Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-26
Mr.. FARANT TALKS.
Opposed the Franchise Of South.
ern Bell in Councils.
Great Influence Welded by the Company
From New York Affecting Banks and
Railways -NIcssrs. Williams aud GIL
believe in Fixing Rates.

To-day the Virginian-Pilot gives fur
Their interviews on the telephone rate
matter and the general sentiment OF
business men is that the Councils
should at once fix minimum ana maxi
mum rates for all telephone companies
doing business here
MIR. j. l.. FARANT.
MIR. ]. l.. Farant, wholesale tobacco
dealer was formerly Il member of the
City Councils. He was n member OF
the Ordinance Committee with Mcssrs
Seneca and Williams. which. after
many conferences and a long and in
effective struggle with the Southern
Bell Telephone and Telegraph Corr
pany. during which the committee got
no information. refused to report fav-
orably on the franchise offered by tina.
company. The franchise had no maxi
mum rate and MIR. Farant and the COM
mittee positively refused to recommend
it, The company would not have re-
ceiVed the franchise If the committee
had been continued. Mr.. Earanl saws
ne Is IN favor of minimum and 3,
maximum rate. He has always con-
tended that the City Councils should
fix both. but he believes the most eilec-
i've manner of dealing with the situa-
ton would be for the business men OF
the city 10 unite TO start an indepen-
uent telephone. If that were done. and
the business men would all agree as
they would. to patroniZe it. the tele-
phone question would be settled here.
Air. Farant maintains that the CITY
Councils should fix rates say $50 or S25
for residence phones, and $50 or S35 for
business phones. The companies could
earn money and the citizens would he
satisfied.
Mr.. Farant has no idea that the Bell
Telephone and Telegraph Company can
be driven away from here. The wires
are Just where they arc needed for
many years to come. The company has
no franchise In Richmond. but it goes
on In business there because the city
cannot disturb its property. The wires
mere cannot he pulled out of the ground
by the city because that would he Il
destruction of property.
rake away one franchise and the
company Will do business under tho
other. Take away both and the com
pany will still have its wires and its
plant. What then can stop the COM
pany from doing business with thom :?
MI. Farrant says the skill and in
iiuence OF such company is vast. 1t
can bring this influence to bear in va
rIouS ways
The banks. for instance. which con-
stitute another monopoly or trust. OF
New York can bring influence to bear
on the banks here. The railways. too.
can indicate what they wish TO have
done.
Mr.. Farrant commends the contest
the Nirginian-Pllot is waging. and
hopes that 1t will succeed. but he saw
lie could not have influence enough
with the Councils to stop the passage
OF the unlimited franchise for the tel
ephone company. He fears 1t viii not
be altered. amended or repealed. now.
lie believes the only solution of the
question OF moderate priced and eff
iicient telephone service here is in an
independent citizens phone
MR. ]. n. WILLIAMS.
Mr.. j. n. Williams. of Williams.
Martin and Gray, wholesale druggists.
says he sees no reason why there
should be any discrepancy between the
charters of the telephone companies
doing business here. He says that MI
companies should he here on equal
terms. Since tho comranies arc NOT
on equal terms, by their charters. he
can't see why the City Councils do
not exercise their authority. accord
ing TO the charter. to alter, amend
or repeal" the franchise OF the
southern Bell so as to put the COM
ranies on equal terms. He is i'm favor
of a minimum and a maximum rate
MIR. JAMES G. GILL.
Mr.. James G. Gill. OF Gill. Todd &
Co. wholesale tobacco dealers. said he
IS -hcartilY in favor of fixing equal
rates under which the telephone COM
ran,es may operate. One should not
have any advantage over the other.
There should not be any chance of n
monopoly here because the Southern
States was brought here for the pur-
pose of preventing that. He says
there should be minimum and q
maximum rate. He is very much in
terested in the discussion and admires
the Virgirlan-Pilot for the position it
has taken in the contest.
Death of Mrs. TrommcII.