Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-14
Opposition to the Telephone Com
pany Gradually Crystalizing.
EXPECTED ACTION OF TEE DOCTORS
Mass Meeting Of Phone Subscrib-
ers Will Probably Be Held.
ABOUT THE UGGISTS

Inc 1eenng among telephone subscribers
in regard to the rates charged by the tele-
phone company and the restrictions placed
upon the use of that instrument seems to
be rapidly taking shape SO that it seems
probable that there will be some represen-
tations made both to the company and to
Congress setting forth the views of those
who pay for the use of the telephone. In
vitations have been sent out to number
of telephone users, inviting them to attend
a meeting at the Fredonia Hotel 1921 H
street northwest, Wednesday evening next.
The purpose of this gathering is for confer
ence purely and to endeavor to formulate
the views of telephone users and to agree
upon some plan of action. 1t is expected
by the promoters of this meeting that, after
an interchange of views, it may be thought
wise to call a public meeting where all the
subscribers of the telephone in the city can
can be represented, SO that whatever action
is taken may be looked upon by the COM
pany and by Congress as the sentiments of
the people in the District who furnish the
revenues of the telephone company. 1t is
probable that such a meeting may simply
place on record an action in favor of the
passage of the amendment now pending be-
fore the Senate reducing the rent of tele-
phones to $50 per annum, and also that
there be no restrictions placed on the use
Of the instruments.
Doctors Complain.
A number of welI-known doctors met
Saturday evening at the residence of DR..
H. l.. E. johnson for the purpose of con-
siderng the restrictions which the tele-
phone company propose under the contract
for the coming year on the use of the tels
phones. DR.. johnson was chosen chair
man and DR.. Duff Lewis was chosen secre-
tary. A very general disc ussion of the sit
uation took place, and most Of the doctors
pl eSent expressed themselves very freely.
One result of the meeting is that there will
be a called meeting of the Medical Asso-
citation of the District during the present
week to consider the situation. AS brought
out IN tbs d1ScuSsiCp the grievances of the
doctors may be summed up follows: IN
der the proposed rules the doctors Will be
unable to use the telephones in the drug
stores or in other places for the purpose
of calling up their offices to learn whether
there are any calls there unless they pay
for the message 1t is further proposed by
the company of aboishing the privilege
which the druggists now have of sending
messages to the doctor aid to limit the use
OF the telephones In the stores of druggists
to what are known as Emergency Hospital
calls
1t is further alleged on the part of the
doctors that any privacy that hitherto pre-
vailed in regard to messages going over
telephone wires has now been completely
abolished, and that matters of confiden-
tIal kind which doctors have transmitted
through the phones have been made
known to outside Parties. 1t is asserted by
DR.. Johnson that Mr.. Bryan, the president
Of the telephone company, when any ques-
ton comes up about the use Of the tele-
phone, seems to know how many calls have
gone over the individual telephones, the
nature Of the messages sent and whether
they were about the doctors business or
OIL erwise. This system of espionage, as
the doctors term it, is not the least of the
of In int iY,af he
DR.. johnson states cases where
private conversations have been made com
mon property, much to the annoyance of
the principals who supposed they were
having private chat.
The Druggists Side.
AS stated above, the main grievance with
the doctors is the restriction which the
company proposes to place upon their use
of the telephone. In this connection it is
interesting to note that the action of the
Association, composed of
the druggists of this city. is in harmony
with what the doctors want to bring about.
According to Mr.. Robert N. Harper the
president of the druggists association, an
attempt was made last year to take away
from the druggists the right to the free
use of the phone in calls on doctors. Mr..
Harper stated that this proposed change
was resisted by the druggists, who re-
fused to make a contract of that character,
and the result is the present contract,
which, stated in The Star allows calls
On doctors, allows one druggist to call up
another druggist and permits the use Of
the phone for messages to the fire DEPART
rent and police department and for emer-
gercy calls to the hospital. Now the COM
phones in the druggists offices simply to
emergency calls, all other messages to be
paid for at the rate Of 10 cents per mes
81 ge.
G r Sfofn hot
Mr.. Bryan, in speaking to the legislative
committee of the association in regard to
the proposed new contract. said that the
company proposed to go into partnership
with the druggists and share their profits,
yet practically he says that the PROPOSE
ton of the company is entirely in favor of
the company. For example, he says under
the new contract the telephone company
proposes to allow them % per cent of the
gross proceeds, but the company stipulates
that the druggists must guarantee at least
$40 per month. Now, Mr. Harper says,
there are not more than half dozen drug
gists In the city that take in $40 a month,
according to the average given by Mr.
Bryan of last years business of the tele-
phone company. The average did not ex-
coed So, SO it would be necessary for drug
gists to put in the additional s. to guaran-
tee the amount. 1t is the desire of the leg
islative committee of the association that
the druggists of the city sign no new con-
tract with the telephone company until
telephone subscribers of the District
A Legal Point.
1t is an interesting fact in this connection
that DR.. H. L. z. Johnson has what is
known as a perpetual contract with the
telephone company which he made some
years ago and which allows him the use
OF the telephone without restriction as long
as he continues to pay the yearly tolls and
conforms in other respects to the rules of
the company. DR.. johnson says that when
he made that contract and for number of
ears after there was no restriction put
on his use of the telephone. He could use
telephone wherever he happened to be,
but now his privileges under contract
have become limited by action of the COM
pany and he has taken legal advice as to
whether he has any remedy in the matter.
He thinks that he has a legal remedy.
Will Carry Out American Wheat.
PHILADELPHIA, February 14-Fifteen
steamships are now in port loading or
waiting their turn to lead the grain that
Is coming to this city from the west in
great quantities. Their aggregate carrying