The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-02


Long Discussion over the Ques-
ton without Result.
The question of granting to the Ameri-
can Telephone and Telegraph company
twenty-five years franchise for a long
distance and local telephone exchange
was again discussed by the assembly
committee on streets yesterday after
noon. No conclusion was arrived at by
the committee, and, after, two hours
talk, the matter was laid over to Thurs
day afternoon at o'clock
Representatives from the chamber of
commerce, Commercial club and Jobber S
union were present and urged upon the
committee the necessity of immediate ac-
ton being taken in the premises. Two
members of the committee, Messrs. AL
brecht and Thompson, insisted that the
ordinance be amended so as to provide a
maximum rate to be charged by the new
company, in case 1t was deemed expedient
by it to put in a local exchange. AS to the
long distance franchise. no objection was
made, and Mr.. Thompson said he would
willingly vote for it at once, but he did
object to the clause for local exchange
being passed with out some provision was
made for the rate to be charged for local
phones.
Joseph McKibbin, a member Of the JOB
bers' union, opened the discussion after
the ordinance had been read by saying
that he had no interest In the matter ex-
cept as it would benefit the city and the
business men. He. was gratif1ed to see
that the members of the council had
taken such an interest In protecting the
rights of the city, and was Of the opinion
that the council had done the right thing
in not passing the ordinance hastily.
Other cities had suffered from ordinances
granting franchises being passed without
consideration and in a careless manner.
AS now drafted. however, with the per
cent gross earnings tax, the right to
transfer prohibited, except by the coun-
ell, and the exclusive franchise clause
eliminated, he favored the passage OF the
ordinance. 1t would be a
VERY VALUABLE THING
for the city and the business man, and
without long distance telephone connec-
tons the city was not in It, He had occa-
sion last week to do business by long
distance phone with St. Louis, and it
had been of the utmost Importance, and
had saved both time and money.
possible to get long distance connections
without going to Merriam Park or Min
neapolis.
Mr.. Tighe, representing the new COM
pany, said this was impossible.
Mr.. Albrecht said he had been informed
by a travelling man that he had talked
with firm In Chicago and st. Louis from
this city. The man had left the city. and
could not be seen, or he would have Sc
cured corroboration of the statement.
E. w. Peet, as a member of the cham
Der of commerce, said the failure to have
long distance telephone connection with
other cities was doing an injury to the
city Business men should not be de-
prived Of the privilege If the long dis
lance company would not come In with
out local franchise, give them the local
franchise with proper restrictions He
related how, week or so ago in New
York he had been much mortified among
large crowd of business men to learn
that there was telephone connection with
Minneapolis, but none with st. Paul.
Assemblyman Thompson questioned If
any of the commercial bodies who were
favorfng the ordinance had ever read its
provisions.
City Engineer Rundlett said the cham
Der of commerce had gone through the
ordinance section by section, and favored
its passage.
John Caulfeld, Of the Commercial club.
said that body had also examined, and
also Endorsed the measure.
Mr.. Thompson contended that the ordi-
nance. If passed, would allow the long
distance company to connect only with
the Northwestern company, and in this
particular. the ordinance was an exclusive
one. He was Of the opinion that 1t should
read so as to make connections with
other local companies possible
n
want and in all probability could not get
connections with the long distance phones
in Offices. His idea of how the business
was done was that
PERSONS DESIRING TO TALK
with Eastern cities went to the head
quarters of the long distance company
and talked and the connections We're not
made direct with office telephones
Mr.. Albrecht said at q meeting in the
chamber of commerce, Supt. Wainmann,
of the Northwestern company, had stated
that the company In Minneapolis was
operating with the American Telephone
and Telegraph company and that the
company gave exclusive service only to
the Northwestern and vice versa.
Mr.. Tighe interrupted to say that Mr.
| Wainmann din't say any such thing, and
If he did 1t was not true
Aid. Knauft, who was present, rather
| doubted the statement about the new
| company and the Northwestern doing an
/ exclusive business. He had Iunchad with
| Manager Freely, of the Northwestern
| company, at noon and Mr. Freely had
| told him that there was no such an ar
! rangement. Continuing, Mr. Knauft said
| the interests of the city were being in
| jured by not having long distance con-
nections. The hotels were losing money
| every day because people stopped at Min
neapolis where if thy desired, they could
! talk with Eastern cities. He knew there
! was much demand for long distance tele-
! phones in the insurance business as otter
| 1t was necessary to close deal and mat.
ters were delayed by using kilograms.
Christian Fry, of the Ryan hotel. cor
| roborated the statements of Aid Knauft
| number Of the guests at the Ryan IN
| CURED for long distance phones and when
| told there were none nearer than Min
! neapolfs expressed surprise. The result
was that visitors went to Minneapolis an(
| in this way the hotels lost the business.
| Mr.. Caulfield said he understood thai
| the objection to the ordinance by the
members Of the assembly was owing tt
| the claim that 1t would injure the bust
ness to be done by the Mississippi Valle3
! Telephone company When that corpo
ration was anxious to enter the city tn,
commercial club had done all in its power
| to secure the passage of an ordinance
The club was working for the best
INTERESTS OF THE CITY
and for this reason advocated the pas
sage of the present ordinance
| Assemblyman Benson. who acted a.