Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-09
NEW TELEPHONE RATES
AMENDMENT GIVEN NOTICE OF
BY SENATOR HALEi
Designed to Meet the Question Raised
by the United States Su
preme Court.

Mr.. Hale today gave notice in the Senate
of an amendment he will offer by request
to House bill 1865. regulating the use of
telephone wires in the District of Columbia.
1t prescribes rates for the use of telephones
in the District of Columbia, and, it Is
understood. drawn with a view of securing
legislation on the subject of telephone rates
that will meet the question raised in the
Supreme Court of the United States in re-
lation to the law of 1898 in respect to what
kind of service Congress contemplated the
telephone company should provide for the
rates fixed. The amendment given notice
of by Mr.. Hale today defines explicitly the
rates the company may charge and the
class of service that shall be given. 1t is
understood these rates are somewhat higher
than the rates fixed by the law of 1893
though substantial reduction on the eX-
listing rates charged by the company to its
subscribers The amendment will be printed
and was referred to the committee on the
District of Columbia.
The House Bill.
Mr.. Gallinger made an effort today to get
up the House bill regulating the use of tele-
phone wires in the District of Columbia dur
ing the morning hour, but the naval appro-
priation bill being called up by Mr.. Hale
took precedence. Mr.. Gallinger gave no.
tice late Saturday evening that he would
call this bill up for action Immediately after
the routine business was disposed of today.
When the naval bill was taken up today
Mr.. Gallinger announced that he would call
the telephone bill up at the first oppor-
tunity. 1t is this bill that Mr.. Hale's pro-
posed amendment will affect.
The amendment regulating telephone
rates follows:
The Rate-Reduction Amendment.
Sec. Z. That from and after the list day
of July, 1902 it shall be unlawful for any
person or company doing a telephone bust
ness in the District of Columbia to charge
or receive for telephone service in excess of
the rates folio wing; that is to say: For
| measured service three 90 cents message
when the subscribers telephone is upon a
separate line, and two and half (2lD cents
a message where there two more
| telephones upon the same line; for unmeas-
ured or fiat rate service over a metallic
circuit, sixty dollars &G0) a year when
there Is but one telephone on line, fifty
dollars $500 a year for each telephone,
| there being not more than two on a line,
and forty dollars (S4O) year for each tele-
| phone, there being three more on line;
| for unmeasured or fiat rate service over a
grounded circuit, fifty dollars $3.50 a year
| when there is but one telephone on
a line, forty dollars $40 year for
| each telephone, there being two on a
| line, and thirty dollars (S3O) a year for
each telephone, there being three more
on line; such charges in each case to
include the use of a suitable telephone with
its necessary equipment, and the cost Of
maintaining the same in good condition for
efficient service. Provided. that nothing
herein contained shall affect the right of
any person or corporation to make reason
able 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 he m
strued to apply to or affect the rates to be
charged for the use of telephones on pri-
vate lines. or any service which has for it's
purpose communication between telephones
not connected with a telephone exchange.
And provided, further, that for the use of
extra equipment, such as supplemental or
desk telephones, telephone booths the
like, furnished to any customer, in addi-
ton to a suitable telephone and it's neces-
sary equipment, an extra and reasonable
charge may be made and provided fur.
Their, that where service shall be furnished
to any point distant more than two (2)
miles from any telephone exchange of such
person or corporation furnishing such ser
vice. an extra charge may be made. not to
exceed twenty 600 per centum of the rates
above fixed, for each half mile In excess of
such two miles. ..
Sec. 8. That no person corporation who
shall, after the LIST day of July, 1902, charge
or receive for telephone service in the Dis
trict of Columbia in 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 IN said District any
conduits, poles, cables, wires or other appli-
ances, of its business and all conduits,
poles, cables, wires or other appIi-
ances for telephone service heretofore con-
structed or maintained by such person or
corporation under, in. over or upon any
public street, avenue, alley or public space
shall forthwith become public nuisances
and be removed as such. And 1t is hereby
made the duty of the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia upon the viola
ton of this act by any person or
corporation forthwith to take proper
proceedings in the Supreme Court of the
District of Columbia to secure the removal
from the said public streets, avenues alleys
and public spaces in said District of all
conduits, poles, cables, wires and other ap-
planes of such offending person or cor
poration, and such court is hereby expressly
authorized to decree such removal and to
impose the costs and expenses thereof upon
such offender.
Sec. g. That any person corporation
hereafter who shall, after the said LIST day
of July, 1902, violate the provisions of sec
ton of this act shall be guilty of mis-
demeanor, and shall, upon conviction, be
fined for each offense not less than fifty
dollars $3.50 or more than five hundred dol
lars $500, to be collected as other fines for
miSdemeanors are collected.