The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-05
PHONE WAR I'M GREENSBORO.
Half the Bell Subscribers Refuse
Positively to Pay New Rates.


Greensboro, n c., March AT large
ly attended meeting of patrons of the
Bell Telephone Company, which now has
a monopoly of Service in this city. in the
Assembly Hall of the Benbow Hotel last
night, resolution or petition, signed
by three hundred subscribers, was adopt
ed. declaring that before they would ray
the new schedule of rates. advertised to
go into effect April 1st, they would tease
to use the phones at all. A proposition,
made by Mr.. Spier, Superintendent Of
the Bell system in North Carolina ard
South Carolina, to sulu,it the question
as to whether the compan. could continue
to operate at the present prices, to a
committee composed Of local business men
to examine into the matter and report
the result at future meeting. received
only one vote, that of the local attorney
of the Bell Telephone Company. To
show how determined the business men
present were, not to permit any form OF
circumlocution or temporizing with the
question of raising rates. under any cir
cumstances or conditions, strong appeal
from Mr. Z. V. TAYLOR. backed by. Mr..
e. p Wharton, in support of another
resolution providing that the chairman
be authorized TO appoint a committee to
enquire into the matter, from bottom
to top, for the purpose OF finding on.
what the service proposed to be given
was actually worth, was given the scant
courtesy OF being slaughtered by motion
from Mr.. r. r. King, that the meeting
adjourn. 1t was after eleven o'cl$ck,
and the motion TO adjourn went through
with a wEoop.
That is the telephone situation here to-
day. The telephone company proposes to
give, a duplex service at the old rates,
charging so cents a month increase to
business and residences using the present
service. and three hundred of the six
hundred subscribers have absolutely re-
fused 10 consider any compromise, and
in writing have solemnly obligated them
selves to discontinue the use of the ser
wee, and surrender their phones, rather
than sign tie proposed contracts April
first. The meeting last night was had a,
the request of Superintendent Spier, who
desired to confer with the subscribers,
over the proposed change in rates. There
were about seventy five business men
present. Mr. George S. Sergeant, acted
as chairman. The meeting lasted over
three hours and from start to finish,
vas full of ginger. The protesting sub
scribers, with the cecbratcd law firm OF
King & Kimball in the persons Of both
members Of thesfrm. firmly contested every
point made by the Superintendent in ia
vor of the change of rates and there were
short speeches and protests made by at
least fifteen of the leading business men
and patrons Of the system, at having to
pay increased rates here, to recoup losses
as they declared, for having given free
service at other points to freeze out other
companies The Bell people could not get
over this form of bombardment and the
talk today among the 'mutineers' is for
the organization of an independent local
company. 1t is said that stock. to the
amount of $4,000 for such an enterprise
has been already promised, in the event
OF failure on the part of the Bell people
to recede from, their proposed increase
of rates.