The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-06-09
Offers an Amendment to
Bill IN Senate.
The RATES Def ITELY FIXED
Object to Overcome Diff
culties Found.
KINDS OF SERVICE RENDERED
Proposed Changes SAID to Meet the
Views Of Humber of Attorneys IN
terested in the Matter-Priee of
Phones to Be Fran $50 to SEQ.

senator Hale today introduced a most
important amendment to the pending
telephone bill, regulating the use Of
telephone wires in the District OF CO.
lumbia. which is intended 70 obvfate
the difficulty found by the United States
Supreme Court last week in the old tsle-
phone Law.
The amendment adds three sections te
the bill nov under consideration and
these define accurately and ninutely the
charges which the telephone company
may make for specific kinds Of service.
Supreme Courts Action.
The decision of the Supreme Coprt fs.4
week in the case Of Manning and
other telephone subscribers against the
Telephone Company. sent the case back
to the District Court for new trial
on the ground that the arst decision
OF the latter had not defined what Kind
cf service should be furnished for a
/ certain price under the Law fixing feIe-
phone rates fer the District.
II Is understood that the amendment
Pas Been NEST carefully drawn and that
i meets the views OF prominent LAWYERS
interested IN the suit Of the people
against the telephone company.
Text of the Amendment.
The amendment reads as follows.
Section :. That from and after the
first day of July 1852. 1t shall be unIaw-
ful for any person or company doing
telephone business in the District Of
Columbia to charge or receive for teIe-
phone service in excess OF the rates fo3-
loving, that Is 10 say. for measured
ssryiee. three fSl cents a message when
The subscribers teleEhoEe is nPsa
seDzraEe line. aEd Two and oue-haIf {gis}
cents message where there are two or
more TELEPHONES upen the sane liae for
tnhneasured or fiat service over a metal
lie circuit. sixty dollars ($6G) a year
when there IS but one telephone on q
lire. fifty dollars $500 a year for each
telephone. there being not more than
two ON a line. and forty dollars (szgI a
year for each telephone. there being
three or more on 4 line; for uumeasurad
OF fat rate service over a grounded
circuit. fifty dollars ts5o) a year when
there IS but one telephone on line.
forty dollars ts40) year for each tele-
phone. there being two on q line. and
thirty dollars 1890 q year for each tele-
phone. there being three or more on a
line: such e.arges in each case TO in
clUde the rse OF a suitable telephone
with its necessary equipment. and the
cost Of maintaining the same in good
condition for efficient service
Long Distance Messages.
Provided. that nothing herein con-
tained shall affect the right Of any per-
son or corporation to make reasonable
charges in excess of the foregoing rates
for long distance messages. that IS to
say, messages TO or from points beyond
the District of Columbia; and, provided,
further. that nothing herein contained
shall be construed 10 apply 10 or affect
The rates 10 be charged for the use of
telephones on private lines, or any serv-
ice which has for its purpose communf-
cation between telephones not connected
with a telephone exchange. And pro-
vided. further, that for the use of extra
equipment, such as supplemental or desk
telephone, telephone booths or the like.
furnished 10 any customer in addition
10 a suitable telephone and its necessary
equipment, an extra nd reasonable
charge may be made; and, provided. fur
theT, that where service shall be fur
nished TO any point distant more than
two % miles from any telephone ex-
change OF such person or corporation
furnishing such service. an extra charge
may be made, not to exceed twenty 800
per eentum OF the rates above fixed for
each half mile in excess OF such two
miles.
No Excessive Rates.
Section That no person OF corpora
tion who shall. after the first day of
July, 1902. charge or receive for teIe-
phone service in the District of Column
bia n excess Of the rates prescribed
herein, shall have the right to construct
or maintain IN, under. over, Or upon.
any public street, avenue, alley or road
or public space il said District, any
cCnduits. poles. cP 5Ie8 wires or other
appliances o. IS business. and all con-
dUits, peles. ca5Ies. wires or other aD-
plianees for telephone service thereto
fore constructed or maintain by such
person or corporation under, in, over or
upon any public street. avenue alley. or
public space shall forthwith become
public Buisauces and be removed az
such. And il IS hereby made the duty
OF the Commissioners Of the District os
Columbia, upon the violation Of this act
BY any person OF corporation. forthwith
to take proper proceedings in the Su-
pTeme Court Of the District OF Columbia
to secure the removal from the said
public streets, avenues. alleys. and pub
lie spaces IN said District OF all con-
duits. poles, cables. wires. and other ap-
pliances of such ofTeI ling person or
corporation, aad sCch court is hereby
authorized TO decree such re-
mcvai and 10 Impose the costs and eX-
peDses thereof upon such offender
Section s. That any person or cor
poration hereafter who shall after the
said first day of July. 1892. -iolate the
provisions OF section CT thf act. shah
be guilty OF a misdemeaneT and shall,
upon conviction. be fned {. each Of
fense not less than so or more than
$780, to be collected as or A. fines for
are collected