Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-04
TELEPHONE QUESTION.
Now the Most Prominent Before
Local Business Men.
The Ordinance Under which the Southern
states Telephone Company is Operating
Interview with General Manager Bon
noy, of the Southern States Telephone
Company.

The granting of public franchises is
a matter of great concern that should
be done with the utmost elaboration,
and when granted. the affairs of the
corporations receiving such grants
should, to certain extent, be open to
public knowledge. This would seem to
apply to franchises covering all public
utilities, such as railway and steam
ship service, heating and lighting, and
the means of communication, such as
telephone and telegraph service. The
rights granted belonged to the people,
and the public has continuing inter-
est in protecting itself from the misuse
or illegal use of the rights conferred
by it upon certain individuals. firms.
or corporations.
Many persons in this community now
believe that certain rights granted for
local telephone service are being, or
Will in the near future be, abused. The
telephone rate question has thus be-
come the most important local question
now confronting the people of Norfolk,
Portsmouth, Berkeley and their con-
tiguous section that is reached by the
local telephone service.
Many rumorS are in circulation reia-
tive to the telephone rate matter hence
any information bearing on the present
matter is timely. In order to ascertain
certain facts a Virginian-Pilot repre-
y
questions to Mr.. C. Fred Bonney, gem
eral manager of the Southern States
Telephone Company, and list to MIR.
j. w. Crews. special agent of the
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph
Company.
The following information was cheer
fully given by MIR. Bonney:
Southern States Telephone Company.
observation-disclosures Mandlebaum.
Vice Presidents. IS. Somehow.
Secretary Treasurer-Fred s. AXtell.
General Manager-C. Fred. Bonncy.
Board of DrectorS-S. Mandlebaum,
S. b. Somehow, Henry Bergunder,
James ID. Mason, Chas. l.. Fink. S. q.
Collins, a. IL. Iirise.
Capital stock, 100000. divided into
shares of 500 each.
Date of organization. --. 1895.
Date charter granted in Norfolk, Au-
gust Is. 1895.
Rates first established
Business phones, s3S 1 year; $40 g.
year contract.
Residence phones, s25 year.
On -. 1897. rates changed as fol-
lows:
business phones. $40 year.
Residence phones, SIS n year.
On March, 1900. rates again changed
as follows:
Business phones,
Residence phones. SIS year.
present rates.
BUSINESS phones, sas n year.
Residence phones, SIS a year.
These new rates were established
September /. 1900, to go into effect as
contracts expire.
Has any stock been transferred on
the books in past two years?
None.
SOUTHERN BELL T. & T. co.
Mr.. J. w. Crews was asked to give
the following information relative to
the Southern Bell Telephone and Tele-
graph Company, of which he is the
special agent in this city:
President
Vice President
Secretary.
Treasurer.
General Manager.
Board of Directors.
Capital stock, $......, in shares of
S.. each.
Date or organization.
Date OF franchise given by city OF
Norfolk.
Rates first established:
Business phones.
Residence phones.
on ........ rates changed as fol-
lows:
Business phones.
Residence phones.
Rates effective on and after Novem-
Der /. 1900.
Date company began business in
Norfolk.
Date company began business under
local franchise.
Is Bell Company n local company?
If so, why are its accounts kept In
New York City?
Are it's accounts kept in New York
City?
II IA local company. what does it lease
from outside parties in the way OF
rights patents, etc?
Leased from whom?
[NIr. Crews declined to answer the
uestions.-Editor.1
INTERVIEW WITH MIR. BoNNEY.
When Mr. c. Fred Bonney, general