The times., 1899-02-05
THE TELEPHONE SITUATION.
The Views of n Representative of
the Proposed Company.


T. Cushing Daniel, one OF the incorpo-
rators of the proposed Columbia Telephone
Company, who recently requested the Dis
trict Commissioners to grant hearing on
Senate bill 1173S, which seeks to incor-
porate the company, has written a second
letter to the Commissioners in which he
states that concerted efforts will be made
in the near future to relieve the present
telephone situation and afford the people
of Washington cheaper telephone rates.
The letter was prompted By the recent
publication of the recommendation OF
Commissioner. Wight that the bill BE- ad-
versely reported on to Congress. Commits
sioner Wight took such a position because
he did not think it advisable to tear up
streets for the purpose of installing the
wires of additional companies, when one
company might afford satisfactory service.
After this recommendation was made
request for a hearing was received from
Mr.. Daniel. The case was then held open,
and the Commissioners informed Mr..
Daniel that they would grant him hear
ing.
letter was next received from Mr..
Daniel. in which he says:
I'VE notice in the papers that Mr.. Wight
has already written his report on the bill
to incorporate the Columbia Telephone
Company.
Our communication requesting a hear
ing was mailed about the time the bill
was introduced. but since he has written
his report, we think 1t useless TO attend
hearing at this time.
THE incorporators OF this company have
contended for over five years that the only
way to reduce the price of telephones in
| the District is to charter new company.
They are borne out in this contention by
| the present condition here and by the fact
| that there is no instance where licensee
of the Bell Telephone Company has ever
| been made to reduce rates in any way.
At this time they are defying an act of
! Congress reducing their rates and forcing
| subscribers TO resort TO expensive injunc-
| tion proceedings to keep their phones.
1.-THE last move of the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company is to take the
| attorneys of the Citizens Association on a
| junketing tour to Chicago and other cities
to prove that they are justified in charg-
ing twice as much for phones as others are
| willing to furnish them for. After they
get through this they will no doubt ap-
peal the case to the Supreme Court, and
by continuances carry the suit an indefinite
time or until the citizens get tired of
spending their money and give il up.
The Commissioners have had over three
years in which to cooperate with the citi-
Zens in getting cheaper telephone rates
and We believe that 1t would be but a short
time after the charter Of our company,
before there would practically be but one
company, as we now have a three-year
contract with a majority of the Chesa-
peake and Potomac subscribers. and with
a number of others who are and have been
without phones.
a concerted effort to get relief from
the present situation viii be made in the
near future"
After considering the letter of Mr..
Daniel the Commissioners yesterday re-
piled as follows:
Referring to your letter of the LIST inst,
relative TO hearing on the bill 10 incor-
porate the Columbia Telephone Company
| am instructed 10 state that no use has
yet been made of the recommendation OF
Commissioner Wight on the subject, which
was dictated before the receipt of the let
ter to which you refer, and the case was
held Open no action being taken pending
the hearing you asked for and which the
| Commissioners granted. If. in view OF
these circumstances, you do not want a
hearing the Commissioners will make re-
port to Congress on the bill.
This letter is signed by DR.. William Tin
dayy, Secretary to the Board Of Distric
| Commissioners.
The bill providing for the incorporation
of the propose6 telephone company wa!
| introduced in the House about two week
ago by Representative Mudd. 1t provides
that it will be unlawful for the compan!
to charge more than $50 per year for it
! regular service in any business establish
ment and $50 for any residence.
The incoTporators are John ID. Lang
, horne, Orrin G. Staples. John A. Baker
TalImadge A. Lambert, T. Cushing Dan
iel j. E. Keelyn, w. G. Waggaman, W
s. Knox. Lawrence Gardner, ]. A., Blum
don and Thomas Armat.