Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-11
RENT OF TELEPHONES
Hearing Before they House District
Committee. II
OBJECTION TOPRESBNf CONSIDERATION
Mr. Hemphi|| Speaks fdfor Lower
Rates. 4
THE COST OF SERVICE

The House District committee gave a
hearing today on House bill 11179, to regu-
late. telephone rates in the District of Co.
lu1nbia. The full text of the bill follows:
THAT from and after the approval of
this act the rates which may be charged
by any person or corporation doing tele-
phone business in the District Of Columbia,
and using the streets, avenues, alleys and
public spaces of the same, shall not ex-
coed for each telephone $50 per annum to
hotels, stores, offices and other places of
business and $36 per annum to residences;
and for such prices there shall be furnished
unlimited service and an equipment equal
to the best in use; and any person or cor
poration who shall charge for telephone
service any sum in excess of the rates
above prescribed shall be guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and upon conviction shall pay
fine of $500 for each offense, to be col
lected as other fines are collected.
Sec 2. That if the Chesapeake and Po-
tomac Telephone Company, now doing a
telephone business in the District OF Co.
lumbia, shall not within thirty days after
the approval of this act, notify the Com
missoners of the District of Columbia, in
writing, of its acceptance of the provisions
of this act relating to rates for telephone
service, and thereafter furnish TO the pub
lie in said District unlimited telephone
service over equipments equal to the best
in use, at the rates hereinbefora prescribed,
it shall be unlawful for it to continue to
use the streets, avenues alleys or public
spaces In said District and to maintain its
conduits, cables and poles therein; and 1t
shall be the duty of the Commissioners
of the District of Columbia to prevent
such unlawful use.
Sec. ). That if at the expiration of thirty
days from the approval of this act said
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany shall not have notified, in writing,
the said Commissioners of the District OF
Columbia of its acceptance of the provi-
sions of this act relating to rates of tele-
phone service as above provided, or if said
company shall at any time thereafter re-
fuse to furnish such unlimited service at
the rates hereinbefore prescribed, it shall
be the duty of the said Commissioners
forthwith to give public notice thereof by
suitable advertisement for sixty days and
to invite bids for the privilege of establish
ing telephone system in the District OF
Columbia and of using the streets, avenues
alleys and public spaces therefor in like
manner and under similar restrictions IS
the said Chesapeake and Potomac may
now lawfully use the same; and at the eX-
piraton of said sixty days of advertisement
said Commissioners shall grant such privi-
leges to the highest bidder therefor who
shall agree to accept the provisions of this
act and furnish telephone service to the
public of the quality and at the rates fixed
herein. Each bidder Shall be required to
deposit with his bid the sum, of $4,000. to
be forfeited If upon acceptance of his bid he
shall fail to comply with the terms thereof
And said Commissioners, upon compliance
with the terms of such successful bid, and
the execution and delivery to them of a
suitable bond with sufficient surety in the
penalty of $4,000, to indemnify the District
of Columbia from any loss or damage il
may sustain, shall issue suitable permits
for the doing of work necessary to the
construction and maintenance of said tele-
phone plant. Such telephone system shall
be required to be in operation within six
months from the acceptance of such bid