Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-08
THE DEBATE IN DETAIL

tortionate. He said that not man on the
floor of thu Senate had not, at some time,
spoken in favor Of limiting the inroads of
great corporations upon the rights of the
people. and he declared that now an op-
portunity would be given the Senate to
limit the power of this great corporation.
If the Senate should sustain the commit
tee. 1t would add another victory to those
already achieved by this corporation.
Referring to the statement by Mr.. Faux
ner and other senators that an expert (Mr.
Haskins) was to examine the books Of the
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany and report in time for action by the
conference committee. he said he knew
nothing of this expert, but hs understood
he had got more money out of the treasury
than the Dockery commission had savsd.
He said If the conference COMMITTEES was
depended on to act on this matter the Sen
ate would have to vote on the bill as a
whole and would have no further power to
limit telephone rates during the coming
year.
He thought the Senate should act on the
provision at once, and If it should be found
that the rate fixed was too low the act
would simply be one by which the extor-
tionate charges of this company in the
past would be met. He wanted to see
senators vote on this amendment accord
ing 10 the way they had talked and he had
seen some of them Instrumental in sending
out tons and tons of literature denouncing
the extortionate charges of corporations.
Mr.. Berry thought the rates provided by
the House in the bill were ample.
Mr.. Faulkner Replies Heatedly.
Mr.. Faulkner made heated reply to Mr..
Berry. He said he had acted solely as the
agent of the United States Senate When he
was turning out tons and tons of literl-
ture against trusts and combines during the
last campaign, he said h did not think he
represented any party that believed in act
ing and then making an investigation on
any matter. He said unless the Senate had
no confidence in the conferees of the House
and Senate, there was no question that the
matter should be decided by the confere IS
in view of the report of the expert who was
to examine the books of the telephone COM
pany. t..
He said when the House put that provi-
sion in the bill they didn't know whether
the rates they fixed were right or wrong,
hut they wanted the matter provided for in
the bill, and they put 1t in the bill and then
proceeded to make a thorough investiga-
ton, SO that by the time the bill got in
conference they might have reliable fnfor-
nation on which to act He said acting for
the committee to investigate this subject he
had selected one Of the most distinguished
experts in the United States. He had asked
the president of the telephone company If
all papers and accounts of the company
would be submitted to this expert, and he
had received a reply in effect that every
paper in the possession Of the company
would be given the expert
He had wanted the expert to inquire es-
pecially into the matter of charges in the
form of royalties paid by the local COM
pany to the Bell Telephone Company. Mr.,
Faulkner aid the conference report would
be held back sufficient time to allow the
conference committee to get all this in
formation and to act intelligently. He said
there was no sense in going into this in
vestigation II such information could not
be used in fixing these rates.
MIR. Cockrells Suggestion.
Mr.. Cockrell said If the rate was fixed as
suggested by the House bill and the in
vestigation should show that the House
rate was too low then 1t could be rectifed
at the next session.
Mr.. Faulkner said that would place Con-
gress in a position of inconsistency, and be
unjust to the company.
Mr.. HOar wanted to know whether If the
Investigation showed the rate was too high
It would not be unjust to the people 10
continue those rates.
Mr.. Faulkner insisted that the provision
had been put in the bill in the House mere
ly in a tentative way. and they did not re-
gard it as complete and satisfactory.
He wanted other restrictions placed upon
the telephone company in the matter of
regulations enforced by the company, which,
according to the reports in the papers, were
harsh and unjust. He said the whole clause
SHOULD be amended, and that should be left
Mr.. Berry, referring to a suggestion of
Mr.. Faulkner about demogogues in talking
about corporations, said he didn't know
about the reasons that inspired other SEN
ators in sending out literature on this SUBJ
ject. He had sent them out in good faith.
and he wanted to vote in the way he had
talked.
He said that IL the House committee had
placed that provision to lower telephone
rates with the idea that the Senate would
strike it out, then he was not willing to
trust men who would do that. He said If
the Senate did not approve the provision
as it passed the House. then the confer
ence committee would strike it out, and the
senator from West Virginia, he said, we'll
knew they would strike it out.
Mr.. Faulkner reminded Mr.. Berry that
Messrs. Grout, Pitney and Dockery were
the House conferees. and he said he knew
he would not impute wrong motives to
them.
Should Be Regulated.
Mr.. Hall favored the adoption of the
House provision. He said he had just got
hold of a contract with the telephone COM
pany by which this company charged $1O8
for service of 600 messages a year, and
II they wanted an unlimited service it
would be necessary to pay $40 a year.
Any company that would charge such a
rate should be regulated.
Mr.. Faulkner wanted to know whether
the wording of that contract was not evil
uence tnat the provision should be amend
ed.
Mr.. Hale said that was no reason why
the Senate should not vote to at least
partially correct the evil.
Mr.. Mcmillan, chairman of the commit
tee on the District of Columbia, said he
had in the past hesitated to do anything
about telephone matters, as he was known
as telephone man." having been inter-
ested in telephone companies himself
He was, however, satisfied that some
thing should be done regarding this mat
ter. All over the country action is being
taken to regulate the telephone companies,
and he considered 1t high time that the
Sepate should look into the matter and
take proper action. AS a committee had
been appointed to Investigate the subject,
ne Favored waiting until that Investigation
had been made. The conditions in Wash
ir gton. he said. were different from those
In other cities, and he preferred having q
proper report on the subject before acting
Mr.. Bacon said he had long seen the teIe-
phone company defeat every effort to eff
feet its regulation. and he thought their
charges were exorbitant.
The Rates.
Mr.. Turpie wanted to know how the rates
In Washington differed from those Of other
cities. and Mr.. Bacon called upon Mr.. Pet
or, a.