Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-19

at once amend the Southern Bell and
American Telephone and Telegraph
Company franchises by fixing therein q
maximum rate OF s3S per nnnum for
local business phones, according to the
agreement between the city of Norfolk
and the Southern States Telephone
Company.
II have ordered the Bell phone out
of my Office"
MIR. GEO. II. DAWES.
Mr. Geo. II. Dawes, from It's incep-
ton. strongly opposed the granting OF
a franchise TO the Southern Bell Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company, unless
it contained the same maximum limit
as is prescribed in the franchise to the
Southern States Telephone Company
He also favors reasonable minimum
rate for all telephone companies doing
business here.
When the Councils passed the pres
ent illegal franchise to the Southern
Bell Company he ordered out his Bell
phone and has kept it out of his office.
He believes that the Councils should at
once conform to the agreement with
the Southern States Telephone Com
pany and amend both the Southern
Bell and American Telephone and Tele-
graph Companies franchises by the in
sertion therein of maximum limit of
s3S on local business phones.
WILLIAMS BROS.
Williams Bros. composed of Messrs
Chas. II. and G.. D. Williams, wholesale
produce dealers. have ordered out their
Bell phone. They believe that the
Councils should act at once and down
the telephone monopoly that seems to
be fastening it's grip on this city and
section.
They believe. like many other bust
ness men, that they can get along with
out the Bell phone. They think that
maximum and minimum rates. such as
s3S and s25 for business and residence
phones. should be fixed by the Councils
for all telephone companies doing bust
ness here, now, or in the future. The
lmperious manner in which the Bell
Company doubled it's rates on business
phones and the inactivity of the South
ern states Company. leads them to be-
lieve that telephone competition is at
an end here for the present. and that
the matter is up to the Councils to give
relief to our citizens.
CAPT. w. w. DEFY.
Capt. w. w. Dey, Commissioner OF
Revenue. says he believes in making
a maximum rate for the Southern Rel
Telephone and American Telephone
and Telegraph Companies. If the COM
pany does not comply with the fran
chise, repeal it and don't waste any
time about it.
MIR. It. H. SYNON.
Mr. 7. II. Synon favors the estab-
lishment of reasonable maximum and
minimum rates that shall apply equal
~ and alike to all companies furnish
ing local telephone service here He
was not prepared to say what figures
would be right. but thought that Could
be readily determined.
MIR. c. BILLUPS.
Mr.. c. Billups, in answer to request
Tor his views on the talpnbOna ftuoe
ton. said:
II have observed, to some extent. the
views of the Virginian-Pilot with re-
ference to the recent propositions on
the part of the telephone companies
toward an increase in their rates,
though 1 am not as fully acquainted
with all the facts, pro and con. as l
would like to he. But as the matter of
rates and changes in the franchises is
up for consideration and action ]
consider 1t highly proper and inn
portant that our Councils should now
guard this community against excrs-
sive charges in the future. 1t is with
in our power TO impose proper restri..-
tons now. and failure to do it will be
little short of a crime. The aggrega-
ton of people at this point offers op-
portunities and advantages to tele-
phone- and 1aiegraph companies for
money-making. Their poles, wires
&C.. however set. strung or laid. bring
their inconvenience as we'll as adj
vantages. In the very nature OF the
case competition in such service is
limited. and combination for eXtortion
is easy If not entirely likely. so there
is no reason upon earth why they
should not be restricted as to rates l
have no hostility whatever against
such companies. believe in being
reasonable, entirely So but we all
know the tendency of monopolias, and
stitch in time is now Imperative, and
1t can be taken in justice to the pub
lie and without v'ronging the Conlpa-
MES in question:
MIR. d. S. BURWELL.
Mr.. d. S. Burweli is secretary and
treasurer of the Albemarlc and Chesa-
peake Canal Company. He said the
City Councils should fix q maximum
and minimum rate on which tele-
phone companies may do business here
and compel them to comply with the
rates. Speaking of the subject of ex-
aiming the books to learn whether the
telephone companies were making
money or not, he said that is almost
ridiculous proposition.
The capital stock can be placed so
high that n stock, which. say, pays a
10 per cent. dividend can be so increas-
ed so as to pay only 2 per cent In
fact, accounts can be so manipulated
by skillful accountants that only the
most thorough investigation Of experts
will reveal anything of value to the
citizens. He believes that the City
Councils should deal with the telephone
companies sternly. That is the Coun-
ellis should invite them to agree to a
fair and equal rate and if they don't
do that the Councils should fix rates
that the citizens can pay.
MIR. a. BRINKLEY.
Mr.. A. Brinkley, wholesale grocer
said he intended to order the Bell
1t ,<1a
phone came he agreed to take II be-
cause the two cost $50. the rate of one
before. He did not need the second
phone. but took it as protest against