The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-14
THE TELEPHONE Case
A Fund Raised TO Appeal From
Justice Barnard's Decision.
Twelve Hundred Dollars Subscribed
at N Mass Meeting to Pay Legal En-
pepses--The Supreme Court VIII he
Asked TO sJiudicntc the Peoples
Rights - Those Who Contributed.


in the fight for cheaper telephone service
which has been carried on by the WASH
ington Telephone Subscribers Association
was held under the auspices of that associa-
ton in the large banquet hall OF the Ma
tional Hotel last night. Plans Tor the
future of the association and the prosecu-
ton of the principle for which they nave
been fighting so long were discussed, ana
when the matter of securing means 10
carry on the litigation against the present
telephone company was preached the GU
zens went into their pockets and Nleo win
each other. subscribing until the sum OF
81 200 was raised in the course OF haf IN
hour 1t is probable that there never mas
been SO enthusiastic response TO a cali
for money was evidenced by the gene
rosity of the members of the association
and their guests at the meeting last night
The secretary could not write the names
as fast as they were presented with sub
scriptions.
The meeting was called TO order by
President Staples at s o'clock The nail
was well filled with the guests and mem
bers when order was established. MT.
Staples stated that the meeting was held
in response to a call from the ASSOCIATION.
II was mass meeting of the citizens OF
the District. and in no way meeting Oh
the association. The members Of the
organization realized that there were
number of people in the District who we're
interested in the telephone litigation that
has been carried on, but who were not
members of the association. The eNecu-
tive committee had therefore adopted
plan presented TO them for mass meeting
of all citizens to hear report of what had
been done in the interests of the people
against the telephone monopoly.
Chairman Thomas W. Smith, of the Ex-
ecuLive Committee, was then called upon
TO report The result of his Investigations.
Mr. Smith stated that the committee had
met in pursuance of motion adopted at
the last meeting Of the association TO for
mulate plan for carrying on the war with
the telephone company and securing just
rate of tolls. He said that the report OF
the committee was in The form OF reso-
tuition, which he presented. The resolu-
lion provided that the citizens of Wash
ington should continue the fight against
the telephone monopoly even II II was
necessary TO carry 1t TO the Supreme Court
of the United States, that every citizen
should make II point 10 do ali he could
for the benefit of the subscribers. 1t
further provided that the members of the
Telephone Subscribers Association and the
citizens of the District should give active
support to the proposition Of the Washing
ton Telegraph and Telephone Company,
which is seeking to obtain a charter 10 do
business in the District
When the resolution had been read A. A
Birney was introduced to the assemblage
as the attorney who had fought for the
right of the people.
There are two ways In which 10 fight
this monopoly" he said. There are two
.~-r,s L.. ~ aD,.1A ..h+ 2fv
their rights Both of these propositions
can be adopted and carried TO successful
end The first is TO carry on the litiga-
ton To take 1t to an upper court i am
sure we can get the decision Of Justice
Barnard reversed in the Court Of Appeals,
and If we fail there. l am morally certain
the United States Supreme Court will never
sustain 1T. That is the first way.
THE other method is to encourage COM
petition. To do this II will be necessary
10 endorse the proposition of the Wash
ington Telegraph and Telephone Company,
which. / understand, is a good one"
Chairman Staples then called for other
opinions of the action of the executive
committee. Conrad H. Syme responded to
the call with an amendment TO the resolu-
ton offered by Mr.. Smith. He said that
there we're other corporations who wanted
10 enter the city and who desired TO Of
fer Inducements to subscribers The ex-
ecutfve committee had recommended one
company but IT was the opinion of the
speaker that all of the concerns should be
heard from. He. therefore, requested that
the resolution be amended so that a COM
mittee of five should be appointed to ex-
anime the status OF the various concerns
that desire a franchise in the District for
the purpose Of carrying on business as
telephone companies and TO report to the
president of the association.
This resolution was seconded by Samuel
c. Palmer and was accepted by Mr.. Smith
Mr. Daniels. the attorney for a company
known as the Columbia Telephone Com
pany. composed of local busin ess men, then
endorsed the stand taken by Mr.. Syme,
and requested that the interests of the
Columbia Company receive some consid-
Grafton by the meeting.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Daniels adj
dress. john Miller stated that he did not
see why another committee should be ap-
pointed TO examine the interests Of the
various concerns that had applied for char
ter. The executive committee was origi-
naIly appointed to investigate the tele-
phone. and they had done so and reported.
This sentiment was endorsed by George
A. King and several OF the members OF
the association. When II was put before
the meeting it was voted down. The reso-
luton presented by MIR. Smith was then
placed before the meeting and was adopted
unanimously.
President Staples then said that 1t would
be necessary 20 have funds 70 carry on the
litigation.
George A. King then made an address to
the members, calling on them TO subscribe
in whatever amounts they chose.
Then the subscribing began. John Miller
headed the list with $50, and Mr.. Staples
followed s,,it Several others subscribed
$50 also. Toward the end Of the subscrib-
ing when IL became evident that there
was going to be over the amount called
for Mr.. Staples and MIR. Ross doubled their
subscriptions. and the Washington Tele-
graph and Telephone Company subscribed
500.
when the subscriptions were all In ]. T.
Coleman offered a resolution thanking the
newspapers for the support they had given
the association in its fight, which was
unanimously adopted.
committee OF ten was appointed 10 walt
on the District Committees of the House
and Senate to urge the passage of the
bill granting charter TO the new COM
pany.
After several matters OF minor nature
had been disposed of the meeting was ad-
journed The complete list OF subscribers.
together with the amounts they subscribed
TO help fight the telephone monopoly, is as
follows:
Washington Telephone Company. 500: o. G.
Staples. sl00; r. W. Smith. $50; John Miller, $50;
William Ross, 500: Birney Woodward. $50;
George A. King. $50; W. W. DanenhoWer, s25;
Collins & Geddis. SIS; Conrad syme. s25 ]. f.
Maury & Co.. SIS; Patsy Mann, SIS; Hogc &
Brother. s25; $. {. Palmer, SOS; Tyler a. Ruth
erford. ss5; Y. Baldwin johnson. ss5 Frank E.
Hopkins. SIS: ". Dyreniorih. s25; Clark Broth
T,urfk "a SOS. Henderson i Sons 4