The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-22

corporation. organized under its laws. to
use the highways of the State subject
TO consent of the different critics. doubt
very much whether the trainers OF THIS
law, some forty odd years ago. contem-
plated that the consent would mean pro-
hibition. That has been the result Of our
attempt to build UP a comprehensive teIe-
phone system in the State OF, Virginia
under the general act.
SIMILAR IN NEW YORK
In New York State, where we have
very extensive system, the general law is
similar to this bill presented here. can
recall no case where any of the companies
that ! have been associated with have
entered any municipality without its con-
sent. AS rule, however, the different
municipalities have passed general IeGu-
lations, providing the manner of the use
Of streets by telephone and telegraph
companies, and have from time to time
changed those regulations to meet exist
ing conditions. The same has been the
case in Missouri. where, under Inc gen
tral law. telephone and telegraph compa-
MES have a right to use the highways
for overhead structures throughout the
State The cities throughout missouri
have passed general regulations. notaply
the city of St Louis. Immediately ai'er
The city of st. Louis adopted regulations
allowing all companies to come in on the
same terms, and fostering the idea that
the streets should be used by any COM
Dany that was engaged In legitimate
telephone and telegraph business. Alter
electric light companies, street railway
companies, telephone and telegraph COM
panies under franchises were granted t1e
right to use the streets Tor oFerheao
structures, that city three or tour years
ago l,hree / think passed general regu-
1ation recurring all those companies to re-
move their poles and wires Ppm me SUI
face of the street and build underground
subways. and made it mandatory. requlr-
Ing the wires within q radius OF pracu-
cally two miles from the City Hail. anu
the posts and poles TO be removed unuer
the statute Of the State providing that
cities had q right to require streets 10 De
used under reasonable regulations. Anu
l wish to say that all telephone teie-
graph and electric light companies are
under ground in that section OF the city
of St Louis. and l know of no company
that objected to placing their wires under
ground as being an unreasonable reSula-
tion. / speak Of st Louis because prac-
tically represented all of the companies III
st. Louis in bringing about the pacing
of This underground system. l want TO
say in connection with this, there was a
telephone company not associated WIN
our interest, the I>inlock Company. the
strongest competing local telephone com
many. know of in the United States. They
Joined with us in this arrangement with
the city. and l understand the matter CT
the use of the streets oe st. Louis mas
been very satisfactorily settled under the
General law authorizing all companies TO
come in
DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
I have heard some suggestion maue DIS
to \ change being made In the statute
owing to the fact that it was an act that
hold the favor OF time. That Is good.
Things that have proven good in the past
should be adhered to: but, when your
statute was passed, the telegraph was me
only think known as means OF electrical
communication. and that statute was
drawn up with the knowledge that the
Legislature of Virginia at that time had
of this subject. Prior TO that there was
no law at all on the subject There was
no law In South Carolina upon this sub
iect whatever until a year ago, therefore,
the statute Of Virginia was framed forty
some wears ago to suit conditions then
existing, and the statute of South caro-
lima was framed last year to suit conul-
tons that now exist, therefore, ue CON
tention that the statute is honored by rea-
son of time is no reason why it should
not be changed as the times change.
also wish to say that the Leslsla-
ture Of New York in 1SiS passed a gene
raj statute. That has been found opera
tive. up TO this time because it was
broader and very few changes have been
made in the New York statute In the
past forty years, except providing Tor
the condemnation of Iprivate property,
which, | think was not properly provided
for in the original act 1t Was PROVIDED
for, but under a system that was no'
considered fair or reasonable at the
present time.
T have no desire for "a moment to trans
,gress upon your time TO clscuss the
questions Of law applicable to this SUP
1ect. but If there is any point that you
would like to ask me about concerning
the telephone business. the objects and
nurnoscs of this company, 1 am at your
service. i wish to say by way OF pa
renthesis, and with some feeling OF mod
esty that ! am the president or the
American Telephone and Telegraph COM
pany of Virginia. hence what say VIII
practically bind that company; therefore.
am here to answer any question you
may ask.
IN MANY STATES.
Chairman Sands: Do you know how
many States this system Of telephones
has been Introduced in?
General Meany: Yes. sir. Practically
all the States north of Mason and Dixon's
line. between the Atlantic ocean and the
Missouri river, east of the Rocky Noun
tains. and in the South developing very
rapidly; in Tennessee, Georgia and ken
lucky; also, in South Carolina And
wish TO say one word further. that mis-
system now connects with four hundred
thousand telephones In tho United States
and operates over a million miles of wire.
Senator Tyler: What has been the
effect of the establishment of this sys-
TEN upon domestic lines?
General Meany: l think it has strength
ened all local companies, having this ad-
ditional facility furnished to their sub
scribers. and think it has made more
valuable the telephone business as
whole.
Senator Flood: What is your connec-
ton with the pending bill or with the
General Meany: Several months ago,
or. in fact, considerably over year ago,
some gentlemen of Virginia called on
me in New York and asked If something
could not be done to extend the Long
Srsfem fhro,,pho,lt the State