Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-20
INV ELN Il PAGES.
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THURSDAY. DECEMBER 20, 1900
THE RIDICULOUS POSITION OF
THE BOARD OF TRADE.


On the 22d day of September last.
Committee of the Board of Trade ana
Business Mems Association (named,
in consequence of the Bell Telephone
Companys advance in rates. to look
into the question of telephone rentals
in this city and elsewhcrc), reported
that IAN average rate OF six cities
was S3S for business and $50 for resi-
dence phones, with unlimited service
While other Virginia cities with the
exception of Richmond. whose rates
are S3G and $2D, are much lower" In
virw of these facts and the fixed
maximum charge in the Southern
States franchise. the Committee of the
Board of Trade closed its report, above
referred to, with these words:
1T is also suggested that rs tele-
phone companies are granted large
privileges by our city legislature that
all companies doing business in the
city should be placed under the same
restrictions, identically. and maximum
rates made to conform"
This report was transmitted to the
City Councils. which alone have the
form" 1t was a deliberate finding of
the Board of Trade Committee and
was adopted by the Board OF Directors
of the Board of Trade. 1t was the
basis and the beginning OF the hit
10 secure reasonable telephone rentals
for the people OF this city: to induce
the city to keep it's contract with the
tot
same maximum charges for all tele-
phone companies doing business in the
city in accordance with the require
ment Of the city ordinance. The Board
of Trade threw down the gage of
battle, found the Bell Company guilty
of extortionate rates, ana by its report
petitioned the City Councils that
"ds telephone companies arc granted large
privileges by or city legislature" 'max-
imum charges be made to conform"
The City Councils took action that is
now as infamous as it is historic re-
fusing point blank to fix reasonable
telephone rentals for all companies
alike.
Since relief from the City Councils
was not 10 DE n3Q, ii WAS suggested
that a Mutual Telephone company
was the only remedy for the extortion
Of the Bell Company. Again the Board
of Trade appointed a committee this
time to look into the merits of the
Mutual company project. on Decem-
Der 18th that committee reported as
follows:
Resolved, That it is the sense of
this committee that, while we think
that by united action on the part of
great majority OF telephone pa
irons, Mutual Telephone System
could be installed in this city that
could give the people good service and
be probably maintained. yet we feel
that the project is of such & private
nature. and would If consummatcd.
come into such sharp competition
with present vested rights in our cjty.
that 1t is beyond the province of the
Board of Trade and Business MEMS
Association either to endorse or OPP
pose the same, and that we so report
back to the Board of Directoren
This report was duly adopted by the
Board of Directors. Observe now the
ridiculous position OF the Board OF
Trade. On September 22d, it found that
telephone company was so much of
a PUBLIC NATURE that 1t petitioned
the Councils to make the maximum
rates Of all telephone companies. con-
form in other words. fix telephone
rates in this city. On December the
15th 1t finds that Mutual telephone