The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-06-29
Now Quietly Asking FOR New
Privileges.
Mr.. JOHN C. R0BERTSON'S VIEWS
Hard to Believe that Richmond
VIII Put It's Head i'm the liz
on's Mouth, or Ask the
Council to Bolster Up this
Monopoly.

Agents Of the Southern Eel Telephone
Company have for the past few days
been circulating among the public gem
orally, ard particularly among subscribe
ers Of the Richmond Telephone Company.
a petition 20 the Council asking that IT'S
former franchise Doe renewed and proms-
ing 90 place It's wires under ground and
10 install the very newest and latest in-
strumcnts
OF course The officials of tho Richmond
Telephone Company have been notified
Of this action ON the part of the Bell
people, and Mr.. Jno C.. Robertson presi-
dent OF The former. Was asked for AL eX-
preston of his views on the subject
MT Robertson's reply was that be was
not surprised at this latest move by the
Bell Co.. as he had been anticipating 20
ever since the decision recently rendered
hy the Supreme Court OF the United
States.
NOT UNEASY.
do you think" DE was asked. chat
The petition Will be very generally
sigued2'
II most emphatically DO not" DE re-
piled. eft ls true that many people SIGN
almost any paper offered them without
giving the contents careful consideration,
and frequently without even reading b.,
but the mere mention of the Bell Co..
ought t0 Dee and L believe will Dee sufli-
Client to put the public upon us guard.
"What arc your views. Mr.. Robertson
asked the reporter" about the Justice
and propriety of the Councils srau-ns
che Bell CO. q new franchise2
INSULT TO THE COUNCIL.
"Thc mere suggestion of granting the
Bel Company new rights replied Mr.
Robertson. els manifest injustice Co my
company and an Insult Go the Council
which. in my Judgment. viii not give the
proposition "a moments considerations
"The Bell Company contemptuously
disrcsarded overy wish of the city and
its citizens. charging what &c pleased.
DOING business here in the most high
handed manner
IGNORED PROTESTS.
"It ignored the protests OF the Chamber
Of Commerce and the orders of the
Council. and when the city Council un-
dcrtook 20 enforce its orders the company
denied that the city had amy rights Boo
the premises or any control over it IN
any way"
"Wc have been very much handicapped
ln our progress by the presence of this
company in the city after the withdrawal
of Cos privileges for which however. tie
Council has been in no way % blame. as
it has done ali in Jos power Oh require the
Bell Company 90 vacate, and ls plainly
not responsible for that company re-
course Co government by injunction 90
De che city's hands.
"It strikes me-" continued Mr. Robert
son. "as the very height of imperinence
for these people after dcfying the city
and cmbroning S. in Federal litigation.
and after receiving defeat and reproof
at the hands of the Supreme Court to-
come crawling back 20 the local au-
thoridos and ask privileges and rights at
the hands of the very people whom they
have hitherto ignored and dchod.
so LIMIT TO RATES.
rIt is very significant that the petition
which is being circulated docs not sug-
eest any limitation in the rates Co De-
charged bv the company should such d
franchise be granted &C.. True, for the
first time Sc humbles itself 90 make
promises of better service and agrees 90
place its wires underground. but 10 ls
evidently unwilling to permit itself 20 be
limited 90 the rates charged under our
franchise.
"It is hard to believe that the Bell
Company can seriously expect the Rich
mond public to put its head once more
into the lions mouth. after its most un-
pleasant experience of fifteen years with
tho old monopoly
OF am satisfied that no respectable
proportion OF our patrons or of The pub
Doe generally will endorse any such ape
plication. and / hope that the few who
have already attached their signatures
through lnadverfance or carelessncss.
will reconsider their action and require
their names 10 ho removed from the pee
ttiOn.
THE WORST MONOPOLY.
cit is lncouceivable that m this day of
the aggressi0ns of trusts and m0noIOlies
the people of Richmond should ask the
Council t0 bolster mp and sustain prob
ably the most dangerous example of this
evil which has yrt appeared TO- harrass
the long suffering public.
.No friend of the city and mo- friend N
f,ir rf.v should c0uule his name with