution, which provided that the
name of the organization shall be the Tel
erhone Subscribers Association Of the Dis
trict of Columbia, and that the object shall
be ito secure fair rates and fair conditions
to telephone subscribers in the District of
Columbia"
The officers of the association. consisting
OF a president vice president, secretary,
assistant secretary ard treasurer. together
with fifteen other persons shall constI-
tIte the board OF managers of the associa-
ton.
The report was adopted. The eonstitu-
ton was sigr ed by lumber Of those pres
ent. who agreed Ito support the efforts of