The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-18

laws of South Carolina and more than
twenty other States of the Union 40
grant to every telephone comrany--the
right to carry Its lines from other anu
spread connections into the cities ana
towns. and after these lines are in. to
make them subject to all proper munich
pal regulations and control OF the cities
and towns IS local se.f-goveTnEn"nt. and
power to hold up an enterprise OF State
wide utility ls not self-governme9t. but a
,license to interfere with the orderly
development of the State and Its people
Because the time has long passed when
the telephone was of local use only anu
because the time has come when the te!e-
phone is Of Statewide and nationwide
use and advantage, SO the tine hes como
when the general law of the state deie-
getting the power to each Incorporated
city or town to hold q great and co1npre-
hcnsive system by the threat and prevent
its establishment should be wiped frern
the statute books. The same general
law gives these companies the right to
traverse the country roads of the states,
but stops them at the limits or an IN
corporated town. however small. The CITY
and town has right to control. but not
to exclude
:. II the bill created 4 monopoly I would
not vote for it. II this company enters
every city and town II the Common
wealth. each city and own ses the pow
er. under the law. to license another com
pany or a hundred companies
The Legislature can S-ve as many
similar charters as it sees fit. The LIE
gislature might follow the example OF
New York and other States and enact
general law giving all telephone COM
panies the right to enter cities and towns.
srbiectins them to municipal regulations
afterwards
It is an objection to the present law
giving the cities and towns the right to
admit or keep out telephone companies
at their pleasure that they can create ana
maintain monopoties.
6. Why should any city want more than
reasonable control?
The city has the right to say how the
telephone lines must enter its limits, and
low they must be disposed when they are
once in. It can Indicate the streets to
BE- used the height. size. and kind OF
poles. and whether the wires should DC
above or under the ground.
Should the company deem any regula-
ton unreasonable then the law requires
that the question be submitted to the
court OF the city. Imposing the regulation
co.no!aired OF. and either the company
or the city may appeal TO inc court OF
Appeals of Virginia but nowhere else
!. not only believe that compre-
hensive telephone system, connecting
every CITY and every county with every
othey city and every other county. would
be Of .nestimahle advantage 20 our city.
but it would add largely TO her taxable
values and greatly increase the revenues.
The s1OG.GGO worth of bonds which the bill
provides shall be put up as guarantee
that the system will be extended into
every county in the State in three years
is PROOF positive that Richmond city is
not the sole objective point but a very
important link in the chain OF conlnuni-
cation. believe that such a system VIII
vastly benefit my city. and that under the
proposed charter all OF her rights are
conserved. and therefore will vote for It..
CONWAY r. SANDS.