New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-14
How any healthy
man can look an
unhealthy one in
the face and fail
t E ssY Ai s' i, x
mystery.
WINSN CHARTER FIGHT
Trdependent Telephone Need Not
Fear attorney General

attorney General Mayer yesterday refused 70 be-
a. "a action on behalf OF the State 10 annui the
sso,norate rights and franchises OF the New-York
r1.c,rto Lines Company TO do general telephone
s~.,pess IA New-York City.
ne Attorney General said that II the corporate
,...noe OF the company had ceased, he would
sov. nothing TO decide. He had therefore TO as
-. that Il iid have a corporate existencs.
%. ss,s that the franchise OF the company would
:. assessed by the State. sno that ordinary as well
!, special taxes would be collected on the
nsuts made by the State officers It would pay.
\, said a true value.
The Attorney General also held that, ~ s. sp-
,.red that old franchise had been revived for
me purpose OF hawking IL about 10 the highest
s,aoer he might regard the petition in q different
,sh. but he convinced that the company
sbls TO make a fair argument 10 its corporate
,ss The fnal consideration. he said, was public
ssnsnd among all the people Tor cheaper service
~ r,lic utilities and particularly IN tho matter
a. Telephone service
ga decided that there was 10 public demand
raj be should interfere: that the city was In
,x,,on 10 protect itself ana the interests OF tho
STATE did not require action his part and conse-
cyeutly he denied the petition.
The hearing was held IN the Attorney Generals
o~ce in the Lords Court Building The Great
Eastern Telephone Company rallied TO the defence
Al the New-York Electric Lines Company. The &C
,lon was brought by Abraham Ssrtorious. a curb
broker with oflceS at NO. - Br0so-St, VINO tnoDSnt
that the Attorney General should bring an action
10 invalidats the electrical subway franchise
through which the independent company expects 10
Jay its wires
The city. which has OF late shut down on
free franchises and has shown q determination 20
get IN the future ell that the law allows for these
valuable rights. was well represented Assistant
Corporation Counsels Burr and Booersn were there
simply 10 look on, they said. and Harry p. Nichols.
CHEF OF the Bureau OF Franchises. attended and
took copious notes. There two representatives
q. the United States Independent Telephone COM
psny, which is trying TO get into the city with its
wires through the medium of the Equitable So
cey's old burglar alarm company. The Great East
eTn Telephone Company was represented by ex-
Governor Black, eK-Judge Olcott and Tracy Becker.
Edward Lauterbach. Of the firm OF Eoadly Leu-
tsrbach & johnson. appeared as the representative
Of sartorius, and made the opening argument He
asserted that The one in which the Attor-
ney General must decide whether il was for the
best interests Of the people OF the State 10 n the
New-york Electric Lines Company. unless no
should md that the company had already auto
n.at.cslly ceased 70 exist.
he pointed out that when the company asked for
permit to begin operations on the streets OF New
YORK IN 1855 four years after its organization, II
wen. 70 the head OF the Department OF Public
WEEKS instead Of the Board OF Electrical Control
sad me su9way commission: lie said that the
company had contested this point in the courts for
the purpose, lie believed. of obtaining delay. and
that 80 far as he knew. in all these years no ap-
pAeation had been made 10 the properly constituted
authorities for permit 10 begin the construction OF
electrical subways.
In closing M Lauterbach attacked The recent
Efforts Of The Great Eastern Company 20 float its
stock IN Wall Street. He said that the only sign
CT vitality IN years had been the issuing OF
Prospectus N which they offered 5000 shares OF
preferred stock at Per with bonus Of 80 per cent
q common stock he said his client did not wish
tc see improper stock msnipulatiOns.
! once held IN case similar 10 this, interrupted
the Attorney General that the widows and or
phans OF Wall Street were generally able 10 pro-
iect themselves
Charles ". Dayton appearing IN behalf o. the
1ieat Eastern company, argued the continuance
OF the electric lines charter. He declared that IL
was not until eighteen months ago that certaIn
patents held by the Bell company ran out and
mace an independent business possible. The Great
Eastern Company. he asserted, had contracted for
es"9 Telephones az one-half the rate charged by
The existing companies. and had arranged 10 open
connections with 1900 long distanc. subscribers ID
existing independent telephones