Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-11
1T IS UP TO THE BUSINESS MEN.

The City Councils have refused to
fix reasonable maximum rate in the
franchise of the Bell Telephone Com
pany. The right to fix such rate was
explicitly reserved to Councils In that
company's franchise. The facts laid
before Councils, whether in regard to
the conduct and purposes OF the Bell
Company or the reasonablcness of
$SS maximum rate, amply justified fix
ing such rate for all telephone COM
panies alike. Councils having refused
TO give any relief in the premises. 1t
only remains for telephone subscribers
to say whether or not they are will
ing to pay $50 year for service that
could be profitably furnished at $685.
The business men OF this city have
the situation in their own hands If
they viii act promptly and energcti-
cally. No telephone system can run
without the patronage of business
houses, because householders do not
want system that does not bring
them in touch with the business
houses. II business men who think
49, ~ pIiHES ny llie
Bell Telephone Company will refuse to
use that system, or to permit its in
struments to remain in their places.
they can compel it to furnish service
at reasonable rates. If they DO not d.
this, then that company is master of
the situation.
1t is question for the judgment of
the individual subscriber. The Viz
ginianPilot would not be understood
as advocating n boycott of the Bell
Company. 1t has no desire to see That
company driven out of Norfolk 1t
does believe that business men should
not encourage that company lin its
doubling of rates and its purpose to
secure a monopoly of the telephone
business in this city. The way to do
this is TO refuse to pay it's present
rates. We have shown conclusively
that the increase in rates was purely
arbitrary and in nowise a business ne
cessity. The experience of the
Southern States Company shows that
service can be probably furnished at
sSS per year for business phones.
The fact is, that the Bell Company
is not being run on legitimate business
principles, but is aiming at a monop-
oily OF the telephone business in the
United States. and its policy is con-
trolled by that consideration. To en-
able 1T to cut rates in one city and
drive out competitor, it raises rates
in another 1t is somewhat on the
principle that good customers are
camille houses. with this all important
dfference-the Bell Telephone Com
pany makes its bad debts" wilfully.
1t uses it's funds to cut the throat of
competitor in Petersburg, Duluth.
Savannah or Oshkosh. and then taxes
the subscribers of Norfolk. or some
other city, to reimburse itself.
The VirginianyPilot has done what
it conceived to be its duty in this mat
ter. IL is not surprised that a ma
jority of Councilmen did not do their
duty. 1t knows why they did not and
the public knows. If the business men
wish to pay the $50 rate that is their
affair. II the citizens of this city wish
to pat those Councilmen on the back
who have shown such a curious con-
ception of their duties as public ser
wants, that is their affair
AS Il matter of public interest and
information, however. the Virginia,i-
Pilot purposes to give n list. as nearly
complete as possible. of the business
houses that have discontinued the use
of the Bell telephone. Large numbers
have already done so. Others VIII
doubtless do so. now that Councils
have permitted the $50 rate to stand.
We should be glad to have the names
of all such sent to the virginian- Pilot
for publication