Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-10


of the facts.
WILLIAM PANNILL
Mr.. William Pannill. formerly super
tntendent of Southern States Telephone
Company. said that he is member OF
the Special Telephone Committee of
the Councils, and therefore. does not
consider it proper for him to express
an opinion.
MIR. j. o. REID.
| Mr.. J. Q. Reid is member of the
well-known firm of d. p. Reid & Bro,
OF Al Church street, dealers in hay.
grain and feed, and member of the
Select Council from the Fifth Ward.
His firm uses both the Southern
States and Bell phones. He stated
that he believes maximum rates should
be established by the Councils for the
Bell Company. His firm will not re-
tain the Bell phone at the advanced
rates. that. in the absence OF evidence
to the contrary, appear TO be excessive.
Reid X Bro. do not. however, wish to
nse Il Fell phone or any other phone
n rates that do not pay the companies
Il reasonable return on capital invest
cd What they desire and wish to see
maintained is a good telephone service.
at rates just to the public and the tel
cphone companies.
MIR. ]. ]. O'NEEFE.
MT u. j. ~ fNCclc, lne Well-knOWn
sign manufacturer and n Select Coun-
Gilman from the First Ward. is in favor
OF the Councils fixing maximum rates
for Bell Company service. Such rates
he would have fixed that will be equit-
able to the public and not eXtortionate,
rates that will be fair to company and
its patrons, and that will give the Bell
Company Il reasonable return on its
invested capital.
MIR. y. BEANIAN.
Mr.. n. Beaman said he is a member
of the special telephone committee. He
wishes TO be free from bias when he
considers the subject of telephone
rates Therefore, he prefers not to eN-
press an opinion, because that would
commit him one way or the other. He
declared. however. that the report OF
the committee would go to the bottom
of the matter.
MIR. EDWARD CAMP.
Mr. Edward Camp. member of the
Common Council from the Sixth Ward
strongly favors the establishment of
fixed maximum rates for the Southern
Bell Company-rates that will protect
the public from an eNtortionnte tele-
phone monopoly-yet that will give the
Bell Company IL reasonable profit on
it's lccal service.
IA. to the exact figure of the maxi
mum rates to be established, MIR. Camp
could not speak. in the absence of re-
liable facts and figures on which TO
base calculation and arrive at u just
conclusion.
If the Southern Bell Company refuses
to furnish reliable information. so that
the Councils may act intelligcntly in
fixing maximum rates Mr.. Camp adj
vises that the Councils secure MS much
information relative TO cost of main
tanning telephone service in this city
as can be obtained from other sources.
and proceed To fix equitable rates, be-
yond which the Bell Company shall not
advance.
When the Bell franchise was under
consideration Mr.. Camp did not oppose
the exclusion of the clause providing
for maximum rates for the reason that
at that time the United states Circuit
Court. Judge Goff presiding. had very
recently decided Il case where the city
of Richmond, Va, had endeavored 10
compel the Southern Bell to adhere to
certain maximum limit of rates. in
favor of the Bell Company. Thus it
appeared 10 Mr.. Camp and many
others idle TO insert in the Norfolk
franchise TO the Bell Company a clause
that had been decided to be of no force
or effect.
This decision that we note was. how
ever. subsequently reversed by the
United States Supreme Court and such
clause pronounced to be valid and
binding For this reason Mr.. Camp
now favors the amendment OF the
Southern Bell franchise, and the fixing
for that company of just maximum
rates for business and residence
phones.
MIR. a. NJ. COUSINS.
Mr.. a. NJ. Cousins says he is in favor
of making the telephone rates of the
two companies equal The Bell Tele-
phone Company should comply with its
franchise or the franchise should be
repealed. After hearing a statement OF
Mr.. Camps views. he said that he
agreed with Mr.. Camp. namely, that IL
the Bell Company would not agree to
a maximum limit its franchise should
be repealed.
NJ ]. FRANK EAST
Mr. j. Frank East. president of the
Common Council and representative
from. the Fourth Ward, favors the
fixing by the Councils OF maximum
rates in the Bell Company's franchise.
such rates as viii protect telephone
subscribers from eXtortionate charges;
and yet such rates that will give the
Bell Company a reasonable interest on
its capital invested in its local plant.
Continued on Page 6.