Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-24
BUSINESS QUESTIONS
IGNORED.
Continued from Page 8.

franchise. 1t had what was consid-
cred sufficient legal authority.
ne gave history of the telephone
The Southern States asked for the
maximum rate
he said that franchise is not con-
tract. One Council cannot bind another
council. He said that maximum rate
wus not plnding. The $4,000 bond was
NO MORALS IN 1T.
me two companies are not in COL
morals, this Council cannot act ON this
question without making q criticism on
the previous Council.
FAVOR DONE.
We have done the Southern States n
favor by jumping our rates 100 per
cent. People will not pay $50 for a SER
vice 1nat they can get for s3s. Both
money. We can't stay here and make
money at the S3S rate. Those who use
the phone most should pay most for 1t.
II would be wrong to charge one man
SoO when he used the phone less than
another man who pays the same
lie deprecated the threat of mopop-
oily. The prices can be put to limited
rate only. There will be no users IL the
rate be too high.
OTHER CITIES RATES.
The difference in the rates of other
cities is because the service is different.
The company has lost over $4,000 u
year. There is no water In the stock
We have been doing business at n
loss. The Bell phone comes out frank
ly and increases it's rates.
GO TO THE BOOKS.
Southern Bell offered to throw open
their books in New York to see If the
company has not made a loss ever
since 1t has been doing business here.
If the Council has a right to do any
thing now it will have the right to do
the same thing twelve months from
now. 1t is not we'll to do something
on apprehension rather than wait for
reality. Don't ask for a maximum
too high the matter will adjust itself.
The company which charges too much
Will go out of business.
We can't hurt the Southern States
by charging more. If the services are
restricted so that one is better the citi-
zens will take one and refuse the other.
NO MONOPOLY HERE.
monopoly. II the other company is
giving good service at one-half the
rate 1t will get the business.
The Bell Company could not have
gotten money IL it had been restricted
to less rate than that at which it
SOuiN iiioilCSs
a PLAIN CONTRACT
Mr.. Goode said when you reflect and
remember the interest with which your
conduct is watched, you must take Il
serious view of this subject. The Coun-
ellis entered into q plain contract with
the Southern States Company.
That was a contract pure and simple,
with n bond to bind 1t. The Councils
did not mean to protect telephone
companies. but to protect the COM
munity against eXtortionate charges. 1
can't conceive how the committee can
refrain from limiting the rate of the
Southern Bell telephone. The bargain
was made to protect the citizens.
SOUTHERN STATES ABSENT.
Mr.. Beaman said the Southern States
had not appeared here when invited.
II it objected to the rates under which
1t is doing business.
The manager of the Virginian-P
stated that the Southern States, al
though 1t has a contract, sits down
quietly and lets another company come
here and do the same business on bet
ter terms without protesting. That is
no rivalry. Allow n competitor to take
business and still claim to be q COM
petitor!
CREATING A CONDITION.
The Southern Bell has been creating
its own wrong doing. These COM
panies are all the children of the
American Bell telephone. They violate
the law to lose money and then double
their rates.
1t is not a question whether the
Southern Bell is making money or not.
The contract says that there shall not
be higher rate than S3S That is n
contract The city should offer to raise
the rates of the Southern States to $40.
then they can fix the rates so that both
companies can do business on equal
terms.
CAN SUE THE CITY.
If the Southern States Company
chooses to object the Southern Bell could
not charge more than S3S. If rates are
high. like taxes, they were sure to keen
people out of Norfolk who would come
here to settle. There will be a suit
against the city. brought by the minor
ity stockholders of the Southern States
who will be able to sue for $50, 600
$4,000 would be paid by the Southern
Bells bond and 100000 by the city
The committee should recommend
that the city Councils do it's plain duty
and enforce it's contract.
AT o'clock the committee adjourned
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Y. M. c. a. Gymnasium Notes.