Evening star., 1898-10-07
T E L E P H o NE RATE S
The Secretary of the Subscribers Association
Describes the Present Status
Information Gathered to DisprOve
the COmpany's Contention That the
Prescribed Rates Are Too Low.

In discussing the present status of the
movement made in favor of securing a re-
duction in telephone rates, Mr.. Henry F.
WoOdard, the secretary of the Telephone
Subscribers Association. said today to a
Star reporter:
Upon the organization of the Telephone
Subscribers Association every effort was
made to secure legislation from Congress
beneficial to the interests of the numerous
telephone subscribers in the city of Wash
ington. At that session of Congress the
act of June 30 1898 was passed. since
which time the association has made every
endeavOr to protect the interests of it's va
riOus members and to see to it that their
service was undisturbed at least in so far
as relief could be had from the courts: that
a large number of injunction suits had been
filed upon which hearing had been had in
Equity Court, and in which cases the court
speaking through Mr.. Justice Hagner,
granted a preliminary restraining order;
that the question of compelling the teie-
phone company to put in telephones upon
the request of people desiring them at the
rates prescribed by the act of Congress has
not been settled yet; that in order to try
the mandamus proceeding. which involved
the right of the people to have a telephone
put in upon request under the new rates
much evidence Will be required upon the
part of the association in order to rebut
the contention of the telephone company
that 1t cannot afford to furnish service at
the prescribed rates.
Information Secured.
Having this matter in view, the attor-
neys for the association have been dilgent
in their efforts to ascertain from various
states of the United States and from Cana
da the rates charged, and now have in their
possession sufficient data to enable them
70 toll 10;
court when the mandamus proceedings are
called for trial.
Up to the present time the association
has been eminently successful and has ac-
conplished great deal for the benefit of
telephone subscribers, and has in every in
stance at Its own expense protected It's
members from having their telephones
moved when they have refused to accede
to the demands of the telephone company;
that Notwithstanding the amount of good
work that has been done by the aSsocia-
ton in the past there yet remains a vast
deal to be accomplished in the future, and
II is mistake for any of the members of
the association or any of the citizens of
Washington who are interested in the ques-
ton to think that since the preliminary in
junction was granted by the court they can
consider the question as being definitely set
tied and relinquish their interest in the
movement.
United Action Needed.
There never was time in the history of
the movement more urgently demanding
the united support and attention of tele-
phone users than the present. The attor-
neys of the association at present are daily
filing suits and mean to continue to file
as many suits as may be necessary for the
protection of the members.
1t is not proper for me to anticipate in
too large part what has been done by the
association. as there will be a mass meeting
this evening at 7:3o o'clock at Willard
Hall, at which time all of the interests of
the association will be gone over and full
reports made The secretary voices the
sentiment of the executive committee in
urging upon all members of the association
and all telephone subscribers and all citi-
zens of Washington who are interested in
the movement to attend this mass meeting
and also of maintaining their support of
the association