The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-28
THE TELEPHONE
BILL DEBATED
Continued from First Pagc.)

phones. be rated as against the city OF
LynchburG? How could a minimum OF
maximum rate be fixed under such con-
ditions? Why should the Senate of Vir-
Ginit attempt to do something Of which
1t knew nothing?
The substitute offered by the Senator
from Culpeper, which gave the Legislature
of Virginia the power of any time in the
future to fix the rates of the company,
was good one. No rates can be fixed
at this time. The matter should be inves-
tigated after the concern has started ope-
rations. The books. the officers of the
company and its employees should be ex-
anined, and then the "a tie could be fixed.
AS far as ,the Bell Telephone Company
is concerned, of which so much has been
said here Senator Flood said that COM
pany had probably done a great many
questionable things, but that when those
things had been done the company was
under different management from that
| now governing 1t.
This company proposes TO connect every
town. city, county seat and maSiSterla!
district in this State. so who can tell what
| n proper and equitable rate will be at TINS
time?
This company proposes to revolutionlze
the methods Of conducting business, said
Mr. Flood. Men all over the State, business
men in all classes will be placed within Il
few minutes reach Of each other Instead
of depending upon the slow mails to dis
cuss business matters, the telephone viii
be utilized
| The speaker cited the large amount OF
income that the franchise would put into
the State treasury in the way of taxes and
licenses, and the State would sacrifice
nothing.
CITY COUNCILS, NAY!
The question was put the speaker as
to whether he would agree to place the
matter in the hands of the various City
Councils
..If YOU will do that said the Senator
from Petersburg 1--WE Will vote for every
thing else in the franchise.
A number of other senators agreed with
Me- MAYNARD.
'.Will Aou do ttlat?' asked Senator Glass
Il will not replied Senator Flood.
After further discussion and an appeal
to the Senate to treat the matter Win al
fairness. the Senator closed.
Senator Glass replied along the line OF
monopoly. He declared that reasonable
rates could only he secured where there
was opposition. and Just as soon as OPP
position disappeared rates would go up
If the Senate does not kno"- what lalr
rates are doesn't the Bell Telephone
Company know? Their rates are very
much less than ordinary rates. as long
as there is opposition. When opposition
ceases tribute will be paid by the public
In Petersburg. whore the former charge
was SCH it is now SIG and SIS.
We NAV not known how to fix rates
scientifically. said the Senator, but we
may take the system of the Bell Company
and arrange it through that system.
The county will have all the telephone
communication it will get whether this
bill passes or not, unless this maximum
and minimum rate is adopted.
He meant no reflection upon the gentle
men in this company. but these Virginia
incorporators will not have as much to
do with this company six months after
the charter is adopted, he said, IS the
proverbial fly on the chariot wheel had
with raising the dust. The man that votes
for this bill without this amendment will
live to regret it.
Senator Tyler spoke next He was not
IN favor of tha bill at first, and thought
that restrictions should be thrown around
1t. He felt that the county places should
be in telephone communication. He had
no desire to hunt up arguments that
might be brought up against it, but did
want to hear arguments in its favor
He favored the bill. and believed that a
great telephone line Of commun!ca ton
would within three years spread through
OUT Virginia. County telephone commu-
nlcation will be OF great benefit to ALL
A little pleasantly crept into the dis
cussion at this point. when Mr.. Tyler
referred to the personality of Mr.. Glass
in the whole discussion.
You have protruded my personality,
said Nlr Glass, II have not
You cannot help it, replied Mr..
Tyler, .for your personality is so
strong And there was considerable ap-
plause from the floor and the gallery,
complimentary to Mr.. Glass.
Mt. Tyler hoped the fixing Of raNes
would be left for some future time,
when the Legislature would be in better
position to fix equitable rates.
MIR. Opie said he heard Democratic
Senators, forsooth, demanding special
privileges for a corporation, and he
wanted TO know why this corporation did
not receive the same attention that other
CORPORATIONS in the State receive.
we should foster and take care of our
loca! enterprises and not cripple them.
Who has asked its special action? Has
anv demand been made by the people?
On the other hand, mass meetings have
been held at various places in this State,
at which the people have asked the
Legislature to defeat this Outrageous
measure"
II wouldn't vote for this bill under any
circumstances" said Senator Opie, tand
| hope this amendment will prevail, al
though 1 shant vote for the measure. =
Senator Morris followed in opposition
TO the measure and in favor Of the
amendment. He said he didn't believe
the farmers wanted the phones at the
prices that are paid for long distance
messages What Virginia wanted. said
the Senator, is the development of local
exchanges. In his county there was a
local Telephone exchange that covered
the county.
we have data upon which to fix a
| maximum We know what the Bel
Company charged when it held mo.op-
oily. and we know what it charges now
That's data enough.
The cities must regulate their own
streets. and that's why we have been
working against this bill. II they are
to get this charter 1t should be given
in justice TO the people Of the State.
we have the octopus in our mower. lie,
us treat it as It should be treated.
a motion was made to adjourn at $50
o'clock. and by "a vote OF IS to Is the
Senate adjourned until this morning a:
l