The times., 1901-05-29
FOR CHEAPER TELEPHONES
Subscribers at an Enthusiastic
Meeting Score the Monopoly.
Pertinent Facts Emphasized in Ad-
dresses by Colonel staples, A. \.
Birney, and Other Speakers
Charges Against the Company.

Pertinent Facts Emphasized in Ad-
dresses by Colonel staples, A. a.
Birney, and other Speakers
Charges Against the Company
The Telephone Subscribers Association.
an organization composed of some 500 To-
cal users of the Chesapeake and PotO-
mac telephone service, held mass meet
ing in the large dining room at the Riggs
House last night. About one-half of the
total membership was present and many
of the most prominent business men in
the city expressed their desire for lower
rates than those now given by the tele-
phone corporation.
The keynote of the meeting was lower
rates and better service" and the senti-
ment expressed was that these must be
secured or new telephone company
would be organized.
Col. o. G. Staples presided and in his
Introductory remarks said that the occa-
sion was in the nature of jollihcation.
He added that after a fight with the
Bell Telephone Company he had had all
of the telephones taken out of his hotels
This method. he said. proved satisfactory,
as the telephone company came to terms
at once. The telephone used in the Riggs
House. he said. cost only $50 per year.
which was a big cut in the price formerly
demanded. He said that if every user
of the telephone present at the meeting
would force the fighting there would De
a total saving of more than SlO6,VU per
year to these business men.
A A, Hirney, the attorney representing
the association, then spoke briefly on the
condition of the telephone litigation. lie
said that the fight had been hard one
but was one worth fighting. lie claimed
that all other cities had lower telephone
rate than that given to Washington only
one other city in the world, he stated, mad
such high rate as Washington, namely
st. Petersburg, Russia.
Mr.. Birney then showed in detail that
the Bell Telephone Company, huge
monopoly was discriminating against the
people at every turn. The independent
companies, he said, were reluctant to
produce their books and mix up in a It'll
cation which did not concern them, but
after hard work the local association
managed to secure enough evidence to
convict the Bell Company, and to enable
Congress to pass a law fixing the local
rate for one telephone at $50 per year, aad
at less for lines where more than one
telephone was used
He described the surprise of the JUS
tces of the District OF Columbia Court of
Appeals when they learned that a local
justice had returned a verdict in favor OF
the telephone company. He discussed the
legal situation now existing, and held that
il the business men of Washington would
only demand it, they could all have the
service for $50 per year.
The telephone company, said he. has
been so confident of defeating us in tb.S
tight that they have contracted to return
to all subscribers in this city all amounts
over $50 per year charged by them If
the courts decide that the rate fixed by
Congress is constitutional. This would
mean that if we win our case, the tele-
phone company will have to return to it's
local subscribers a sum exceeding $500, 900.
We will gain the greatest lawsuit ever
put through the District courts
vote of thanks was rendered Mr.. Bir-
ney for his address.
Thomas w. Smith was then introduced,
and made few remarks praiSing the able
statement presented by Mr Birney He
said that he heartily endorsed every state
ment made. He recalled the anti-tele-
phone meeting held in Lincoln Hall in
this city. fifteen years ago, and said that
this was very different occasion. The
first protest was, he stated. against the
company, because the sum of $46 per year
was charged. Many grievances had led
up 10 the organiZa ton OF this associa-
tion, he said. and the association ought
TO live as long as telephone combine
existed.
we had to wait unti the Business
matter up, he said, before we could do
any thing As business men we should
rally around this organization. We will
drive this telephone company out of busi-
ness and get fair prices.
This company has made affidavit that
1t is today operating 5.Sl7 telephones in
the District of Columbia. when by
actual count there are but 2,GIO telephones
in use here. / am paying SIP pei year
for a telephone. friend of mine is pay
ing $50 per year And yet Congress has
fixed the rate at $50 per year"
'. Baldwin johnson spoke briefly on
the monopoly under which the people of
the District of Columbia were being
crushed. He said that the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company was
afflicted with cOngestiVe chills by the
recent action of the local Court Of APP
pcals.
This is an abominabIe corporation he
said, and has been lying and cheating
the people for years 1t gives a measured
service, which is worse than no service.
! IN, ne sooner we can Wipe out tins combine
the better for us. From the Chesapeake
and Potomac Telephone Company, good
Lord. deliver US"
George w. King said that the telephone
company had refused to obey the laws
laid down bv Congress and should be
punished for it. He urged that the peO-
pie of Washington claim the protection
Of the law and press the case until vic
tory was Won
Frank X Raymond also spoke briefly
and voiced the sentiment Of the previous
speakers.
Attorney Birney stated that about So
OGi was required TO carry on the case
before the Supreme Court. 1t was agreed
that this would be raised by subscriD-
ton. and after PaTtaking of a lunch ten
bcrs agreed to meet at some future date
and FlgTf4rt he nlanE.