Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-10
INTERVIEWS ON
TELEPHONE RATES.
Continued from Page I.
MIR. c. PRESTON Denny.

MIR. c. PRESTON DENNY.
MI. Z. Preston DENLY said that he
not peilcve it to be right for him
give an opinion on the question that
ne VIII nave TO consider in Council
ne believes that the Councils will de-
eioe the question right and that we
snat nave good service at reasona-
Bile rates.
MIR. Il. S. FITZGIBBON.
MT. 7. S. Fitzgibbon. the wcll-known
SounciiInan from the First ward. is
strongly opposed to telephone or Other
Hohopoiies, and favors the establish
nient OF fixed maximum rates for the
6eii Company's service-a rate that
Mn W., protect the public from monopolis-
TIC greed and extorTI3n. He has or
dered the Bell phone removed from hi,,
Place or, account of the imposition of n
Idte mat he deems excessive and ok
.ortiohate. He says if the Bell Com
framS San San give telephone service for
iioiii ~ 10 S5O per annum in other Nir-
Sinia clties, he sees no reason why
double this rate should be forced ON
telephone patrons in Norfolk.
MIR. WM. NJ. HANNAH.
Mr. WIN. NJ. Hannah. member of the
monlnon Council from the Second
ware, Is Sratiiied that section was in
serted III the franchise granted the
southern Bell Company. He fayors
the establishment OF reasonable maxi
mum rates by an amendment to the
~, irancnise liking rate that will
NV permit OF eXtortionate charges.
MIR. w. Il. JOHNSON.
Mr. W. r. Johnson, member of the
common Council from the First ward
when asked about maxim um rates Go,.
the Beli Company, said he had but
very recently been elected as a coun-
en- member, and had not given the tel
, Spnone rate matter any thought as yet,
nehce he could not express an opinion
as to what course is advisable in Tho
matter.
MIR. j. V. KIERNAN.
MIR. j. V. Herman. member OF the
Common Council from the Second
ward, said that. being Il member of the
Special Telephone Committee. II is nor
ProPer Tor him TO express an opinion
OH the subject OF the telephone fran
chise ana the proposed action of the
Councils.
MIR. w. II. MAYO.
m, Mr.. w II. Mayo said; III the Fell
Telephone Company is losing money.
II should be able to give the facts and
nSures. II ought 10 show just how
much loss there is and where il occurs.
Shall feel bound to hear the arru
nents on both sides and decide. after
mat, what is best for the pcoDle'; in
terests. There will certainly be no
difficulty in making the company do
what Is right" He Will agree TO re-
peal the franchise of the Bell Company
IL IL VIII not comply with the fran
chiSe.
MIR. w. w. OLD.
Mr.. w. w. old. of the Law. firm of
Wake & Old, and member. of The com
mon Council from the Third Ward ns a
general principal favors the establish
ment OF maximum rates. lie stated
mat he had not investigated the cir
cumstances in the present matter. bur
that he supposed all OF the facts bear
ing on local telephone rates would be
obtained by the telephone committee
and presented to the Councils to the
end That intelligent action may be
public.
MIR. J. 0. PITT.
Mr.. j. Q. Pitt the well-known grocer
at the corner of Cove and Chanel
streets. and member of the Common
Council from the Third Ward, stated
that he believes that maximum rates
should be fixed by the Councils for the
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph
Company. AS to what these maximum
rates should be he was not prepared to
state.
MIR. j "A. RIlOGEWELL.
Mr.. j. \. Ridgeweli. who is member
OF the Common Council from the First
Ward, expressed the view that The
Councils should take some action look
ing to fixing maximum rates for the
Be!l Company In order to protect users
OF telephone service. He hopes to see
rates fixed that will be equitable 10 ali
parties concerned. He is Interested in
the matter as citizen. as a Council
man, whose duty it is to guard the in
terests OF his constituents, and as n
patron OF the Bell Company. since he
has II Bell phone at his house and
office.
MIR. a. STAHL.
Mr. A. Stahi the decorator. who IS n
the First Ward. favors the establish
ment OF maximum rates for the South
ern Bell Company such rates TO be
equitable TO the public and not eXtor-
Tomato.
MIR. !. LEE SENECA
MIR. j. Lee Seneca, member of the
Common Council. is serving his third
term as a member from the First
Ward. He is conversant with the tclc-
phone history because he was a mem
Der of the ordinance committee con-
sisting of Messrs. j. Lee Seneca, John
l.. Farant and w. l.. Williams. which
proposed the first franchise for the
Southern Bell Telephone Company
That was the Council which succeeded
the Prohibition Council.
MIR. Seneca says that the mdioriiB Of
his committee rcporicd an ordinance f,ipg
minimum and mdrimHnl rates There was
minority report offered by Mir. Viii
liams.
The franchise rs GgrccG on ,rdS mt into
The hands of the ctr attorney. VIZ. W. II.
Taylor. for examination and rcriSiom. Pend
ing that work Il ease involving a tele-
phone franchise came up in Richmond
before Judge Golf AS the case was
similar to the one that might arise here.
the Ctr attorney udriscd The Councils 10
deter action on The franchise TN Ju,jgc Go0
rendered u decision ia the case pcadiHg be-
fore him.
In acting on mat Gdricc he franchise rdS
dcfcrrcd til The term Of that Council cr-
flrLL Illiril.. he Of