Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-10
FAVORABLE REPORT.
District Committee Approves Charte
ing Washington Telephone Comnan

District Committee Approyes Cb..ter-
ing Washington Telephone Company.
Mr.. Pearre of Maryland submitted to the
House today the report of the District COM
| mfttee on the bill to authorize the Wash
| ington Telephone Company to operate a.
| telephone plant in this city. The report
says:
The purpose of this bill is to secure
cheaper telephone rates for the citizens of
washington and is the result of long-con-
tinued effort of its citizens in that direction.
For some years there has been much agfta-
ton Of the subject of cheaper telephone
rates, which eliminated in an amendment
TO the appropriation bill providing for the
expenses OF the government of the District
OF Columbia and passed at the second ses-
sion of the Fifty-ifth Congress
rms amendment undertook to fix a limit
ior telephone rates in the District of Column
bla at 500, with graded service An at
Tempt 10 enforce this law resulted in the
equity suit of James S. Manning and Others
vs.. the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company, No 1888, in the Supreme Court
OF the District of Columbia, in which the
amendment was held to be Unconstitutional
and void in February Of this year
The lncorporators named in this bill
presented their proposition to the commit
tee in the early days of the present session
and the committee has carefully heard their
representatives and the Representatives of
others with propositions somewhat similar
IN character These hearings have been ex-
haustVe, and the committee after sug-
gesting numerous amendments to the orig
maj bill designed for the protection of the
citizens and the securing of their rights, re-
ports the pending measure. This bill is
indorsed by the board of Commissioners of
the District of Columbia, by the Rrightwood
Avenue Citizens Association the George
town Citizens Association, the Columbia
Heights Citizens Association the Business
Mems Association of Washington with a
membership or $40, and by the Telephone
Subscribers Association, composed of 500
members.
1T will be observed that the Conn,js
soners of the District have the right TO
prescribe the conditions and regulations
,rI uiider whlcn aii conduits provided in the
bill may be laid, and that the same shall
De Planned and constructed so as to form
part of the general subway system
which the Commissioners are authorized to
prepare. ~
THE fncorporators are prohibited from
selling the charter or franchise under pen-
atty of forfeiture. The company. when or
eanized, is restricted in the sale of its
property and franchises by a provision of
the act subjecting the purchasers to ali its
restrictions and liabilities and by the imno-
sltion upon their other properties of all tbe
restrictions, liabilities and penalties of this
act. ~
This bill limits telephone rates in the
plstrlct to $36 for residences and s4S for
business houses The present rate of tele-
phone service is $40 for residences and
Sizo Tor business houses, for the metallic
circuit, with additional charges beyond a
limit of mile from the center office. The
bill requires a metallic circuit"
Accompanying the report are the resolu-
uons of Endorsement of the several citizens
and business mems associations referred to
above ~
The bill will be placed on the calendar Of
me Rouse today end will be called up fer
consideration upon the next District day
Next Monday will be District day under the
rules, but AS the main part of the afternoon
VIII be occupied by a contested election
case 1t is probable that Chairman Rabcock
may ask for another day, if he finds the
remaining time is too short for the consid-
Grafton of the business In hand.