The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-04-29

u sa6t they did not propose to
intS 20 with the local company. II be-
ing their intention to do solely long
distance business. The following mo-
ton was adopted by the unanimous vote
of the eleven members present: That
the petition of the American Telephone
& Telegraph Company to put their wires
on the Free Bridge, together with the
whole matter OF granting franchise to
the said company TO operate IN this city,
be referred to committee oil three mem
bers OF the Council, to be appointed by the
MAYOR. to investigate and report to the
Council such ordinance on the subject az
NAV be proper The mayor appointed
Messrs. Howard, Embrey and Wroten.
This committee prepared an ordinance
permitting the American Telephone X
Telegraph Company to- use the bridgefOr
their wires. to place their poles through
the streets under supervision pfthe street
committee TO establish an office and do
long distance business without any
restrictions. and to operate local sery-
ice with maximum and n
minimum rate to which the local
company should be also required to
conform. In n conference between the
committee and the representatives OF
of the company this ordinance was sub
mitted TO the latter. and they were ex-
tended cordial invitation to establish
an Office here. Now mark their hidden
motives They refused to accept any
proposition that did not contain an I'M
limited franchise for local service, not
withstanding the previous statement OF
their counsel that they did not propose
establishing a local service. In other
words this company. backed up by its
/ ten millions of capital, would have cut
rates until the local company had been
frozen ont. and then the citizens OF this
city would have had their telephone
service mt any exorbitant rate the com
many pleased. Hence the restriction as
10 maximum and minimum rates for lo-
cal service.
REPORT on THE COMMITTEE.
The committee made the following re-
port. which was adopted:
ITO the Mayor and Council OF Freder
icksburg, Va:
/ Gentlemen Your committee appoint
ed in the matter Of the American Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company. OF Nir.
ginia. respectfully report that they have
I fully investigated and considered the
matter. and have had n conference with
Mr.. Young and Mr. Little attorneys for
| the company. Reing DESTROYS OF extend
ing to this company every privilege con
sistent with the general good OF this
community a. an inducement to them
TO enter this city, we have urged
upon their representatives to accept such
restrictions upon their doing local
business az would not unjustly hamper
ar imppde them. Notwithstanding their
repeated statements that they did not
propose to do a local business, they de-
clined to consider any proposition for
ANYTHING but an unlimited franchise, the
granting OF which your committee consi-
ders suicidal to the best interests OF this
community. We. therefore, recommend
that the matter be dropped, so far as
this Council is concerned.
Respectfully submitted,
A. RANDOLPH HowARn,
W. $. EMBREY.
Gro. W. WROTEN.
Committee
patriotism that lies dormant all
these many years to come to life at this
particnlar time that smacks OF decided
seliinterest and insinuations that are
both untrue and unjust may well be
shielded by q cowardly nom-de-plume.
A. RANDOLPH Howard.