Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-09
BELL TELEPHONE RATES MUST STAND.
Councils in Joint Session Decide not to Amend
the Franchise
Strong Speeches by Judge Taylor Mr. Goode Capt Old and
Mr. Tilton-Judge Keeling Reminded the Councilmen Of
Their Oaths-Capt. Old Says Peoples Money Must Not
be Used to Reeoup Corporation Losses

The Common Council met at o'clock
last night, with the following mem
bers present. namely: Messrs. East
chairman: Underdown. Walker. Mayo.
Old. Keeling. Beaman, whitehurst
Pitt. Tunstall. Herman. Camp. DENLY,
Fitzsibbon. Stahl johnson, Tilton,
Hannah. Wise and Ridgewell.
Mr. Camp moved that the Councils
meet in joint session to consider SUBJ
ject to be brought up from Atlantic
City Ward.
Mr.. c. II. Consolvo, vice-president of
the Select Council. took the chair.
There was notification of the resig-
nation Of j. l.. Bunting, of the Local
Board of Atlantic City Ward. and DR..
c. f. Newbill chosen instead. APP
proved.
MIR. Jacobs moved that the commit
tee of the whole meet to consider the
telephone question.
THE ORDINANCE PROPOSED.
Whereas, the City Councils of Nor
folk did in August 1895. grant to w. H.
Brown and j. A. Kelvin and associ-
ates franchise, which said franchise
is now owned and enjoyed by the
Southern States Telephone and Tele-
sCciipiAyf WlcIGlll SdlQ CIV COLI
tracted with said Brown and Kelvin
that in consideration of the payment
annually of per cent. of its gross
earnings, free telephones to public Of
fees and other valuable considerations
that the city of Norfolk would not
grant to any other telephone company
franchise without exacting the same
requirements imposed in the franchise
to said Brown and Kelvin; and,
Whereas in tha franchise frr.o nted m
the said Brown and Kelvin. they were
restricted to maximum charge of 1888
for business telephones and SIS for res
idence telephones; and.
Whereas, to permit the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph Compa-
ny or the American Telephone and
Telegraph Company of Virginia. or any
other telephone company to charge a
higher rate than that eXacted of the
Southern States Telephone and Tele-
graph Company is an impairment of
the obligations of the contract with
said Brown and Kelvin, which said
contract is now in existence wifi the
said Southern States Telephone Com
pany. which is discharging the duties
growing out of said contract, and is
entitled to all of the benefits therefrom
arising; and,
Whereas. the right is specifically re-
served in the franchises of the South
ern Bell Telephone and Telegraph
Company and the American Telephone
and Telegraph Company of Virginia to
amend. alter or repeal the ordinances
in which said franchises are granted;
now, therefore. be it
Resolved That we hereby recon-
mend that section six Of the franchise
of the Southern Bell Telephone and
Telegraph Company be amended so as
to read as follows:
The privileges conferred by this or
dinance are granted upon the condi-
ton that the local exchange telephone
service to be furnished by the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph Com
pany it's successors or assigns, shall
be equal in all respects to the service
furnished by said company in other
cities in the State of Virginia of about
the same population of the city of
Norfolk: provided the cost of the tel
ephone to be rendered by the said
Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph
Company, its successors and assigns,
by authority of this ordinance. shall
not at any time during the term of
this franchise. exceed the annual rate