Evening star., 1898-04-21
THE DRUGGISTS OBJECT
Vigorous Opposition to a Demand of the Tele-
phone Company.
The Service to Drug Stores to BE
Discontinued and Wires Re-
moved From Buildings.

The Druggists Association and the Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone Company.
it is said have locked horns for fight to
a finish. Yesterday the telephone COM
pany, it is said, sent letters to proprietors
of drug stores in various parts of the city
advising them that after the Both of the
present month the telephone must bring in
a monthly rental of $40. If this amount is
not taken in by the telephone it must be
made up by the proprietor of the store. 1t
is understood that an average monthly
rental OF $40 will not be accepted-that is
to say. if the receipts amount to IS one
month it has to he made up by the drug
gists to SO. and if the receipts amount to
SO the druggist is only allowed his per-
centagc on the additional 81,
Mr.. Robert n. Harper druggist, at GO9
Pennsylvania avenue nortl 'est. speak, <
to Star reporter this morning. said:
nave Just received a letter from the
telephone company advising me that unless
l comply with the proposed contract on a
basis OF $40 per month revenue my phone
VIII he taken out on the ::oth instant. In
this letter President Bryan OF the ten-
phoEe company states that The average for
local calls has been little more than 1
cents per call This amount President
Bryan does not think sufficient.
ID" Net object To Rental
Mr.. Harper said that the druggists would
be perfectly willing TO pay tie rental of
500 per year, but they did rot think it
right Tor AN additional charge of 10 cents
Tor every call made for d p!.ysician. when
II was necessary 10 have one. or 10 an
oth drug store when it was necessary as
matter of business. The druggists ap-
PEER 20 agree that it is fair to charge nom
subscribers 10 cents for using the phone
but they don't think il fair for suI,s,.rib-
efS 10 pay ALI annual rental for a phone
and II" obliged. when away from their
places OF business, To pay IL cents for talk
ing through the telephone for vhi.,, rhey
nave Fa'd this rental.
II IL NE intention of the Druggists As
oc."ti"n. said Mr.. Harper. 40 r;i., ,ha
=, \, Il .,ion,N our OF every drug store in
hl'%fCn whore they are now located -
W M" 'iHS movement viii probably he Il
stN"'e hardship on number Of u, o,Ic vino
desire quick communicate with the drug
stores IN case of sickness, or to use. the
pun leielhonf in the drug store for the
PURPOSE OF calling Il physician, it IS be-
leFed by the druggists that this As The cnI,
solution of the problem
Removal of the Wires.
MI Harper told a reporter of The Star
To-Day that it Is the intention of every
Druggist in Washington who had a tele-
phone on his premises to require the wires
TO DC cut loose from the top of the build
ing ne occupies, unless the telephone COM
I"hy agrees to some system Of charges
thdt Will he suitable to the companv ar6
to the druggists
We are determined in this matter" said
Mr. Harper, land will fight the matter 10
the htter end. | introduced a resolution
at recent meeting of the Telephone sub
scfbers Association in regard to this mat
ter. but the meeting adjourned before any
action was taken on it,"
Should the druggists cut the wires from
the tops o1 their buildings, 1t will work a