The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-15
Cities and towns only have that control
when it. is delegated to them by the

when it IS delegated 10 them by the
Legislature.
The present general law requires the
telephone companies TO ootain the con-
sent of the city or toxin authorities be-
fore an entrance can be made into an in
corporated town. This bill proposes to
change this general law in that respect,
and why? When the law was enacted
telephones were purely local in extent
and service They were confined to the
cities and towns which gave them the
right of existence, because sound could
be conveyed only short distance. Since
that time a development of the invention
has made this means Of communicate ton,
which was at first local and circum-
scribed, public and far-reachinG SER
rated communities, giving to constantly
increasing groups a method of easy.
cheap and satisfactory communication.
1t is perfectly manifest, then that a
great public work affecting all the people
of Virginia in their relation to each other,
ard to extra State interests could not be.
fitted by legislative clothes intended for
its early and purely local infancy
Now how does this condition affect the
contention that cities and towns can t
govern themselves unless they are clothed
With power to prevent a great pubic
work from doing service to the general
public. the inhabitants of the counties
and other cites? The right Of :self-gov-
ernrnent is "a right to regulate your own
affairs, not a privilege to. regulate the
affairs of other people.
comprehensive telephone system,
such as this bill contenlpiates. would
serve not only the people of Richmond.
Iynchburg and Staurrton, but the people
of every other city and every town IN
the State.
These cities would only be units in
great aggregation, the individuals OF
which have everywhere constant necessl-
ties for quick and satisfactory commune
cation. Now. if the people of the counties
or of the cities want this communication
established between themselves anu
I,ynchbur, or Richmond, how can Lynch
burg or Richmond say the principle
Of local self-government gives them a
right to meet this public and State en-
terprise at their gates and intecdlct It's
entrance into their limits, thus destroy
ing general and public facilities which all
the people have a right to- This lnterdlct
which they insist upon, when applied TO
a far-reaching work Of public and general
necessity. is not self-government ttut the
government of the great outside public
by one city or town and an unwarrans-
able interference with the rights of the
State and the general community But
they say we don't propose to keep any
body out. Then why any, objection? Wl!i
any of the opponents OF the measure al
nit that they intend to impose unrea-
sonab,e regulations upon any telephone
company which of honest purpose bids
for public service?
Then, as the bill provides for reason
able regulations, of what can they COM
plain?
If any difference arises between these
cities or towns and the telephone COM
pany as to the reasonab!eness OF any
regulation, who decides the issue? Iae
court of the city endeavoring to I'M
pose such regulations. Is LynchburS or
Richmond or Staunton afraid of its own
courts? Are they afraid to submit the
actions of their corporate authorities 20
the same tribunals which determine ana
conserve the rights Of their citizens!
This bill does not ask q monopoly. us
corporators are willing. and the Legs
ature has the power. to grant any mum
Der of charters with Identical powers. l..
only asks that an effort to give to ali
the people of Virginia the benefits OF q
comprehensive telephone service SHAH not
be frustrated by the 5interdict OF any com
munfty which denies right of entry ana
thus breaks and destroys the. continu ,t
of its lines and its power to serve Ine
people. RICHARD 70 p I NJ. E
& Richmond, Va, February II, lsoo-