Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-28
THE TELEPHONE BILL
Debate on Resolution to Take It
From Committee.
SENATOR MMILLAN'S STATEMENT
Remarks by Senators Jones, Hale,
Proctor and GaI|inger.
A G I 1 ON OSTPONE ED
AC ION POSTPONED

Ihere was a short debate in the Senate
today over the resolution of Senator Jones
| OF Arkansas to discharge the committee on
the District of Columbia from further con-
slderat1on of the House bill to incorporate
the " Washington Telephone Company and
10 place that bill on the calendar of the
senate. 1t was finally agreed to wait until
a1ter another meeting of the committee be-
lore acting on the resolution The debate
showed very strong feeling on the part
OF a number of senator's to have Congress
act on this bill to incorporate a new tele-
phone company before adjournment.
Mr.. McMiIIan's Statement.
Senator Jones called his resolution up,
Mr. Mcmillan saying he thought he ought
to object to it. THE bill is in the commit
tee on the District of Columbia" he said.
1T is in the hands of a subcommittee of
which Mr.. Proctor is the chairman We
have had a great many meetings taking
testimony and hearing both sides of this
question The only reason why the bill
was not reported last week by the COM
mlttee was that the senator made a state
ment that the company that proposed to
tear up our streets here and put in new
poles and all that sort of thing were not
able to carry out their proposition. and we
thought 1t was wise for us to allow the
matter to remain until we could hear from
the Baltimore people who were interested
to find out whether they were able to Law a
proper telephone line and give proper tele-
pnone service. These people We're here
only a few days ago l was in the COM
mittee room myself, although not on the
subcommittee, and l heard them, and they
satisfied me, one of the members of the
committee, that this company were able to
Introduce a proper service in the District.
Out of courtesy to the senator from Mary
land CMr. Wellington, who telegraphed me
to put it over until he could be here, the
matter was laid for another week
Under these circumstances 1 do not think
1t would be wise to take the bill from the
committee. The committee is acting on it
and intends to make a report"
Mr.. Jones' Reply.
Mr.. Jones replied that he had no desire
to press the committee unduly
"We are all aware of the fact that the
old telephone company has disregarded the
act of Congress that was passed here to
regulate their rates of TOLL he said. I'VE
know that the new company proposes to
put in a telephone line here and to charge
very much lower rates than the old one.
We believe, as the old company has mo-
nopoly here, that any other company that
proposes to put in telephone line at its
own expense, and charge very much lower
rates of toll than the old company, ought
to have right to do it."
He said with the statement of Mr. Nc
MILAN he willing that the matter
should go over, with the hope that at its
mex, meeting the committee would agree to
report the bill. He thought Congress
should act on the bill before adjournment
MIR. Hale Urges a Report.
Mr.. Hale said he hoped the committee
would report on this measure one way or
the other, that the Senate might ''get
at it in a very short time. There is feel
ing among a great many people in Wash
ington that the matter is unduly delayed"
said Mr. Hale ..patpla 10 ba
planation the senator from Michigan has
given and has given in good faith and in
seriousness. There is feeling that the
old company is obstructng this matter and
Is, by virtue of the delay which it is able
to secure going to prevent any action by
the Senate al this session. l think some
account ought to be taken of that feeling.
We only to be here few days longer
as. l have no doubt, We shall adjourn on
the 9th. which is only ten days ahead. l
hope the senator from Michigan will see to
it that we get a chance at this bill in the
Senate.
Delay for Good Reasons.
Mr.. Proctor said there had been no un-
necessary delay in reporting the bill the
part of the chairman of the committee (Mr.
McMil1an) or on the part Of the subcommit-
tee. SO far he was concerned.
II am in favor of a special meeting and a
prompt report upon the measure" said Mr..
Proctor, "and If the committee is not able
to agree promptly I shall certainly favor
the action by the Senate taking the bill
from the COMMITTEES as proposed by the
Senator from Arkansas The delay so far
has been for good reasons. 1t could not be
avoided by those who are in favor of a
report in favor of the House BILL"
MIR. Gallinger Opposed to the Bill.
Mr.. Gallinger said he was not sure that
a majority Of the committee would favor
reporting the bill favorably. He was op-
posed to it.
For one 1 am free to say that I am op-
posed to the BILL he said. 81 do not be-
lieve it Is good policy to tear up the streets
of this city to permit another telephone
company to be installed here to do beyond
a question, precisely what the competing
electric lighting company did, and which
opposed; in other words, tear up the
streets and then have the new company
consolidate with the old company and not
reduce the rates of electric lighting"
Ought Not to BE n Monopoly.
Mr.. Jones believed that there ought not to
be monopoly of telephone service In the
District.
II believe that the rights and privileges
exercised by this old company have been
unreasonably exercised; that they have
charged rates beyond what are fair, and 1
believe there should be competition said
Mr.. Jones earnestly. Believing that, with
out the suggestion of any human being on
earth, and on my own motion, / offered the
resolution that is pending, with the belief
that there might be some truth in the un-
derstanding that the influence of the old
company was preventing the bill from be-
ing reported from the committee and fear
ing there might be a majority of the COM
mttee, ike the senator from New Hamp-
shire, opposed to the passage of the bill"
He was satisfied that majority in the
Senate would be in favor Of the passage of
the bill.
Unanimous consent was then given that
the resolution be allowed to lie on the table.
subject to Mr.. Jones' call.
Movements of Naval Vessels.