The evening times., 1899-01-26
A NEW ATTACK ON
THE BELL MONOPOLY
LOWER TELEPHONE RI
Merchanfs' and Manufacturers'
Board of New York Demand
Lertalatfou.

New York, Jan. 26.-Attack on the OK
orbitant rates exacted by the telephone
monopoly for the use of it's instruments
will be begun by the Merchants and Man
ufacturers' Board of Trade of this city to-
day with the introduction into the Iegisla-
ture of a bill to regulate telephone charges.
1t has been decided by the board to en-
ter upon a vigorous campaign in favor of
equitable rates, not only in this city. but
also throughout the State. The bill, which
was drawn by it's telephone committee,
may be amended to meet the requirements
of various localities. though in its present
form it applies only TO cities of the first
class.
This measure makes il unlawful for any
person. partnership, or corporation operat-
! ing any public telephone system IN cities
! of 500, 900 population or more to charge
any single subscriber more than $50 year
for less than 1000 messages transmitted
within the city limits. For messages in ex-
! cess of ], 900 a year any charge greater than
) cents for each message is forbidden The
| act is made to take effect as soon as IL De
comes q law.
| The present rates charged for the use OF
| telephones in this city are: For unlimited
| service, $240 year. for 1000 messages
! s225 a year; for 900 messages. $50 year
! The city alone pays about 100000 year
| for the use of its telephones
The legislature has persistently refused
| to give the relief demanded, though the
present rates enable the telephone compa-
/ MES to pay enormous dividends upon IN
| fiated capital and keep the stock OF the
! American Bell Telephone Company at more
than 5000 a share.
| C. C. Shayne president OF the Merchants
and Manufacturers Board OF Trade, said
| yesterday:
--Correspondence will be opened with
! telephone users associations in other cl-
ties and towns, to the end that uniformity
| of action may be secured, and that - re-
volt against injustice and extortlon may De
! general II the exigencies of political par
ties are such that legislatures cannot or
/ will not give redress. we will see what can
he secured in this direction by the united
/ action OF telephone users 1t is therefore
! recommended that anti-telephone monopo-
| Iy associations be formed wherever there is
! a sufficient number Of subscribers. and
| that such associations. when formed.
communicate at once with this board, CIV
ing the names of officers and leading mem
| bers."
Lists OF associations. together with cop
les of such publications as may have been
issued will be received by the board il
they are sent to the Hoffman House in this
city.
There is no antagOnism between the
public and the corporation, said Mr.
Shayne. except that created by the cor
poratiOn itself, and the corrupt practices
cannot fail 10 intensity this antagOnism.
until il eliminates in something more than
passive remonstrance- The people are
coming to realize that, by reason OF the
public nature OF the telephone business.
they have a right TO participate in it's
benefits They do not require that the
I business shall be conducted without
profit: they are willing it shall earn a
gCcd profit. but they will not long con-
sent to system OF discrimination that
amounts 20 d deprivation The poorest
man in New York city ride on the
cars for cents fare: the richest man in
| New York cannot ride for less. and if the
telephone companies enjoy public pTivi-
| leges similar TO those of street railroads
they must recognize this principle of
equality or take the consequences"