The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-04
TELEPHONE RATES
LIVELY TOPIC
Company Intends Raising Them at An
Early Date.
A BILL TO PREVENT THIS
Had Already Been introduced in The
Legislature.
COMMERCIAL CLUB ENDORSES 1T
After D Lively Argument : The Body
Refused to Touch the Question
of Gas Rates of Local
Concern.
COMMERCIAL CLUB ENDORSES IT

of this city has brought about concerted
action among certain subscribers in oppo-
sition to the change, who have sought the
protection of the legislature by the intro
duction of a bill to regulate telephone rates
in Birmingham.
The bill was introduced In the house yes
terday, as follows:
Section 1. Be it enacted by the general
assembly of the state of Alabama, That no
individual company or corporation, now or
hereafter owning, controlling or operating
any telephone line or exchange in the city
of Birmingham, Ala, shall be allowed to
charge, collect or receive as rental for the
use of such telephone sum exceeding $4S
per year for office or business telephones
and a sum not exceeding $36 per year for
residence telephones.
See. 2. Any owner, operator, agent, or
other person who shall charge, collect or
receive Cor the use of any telephone any
sum in excess of the rates fixed by this act
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on
conviction shall be fined in any sum not
exceeding 500.
CONNER cial Club Acts
The question was sprung at the meeting
of the Commercial club yesterday afternoon
in the shape of resolution to indorse the
bill introduced in the legislature, and pre-
cipitated an animated discussion.
DIR. Wyatt Heflin, who is a telephone sub
soriber and who has interested himself in
behalf of other subscribers in opposition to
the proposed change, was present at the
meeting of the Commercial club by invita-
A. toin 10
upon and stated that he had just returned
from Montgomery, where he had prepared
and handed to one of the representatives
a bill to regulate telephone rates in this
city. DR.. Heflin stated that it was the pur-
pose of the telephone company in short
time to raise the price of telephones, which,
If not prevented, would mean an annual
increase of $2l 600 for telephone service to
be paid by the citizens of Birmingham.
The telephone company, he stated, pro-
posed to raise the rate on office and busi-
ness phones from $4s to $72 per annum and
to maintain the present residence rate of
$36. In view of these facts, with no other
interest than the welfare of the city at
heart, he had secured the signatures of over
300 telephone subscribers, protesting against
,ne proposed change in rates and went to
Montgomery for the purpose of introducing
the bill.
In order to bring the matter before the
meeting J. L. Haley moved the endorsement
of the bill.
Done In Other Cities
Local Manager w. L. Woodruff, District
Superintendent Sims, of Montgomery, and
General Manager Gentry, of the Southern
Bell Telephone company, were present. Mr.
Woodruff was called upon and asked the
privilege of the floor for Mr.. Gentry in be-
half of the telephone company. Mr. Cen
try opened his remarks by stating that he
hoped the club would not endorse the bill.
The proposed change in rates, he said,
would be made in conformity with changes
that had been made in other cities. These
changes, he said, would tend to lower the
general rate inasmuch as it was proposed to
reduce the residence rate to $24 for those
who wanted the phone as a necessity and
not as luxury. BY this means the COM
pany expected to increase its list of SUBJ
scribers from 800 to 1000, and on the same
basis as newspaper circulation would there
by give increased value to subscribers. He
denied that the proposed change would
mean such an increase in the companies
receipts as was stated by DR.. Hefiin.
Robert Jemison took the floor in opposl-
ton to the motion and expressed the opin-
ion that bill to regulate rates was against
the best interests of the state.
E. W. Barrett wanted to know If the
matter could be considered. He stated
that some time ago he had requested the
Commercial club to pass a resolution en-
dorsing dollar gas but had been told that
it was not a matter for the club to take
up. He stated that he had contended that
it was and would like to know if it was
proposed to establish a precedent which
would be regarded in the future.
Dr. Hughes moved to table the motion,
but at the request of Mr.. Rhodes with
drew the motion in order to allow him to
speak.
Rhodes Opposed 1t
Mr. Rhodes opposed the motion and stated
that in his opinion it was impossible 70
legislate values and morals. Under the
proposed change the subscriber would re-
creased to 1000 than at present. he said,
and consequently the service was worth
more.
Mr. Conner took issue with Mr.. Rhodes
as to legislating values which he thought
could be done. He said he knew nothing
of the telephone rates, but opposed a
raise.
Mr.. Steiner called Major Anderson to the
chair and strongly endorsed the motion.
stating that he thought it the duty of the
club to take up such matters and that he
was one who stood ready to protect the
public.
1t was suggested that under the s24 rate
proposed by the company, only limited
number of calls would be allowed. Mr..
Gentry explained that at that rate forty
calls were allowable. all in excess of that