The evening times., 1900-03-07
FIVE TELEPHONE BlLLS|
The Old Company May Effeetnally
Block Hostile Legislation.
Recent Concessions to Subscribers
Discussed by Members of the Dis
Mudd Says That il Rates Be Adjust
ed Streets VIII Not BE Torn Up.

The announcement made by the Chesa
peake and Potomac Telephone Company il
| the advertising columns of the local news
papers that "it is no longer necessary fo
! the small user and the man of moderate
means to pay the maximum rate and
| that there is to be inaugurated "tele-
! phone service at rates within the reach
| Of ALL has created considerable comment
at the Capitol.
Several members Of the Committee on
the District of Columbia of the House OF
Representatives said to a reporter for The
| Times that they have not had the time to
give due consideration to the recent pro-
prosal Of the telephone company, but that
IL the concession made to subscribers is
reasonable. II may result in blocking all
hostile legislation 1t was the opinion Of
those with whom The Times man spoke,
that If the Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Company would agree to furnish as
is enjoyed by telephone subscribers in
ether cities, il would escape competition
Representative Mudd of Maryland said
that if the old company would give a
guarantee to serve subscribers at rates
which disinterested persons might deem
equitable, he could see nc reason why the
city streets should be torn up at the in
stance of new company.
There is a disposition in some quarters
at the Capitol 10 punish the corporation
for its defiance of the will Of Congress. as
expressed in the act which was declared
by Justice Barnard TO be unconstitutional.
The weight of opinion, however. among
the members of the District Com
mittees Of the Senate and House is that II
rates fer telephone service be lowered to a
reasonable level, as compared with other
cities, the present company may avoid
competition, but that otherwise it must
submit 10 the competition Of some new
company which Congress will invest with
the right to carry on business in the Dis
trict.
Five bills TO incorporate telephone COM
paaies have been introduced in the House
during this session. None Of these has
been reported. though hearings have been
held by the District Committee OF the
House. and a subcommittee OF that COM
mttee is ready 10 make a report to the
full committee on that to incorporate the
Washington Telephone and Telegraph
Company. The first of these bills was in
tIoIUced by Representative Mudd on De
cembeT : TO incorporate the Columbia
Telephone Company. That bill provides:
That John d. Langhorne. Orrin G.
Staples John a. Baker. Tallmadge A.
Lambert. T. Cushing Daniel. J. E, Keelyn.
". G. Waggaman. W. :. Knox, J. a. Blum
don, Thomas Armat OF the District Of Co
lumoia, and their associates. successo sors.
and assigns. be. and they are hereby, ere
ated a body corporate under the name OF
the Columbia Telephone Company. and by
that name shall have perpetual succession.
and shall be able to sue and be sued. plead
and be impleaded, defend AID be defended.
in all courts CT law and equity within the
United States. and may make and have
common seal.
Section Of the bill provides that the
said corporation shs.l commence the con-
struction OF the underground electrical
telephone system hereby authorized TO bs
constructed within three months after the
adoption of the plan by the Commission
ers of the District Of Columbia. and COM
plete the main system within tWenty-four
months thereafter; and il the said work
shall not be SO commenced and completed
within the tine prescribed as aforesaid
the privileges and powers here granted
shall be forfeiyable.
Section provides that it shall be un-
lawful for the Columbia Telephone Com
Papy % charge al any time more than $50
per annum for its regular service in any
business establishment and $50 for any
residence in the city Of Washington"
Section l3 sets fort that the company is
authorized 10 issue Its capital stock to
an amount not TO exceed the estimated
cost of the construction and equipment OF
the electrical telephone system in shares
> L. 70
caed the cost Of construction and equip
ment OF the same; such stock and bonds
not 10 exceed in the aggregate more than
the actual cost Of construction and equip
ment of The telephone system
The second bill was introduced On De-
cember s. by Mr.. Wachter to permit the
Telephone and Telegraph
TO install. maintain, and oper-
ate a telephone and telegraph plant and
exchanges in the District Of Columbia"
Il is provided that the rates to be charged
By this company shall not at any time be
more than $50 per year for residence tele-
phones nor more than S4S per year for
business telephones in the city of Wash !
ington."
Under section of the bill it shall be |
lawful for the company TO acquire. by pur
chase, rental, or otherwise. the use of any I
conduit or ducts now laid or hereafter to |
be laid under any of the streets. avenues, |
Or alleys of the city of Washington or any |
Of the roadways of the District of Column
bia"
The third bill was introduced by Mr. |
Mudd Thy request) on February Il Ito in
corporate the Washington Telephone Com
)any" The incorporators named are Sam
Iel Ross, Thomas w Smith. Frank B. |
Noyes. Edgar p. Berry, and Richard A.
Johnson, of the District of Columbia. and /
Henry A. Parr. Thomas J. Hayward
James Bond. George r. Webb, l. Bernard /
Scott. and Harry w. Webb. of Baltimore |
This bill is similar 70 the second bill |
though it is more explicit as 10 manner of !
organization and installation of plant.
The fourth bill was introduced by Mr. |
Nudd By request on February 81 Ito in
corporate the Columbia Telephone Com
)any.' The incorporators named are John
D. Langhorne. Orrin G. Staples John W.
Thompson. B. II. Warner. Henry F. Wood
,rd, DR.. John Swope Arthur A. Birney,
George A. Hamilton, Thomas Anderson.
Tohn Cammack, John 4. Baker. Talimadse
\. Lam bert. T. Cushing Daniel. j. f. Kee
yn, W. G. Waggaman, W. s Knox, j. A.
3lundon Robert u. Weaver. George ". |
lisseI. Conway W. Lyme and Thomas Ar
nat of the District of Columbia. This
ill is similar to the first bill, but en-
,odies certain suggestions made by the
members Of the District Committee in the
curse of the several hearings.
The fifth bill was introduced by Repre-
entative Pearre of Maryland on February
8 "to incorporate the Washington Tele-
hone Company" The bill is practically
he same as the others seeking to incor-
orate this company, though SO modified
s presumably to agree with suggestions
lade by the committee during the hear
lgs.