Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-04
The Right Way to Punish.

The Right Way to Punish.
1t appears from a news paragraph. print
ed today, that dsposit on prevails in the
Senate to punish the Chesapeake and Po-
tsnac Telephone Company for its contempt
of the act OF 1s2S reducing the rates, by
preventing the passage Of the House bill
authorizing the erection of poles in alleys
and extending the conduit system. Sena-
tors, it is said. are indignant that the COM
pany should question the right of Congress
to adjust the rates of a corporation which
occupies the streets solely upon its suf-
france
If there is such disposition among men,
bers of the upper house. tley should take
the most practical step toward punishment
by enaCtirg again the rate-reducton law
with such specifications the courts de-
cision renders necessary. To refuse to pass
the conduit and wire bill would be merely
to deprive the company of an additional
privilege and incidentally to deprive several
hundred people of the District of the tele-
phone service.
As between the two punishments. the re-
lection of this pending measure and the
adoption of an effective rate-reduction law,
the company, if given the choice. would of
course not hesitate to prefer the former. 1t
can rest content with what it now has in
the way of conduit rights and make an
eXtortionate profit long as it has means
to pay its lawyers and the slightest posi-
BILE excuse for legal opposition to the en-
forcemeut of the rates of 1873. But if con-
frOrted with a new enactment reducing the
rates and defining the service IT would be
hard pressed for legal means to prevent a
curtailment of the subscribers individual
contribution.
1t may be true that +he enactment of the
pending bill in any form will serve to IN
crease the vested rights of the telephone
company. that 1t will strengthen its posi-
ton. in short. monopoly. If Congress
will see to 1t that by wise, effective rate
regulations the monopoly is not made bur
densome. the people of the District would
greatly prefer that the telephone privileges
be vested in one rather than in two Sr
more corporations. Better service and "a
minimum of inconvenience undoubtedly rs
suit from concentration in this particular
line But the moment the monopoly is al
lowed to charge extortionate rates and 30
do so in defiance of the expressed will Of
congress 1t opens the way to it's own de-
Feat by the Incorporation of a rival.
Congress is therefore confronted now
with the necessity of choosing between the
and Potomac Company still more strongly
In sole possession of the local field and Of
maintaining It's own prerogative of reg
ulating the rates charged by it. If it pass
this pending bill without amendment It
serves notice upon the community that
the company. is to have whatever it de-
sires in the way of permanent rights with
out being forced to yield to the demand for
cheaper service. II it amend the bill by
adopting an effective rate-reduction para
graph it serves notice upon the company
That II can secure further privileges only
on condition of recognizing and obeving
the unpleasant as Well as the pleasant re-
duirements of Congress If it adopt A
middle course and ignore this bill as a
means of punishment il merely derives
the company of additional opportunities for
eXtortlon and the community of some
measure Of telephone service and in no
wise aids the people to secure relief from
their 1ntolerable burden. Such a course
would be a confession that the telephone
company is paramount in Congress
There should be no long hesitation as 10
the proper course to pursue The rate-re-
dnctlon law has been in effect nullified
through lack of definite wording. The OPP
portunlty is at hand for the g. lection of
this fault. The company ara the people
JOINTLY ask for certain legis alton to per
NIT the extension of the service Give il
10 them on conditions which will force the
company 10 show its respect for the acts
OF congress or go out of husiness