Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-11
TELEPHONE MEETING.
Attorney Wilcox Asked for An.
other Meeting.
But Will Send Representative Here to
Answer Questions Star Chamber Meet
ing Not Endorsed.

At meeting of the Special Telephone
Committee of Councils held at 80 yes
tcrday afternoon the following members
were present: MesSrs. ]. 6. Titon.
chairman: Pannill. Beaman and Obern-
dorfer Mr.. Herman was not able to
attend.
After stating the object of the meet
ing. namely, committee of the Coun-
ellis to enquire into the increase of the
telephone charges here by the Southern
Bell Telephone Company, the series of
questions were read that had been ar
ranged at Il former meeting to be sent
to the company for answers.
Judge Thomas II. Wilcox. attorney
for the Bell Telephone Company. said
the questions had not been sent to him.
but he understood that they had been
sent to New York. He suggested that
the committee send in invitations TO the
Bell Company TO send a representative
here. The company doesn't wish to
put a statement in writing.
lie said that the Bell Company would
send Il man here who is thoroughly ac-
quainted with all the details. and who
can give the committee answers to all
the questions they ask and tell them
many other things. He asked that the
committee adjourn to meet at another
time.
Mr. Goode asked If the Southern Bell
Company knew Oh lHlS llcetlnP.
Mr.. Wilcox said he declined to an
swer the question till he knew who MIR.
Goode represented.
Mr.. Goode said his firm. Goode &
Taylor. represented citizens of Nor
folk.
Judge wilcox admitted that the Bell
Company did know OF the meeting. and
that he had communicated with the
company by long distance telephone
yesterday.
MIR. Taylor asked Mr.. Wilcox If this
is a refusal to answer the questions.
The reply was that 1t was not, de-
spite the fact that the questions had
been sent n month ago. And the rea-
son was that the questions were such
as the company did not wish published
To the world.
Mr.. Pannil said he would prefer n
personal representative from the COM
pany.
Mr.. Taylor said that there should be
statement of facts on which this
committee could base a report to the
Councils.
MIR. Wilcox said that 1t should not
require longer than a week to have the
questions answered by personal rep
resentative. Some of the questions
could not he answered satisfactorily in
writing, hence Il representative would
be preferable.
Mr.. Tilton said he would like to know
~
| much lower than they are hcre-would
like to hear a representative who is so
convcrsant with the subject that he
can explain the differences.
Mr.. Wilcox said there was n great
discrepancy between the published
rates and the actual rates. The rates
for Richmond We're published as $3.50,
hut customers We're subscribing freely
for y So service
Mr.. r.. Henry Jones said that the
| committee of the Board of Trade had
procured telephone rates from the
mayors and auditors of various cities.
| The committee had based its report on
these figures. The Southern Bell Com
pany did not give any information to
| the committee.
Mr. Williams spoke of testimony. Mr.
Jones said there was no testimony.
! Mr.. Oberndorfer asked that the
Touthern States Telephone Company
be notified of the next meeting.
Then there was desultory discussion
IF the question of closed or open meet
ngs
| The majority of the committee con
tended that these We're questions OF a
| private business character which ne
company would like TO spread to the
| world.
| Mr.. Taylor contended that the Coun-
| ellis must have the same information
! or evidence that the committee obtain
| ed. unless the Councils We're expected
simply TO hinGly accept the report OF
the committee. He contended that tho
Councils had a right to demand all the
| information that the committee OBJ
| tanned in order that they might discus:
! the subject intelligently.
| Mr.. Wilcox said the Bell Company i.
willing to tell the committee all it needs
to know. but is not willing to tell how
il conducts the details OF its private
| business.
Mr.. Taylor said that many states re-
| CURED any company having franchise
in It's limits TO reveal all OF its business
| affairs Statements were required Of
| banks.
tober ed without settling the Stal
! Chamber question.