The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-01

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not think Mr.. Glass a wise ,leader to
follow.
With reference to the rates. Mr.. Sands
said that Mr.. Glass had no settled views.
FOR Tuesday morning he proposed to
make the maximum rate $40 per month,
and in the same afternoon he had chang
ed II to $35
TILE CITY COUNCIL.
Mr.. Sands said he believed the people
OF Richmond were behind this measure.
He recognized the fact that the City
Council had asked him to vote against
the bill. But the counc!lmen were amen
able to the same people as himself He
believed the time would come when all
would be willing to admit that this was
a wise and a good measure.
The Senator had never known in any
other private bill an attempt to be made
to fix rates.
Ee could see very well why there should
be a minimum rate That would be to
keep this company from crushing out
infant telephone companies. But there
was no reason for endangerns the sue
cess Of a great public enterprise by
fixing maximum rates.
Senator Stands said he thought this a
bill that affects every part of the State.
As sort of prelude to his remarks. Mr..
Stands paid 4 very pretty tribute to Sena-
tor Glass. He argued that this was a
dangerous measure and one that ought
to be defeated unless properly amend
cd He was heartily in favor Of
prescribing maximum rates. His people
did not want this great monopoly turred
loose, but the cities and towns desired
II be kept in a POSITION to check this
monster whenever necessary.
Senator Glass said he felt that he would
be recreant to his duty did he not use
every cndeayor and fair fundamentally
to defeat this most dangerous measure.
He felt it his duty to stay up late at night
and TO rise by, daybrcak in order to fight
this bill.
THE RATES.
In response to the suggestion that 1t
would be sufficient for the Legislature
to reserve the right to fix the rates here
after Mr. Glass. said this would be to
surrender the fight right away Such an
ordeal as fixing the rates after the COM
pany IS once intrenched, de said, would
be terrific. The company would fight it
with all the power it might bring to bear.
The ablest and most skilled attorney of
the company, in discussing this point be-
edly said the Legislature might fix rates:
but when this suggestion was accepted
by the opposing lawyer, he instantly said
that he had not intended to say the Leg
1slature might fix rates for this company
in its charter, but merely that the Gene
raj Assembly might reserve the power to
fix rates. And, that said Mr.. Glass, IS
the very thing we don't want. We want
to fix them now and here, so there can be
no mistake about it hereafter.
Mr.. Glass admitted that his side had
been tripped on the day before and had
adopted an amendment, which ought to
have been rejected He appealed to the
Senate to regain the lost position.
Mr.. Glass. replying to mir. Sands asser-
ton that the statute that has been on
the books for fifty years is unconstitu-
tional said if this were true ii was
strange that the company should want
this act passed. 1t could go right along
and construct its lines in cities and
towns without the permission of the 10
cal councils.
ARRAIGNED THE BELL
The Senator from Lynchburg read an
article printed in the New York CONNER
cial Which severely arraigned the Bell
Company.
The sum and substance Of the article
Was lldl lIle 1osi COIpallS WdS al oSs-he
and paid no attention to public opinion.
trusting to its ability to secure legisla-
ton in order to cary out its purposes.
Mr. Glass, in .ep,y to what General
Ncany had said about the CITY OF rreu-
ericksburg. repeating an ordinance grant
ing the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company the right to enter
that city. Mr.. Glass had investigated and
ascertained that this action was because
the company wanted to destroy implr-
tant certain public works in Ffederlcks-
burg
Mr.. Glass was replied to by r-F!ood.
who argued ably against the imposition
of maximum rates. He said this would
not be according to business principles
and capital could not be induced TO in
vest.
Mr.. Flood did not see how this COM
pany could be characterized as an out
rasreous monopoly. a telephone COM
pany must naturally be monopoly in
order to render the best service. he
wanted to know why the railroads ina
are rendering excellent service are not
called monopolies and why there was
no effort TO fix rates for them ms
telephone company would be of more
value TO the people than any OIL these
great railroad corporations.
MOULD DEFEAT SCHEME.
The Senator from APpornattoN said ne
had been assured that the gentlemen be
hind this bill would not seek to finance
this scheme If maximum rates be imposed
The question came up on Senator Jef-
fries substitute for the Glass amend
ment, This substitute reserved to the
Legislature the right to fix rates. II
Was defeated by the following vote:
Aycs-Senators, Dinwidd:e. Denohoe,
Flood, Johnston, Lupton. Lyle, Mann,
Massie, Sands, Steele. and WallaceI1.
Noes-Senators Barksdale, Blakey,
Bruce. Cogbil. EgSleston. Foster. Glass
Keezell, LIE Cato. Morris. Opie. Stands,
St Clair. Walker. Watkins and Wick
ham-l6.
The following pairs were announced
the first named in each instance be.
tnr IN favor of the s1bstit,rte: MeSsrS