Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-10
( INTERVIEWS ON TELEPHONE RATES.
The Bell Telephone and the American
Telegraph Company
Will be Forced to Accept Reasonable Maximum Rates
Members Of the Councils, Almost to Man, Will Protect
the Interests Of the Business Men Of Norfolk

The great public question that now
confronts this city is that of n threat
ened telephone monopoly. The Vir-
sinian-Pilot, ever mindful of the inter
ests of the public. will use it's utmost
cndeavors to fight this. as it will any
other monopoly that menaces the peo-
pie. BY saving clause in the fran
chiscs granted to the Southern Bell
Telephone and Telegraph Company.
and The American Telephone and Tcle-
graph Company dong distance phone).
the remedy lies in the Councils. that
have the right to alter. amend or re-
peal the franchises granted these COM
panles. In this connection. the fol-
lowing interviews with members of the
Councils Will he of the greatest inter
est:
MIR. FIRED GREENWOOD.
Mr.. Fred Greenwood. the we'll! known
jeweler and president of the Select
Council. said that telephone companies
should comply With the provisions of
their franchises. He said that he is in
favor OF requiring the Southern Bell
Telephone Company to restrict its
charges within the limits prescribed.
There is too much laXity in the enforce
ment OF the laws. The city should re-
quire strict conformity To the fran
chise, and the individual citizens should
quietly drop the Sell telephone when 1t
Increases charges. IL that does not
have the proper effect, then the mer-
chants should agree to quit the use OF
the Bell telephone.
Mr. Greenwood heartily ravors
amendment Of the Southern Bell fran
chisc by the Councils and the fixing OF
maNimum rates for that company. He
believes that similar maximum rates
should prevail for both telephone COM
panes. II SIS per annum for business
phones is not profitable to the com
panies, lie favors the adoption of such
maximum rate as will give them Il rea-
sonable profit. AS to what amounts
would be reasonable maximum rates
for business and residence phones.
President Greenwood said he could not
suggest without data on which to base
4 careful Judgment If the Southern
Bell Company will not furnish such
data to the Councils. then he favors
action by the Councils in fixing maxi
mum rates on such data as the Coun-
ellis can get relative to telephone rates
prevailing in other cities where conGi-
tons are approximately the same as
in Norfolk. Like many other intelli-
gent business men, tie deems the in
activity of the Southern States in the
telephone rate matter as peculiar"
MIR. c. II. CONsoLvO.
Mr.. c. ii. Consolvo. member of the
Select Council from the First Ward
ana vice president of the Select Coun-
ell. said that the Southern Bell Tele-
phone Company should be confined to
n maximum rate. If the company can
show indubitablc proof that it is losing
money. which DO not believe they can
do. then would he willing to advocate
a rate fixed at enough to realize n
profit. Mr.. Consolvo feels IL his duty
TO protect the citizens from over
charges. He believes that there should
he maximum rate of charges fixed so
mat the company can do Il proftable
business and the citizens can have the
service, He relies on the provision In
the franchise allowing the Councils 20
alter, omchd or repeal the privileges
lie is in the Council to guard the in
terests of the people and he is un-
willing To allow any corporation to
take advantage OF the people on ac
count of its franchise
MIR. n. NJ CASHlN.
Mr.. T. NJ. Cashin. Wholesale dealer
in flour barrels, and member of the
Common Council from the First Ward
favors the fixing by the Councils of a
reasonable maximum rate for Bell teIe-
phone service.
MIR. w. p. OBERNDoRFER.
Mr.. w. p, oberndorfer. member OF
the Select Council from the Second
Ward, said that he is a member of the
special committee on telephone rates.
lie will have to discuss the question
of the southern Bell franchise first
with the committee. which meets on
the 10th, and then in the Council Mean
time the series of questions proposed
by the committee have not been an
swcred by the Bell Telephone Company.
hence it would not be proper for him
TO express an opinion now. After the
case comes before the committee he
will be quite willing TO express opin-
ions.
MIR. l.. L. MAYER.
Mr.. T.. l.. Mayer. OF Mayer C Co.
wholesale dealers in hardware and
steamboat ana mill supplies. and mem
Der of the Select Council from the Sec
ond Ward. favors the fixing of maxi
mum rates for the Bell Company. as
originally contemplated, for the protec-
ton OF the public.
MIR. T. S. JOYNEs.
Mr. Il. S. Joynes. member of the Sc
lect Council from the Fourth Ward.
favorS the amendment of the Bell Com
pany franchise and establishment by
the Councils OF reasonable maximum
rates for that company.
MIR. f. JACOBS.
Mr.. T.. Jacobs. member of the Select
Council from the Fourth Ward. as n
citizen. interested in the general well
fare Of the community. strongly favors
the establishment OF maximum rates
in the franchise OF the Southern Bell
Company. He believes that the public
should know how much telephone SER
vice Is to cost telephone patrons. and
that no larger rate should be fixed than
is reasonable and just.
MIR. +. L. FORREST.
Mr.. K. l.. Forest. member of the Sc
lect Council from the Sixth Ward. de-
NJ.