Evening star., 1898-03-09
PUBLIC SATISFACTION
Telephone Subscribers Grati6ed at
the Action Of Congress.
1 RATIFICATION MEETING CALLED
The National Legislature 10 Be
Thanked for Lowering the Rates.
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION
4 RATIFICATION MEETING CALLED
EXPRESSIONS OF OPINION


| annum should be charged for the use of q
Among the members and officials of the
| Telephone Subscribers Association, which
has been SO active in providing the public
and Congress with instructive fnformat ton
upon the general subject of telephone op-
erations and the charges therefor in the
other cities of the country, the sentiment
OF tnankfulness was particularly strong.
President .. g. Staples of the association
could not find words strong enough 10 ex-
Iress his satisfaction at the emphatic de-
cision Of Congress. He saId however, that
it was a significant act of justice, which
every good citizen would appreciate.
Secretary Henry F. Woodland of the asso-
citation, who has been SO active and ener-
getfc in its behalf since the organization
was formed, was equally pleased.
The action of Congress-" said he, must
certainly meet with the hearty approval of
the citizens of Washington. 1t manifests a
disposition On the part OF our legislators to
protect the people from corporate oppres-
sion. 1t is seldom the people rise up en-
Elasse to ask relief, but when they do they
meet sympathetic response. We should not,
however. become content with the first
show of success, but persistently press on
uEtil adequate and fair telephone rates are
secured just alike to The people and the
te;e phone company. The members of our
association are heartily thankful to The
Ey ening Star for its active support of the
movement since ats inception. The Star
has done nChly.
RespOnse TO Public Demand.
Chairman A. A. Birney of the committee
delegated to represent the association be-
fore the special investigating committee of
Congress was on his way to the Capitol. to
appear before the House committee, when
The Star reporter met him.
THE action of Congress in fixing the
rates to be charged for telephones in the
District" said Mr. Birney, was prompt
and ready response to an almost universal
demand of the citizens 1t clearly shows
that when our people stand together in be-
half of any just and salutary object and
impress this fact of community unanimi-
ty upon the House and Senate, those bodies
are quick to grant the demand"
Chairman James NJ. Hdge of the commit
tie on ways and means Of the association
was naturally much pleased with the vote
in the Senate. He praised The Evening
Star in unmeasured terms for its suppor:
of the popular demand for fair telephone
rates, declaring that The Star had been the
most potent agency in bringing about the
result. Conversation with numerous mem
bers of the association developed senti-
ments similar to those expressed by the
gentlemen quoted.
A MnSs Meeting Called.
1t was decided by the executive commit
tee of the association to hold a mass meet
ing next Monday night, March a. at VIII
lard Hail. to ratify the action of Congress-
and Secretary Woodward prepared notices
to this effect. They announce that Con-
gress will be thanked for its, prompt acton
In telephone legislation and that ten min
ute speeches will be delivered by prominent
gentlemen. Invitations to make such ad-
dresses will be extended to Speaker Reed
Senator Hale. Senator Pettigrew, Represen-
tatives Dockery, Bailey of Texas and
James Hamilton Lewis, District Commis-
sioner Ross;~ George L. Emmons, B. H.
Warner, DIR. n. L. E. Johnston and others
The action Of the Senate will not cause
the Telephone Subscribers Association to
lessen its vigor and energy in collecting
facts bearing Lpon the general subject of
telephone rates and other phases Of the
question. All available information will be
gathered and the association will BE- con-
tinued as before
Mr.. Bryan.
Mr.. S. M. Bryan, the president of the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany, was asked this morning by a Star re-
porter what the company proposed to do
in view Of this legislation. Mr.. Bryan said: !:
Il know nothing beyond the fact that the
Senate has agreed to the House amend
ment. l have not conferred with the other
directors of the company in regard 20 the
matter, and 1t has not been discussed"
Saving to District.
Superintendent Miles of the District DO
lice and fire alarm system: Il am very glad
that Congress has settled this matter in
the way it has. L believe that the reduc-
ton of rates will increase the business
of the local telephone company to a very
wonderful extent. 1t will decrease the ex-
penses of the District for telephone service
At present the District has 267 telephones,
for which it pays the Chesapeake and Po-
tomac Telephone Company S., ,44S5 a year.
For one of these the District pays $50 a
year, $6o for another, $3.50 for a third and
S125 apiece for two more, $45S50 a year for
the five. Supposing that the company will
hereafter charge the maximum rate $50,
for each of these, the amount saved each
year will be just S20S.5O on these phones
At the rates the District Is now paving
for the 267 telephones it uses, the average
Is just $12.91, and from my knowledge of
such matters am justified in saying that
that average allows the company a very
considerable profit, especially when it is
remembered that 23S of these telephones
are on District wires. the company being
at practically no expense in operating
them. Under the reduced rates 1t is rea-
sonabie to look for ten telephones here
after where there was but one before and
as it Is rule that increase of business
brings increase in profits, believe the
company will have no just ground for COM
plafnt.
Are Pleased.
Many merchants, business men and
Others using telephones in their establish
ments and residences were outspoken in
their approval Of the action Of Congress.
Some Of those conversed with spoke as
follows:
Mr. A. NJ. Lothrop Of Woodward & 10th
rop: TT is piece Of Justice. nothing more
or less"
Druggist E. p Mertz: "I very much
tlar approval
Mr. w. H. Hoke: 81 am tickled to death.
Several years ago some Of us business
men approached the telephone company on
the subject Of an adjustment of rates on q
more equitable basis and we were told that
the company was not making any money
As now recollect the company officials
made the remarkable statement that the
mere business It did the less money II
made"
Mr.. James F. Oyster: Congress has
performed an act OF justice to the people
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