The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-04-19
TELEPHONE RATE MATTER POSTPONED The Peoples Home Telephone Co. Withdraws Petition NEW ORDINANCE PROPOSED Provides For Reduction in rate of Bell Company and Increase in
 Peoples to Meet Reduction
 in Other Company.

The petition of the Peoples Home Tele- phone company which was presented 10 the City Council seeking permission to in it's place an ordinance was submitted at the meeting of the judiciary and tele- phone committees yesterday afternoon.
 The committee reported the proposed ordinance at the meeting of the council last night and it was referred to the judi ciary committee with instructions to re- port at the next meeting Of tie council. The ordinance was presented by Alder man Fulghum at the committee meeting and was endorsed without discussion It provides for 6 reduction of the rates | charged by the Bell Telephone company of l 30 cents month on each business tele- | phone and 75 cents on each residence tele- | phone. and also provides for an increase | in rates for the Peoples telephone to meet those of the other company. 1 The text of the proposed ordinance Is as follows:
 Section l. Be 1t ordained by the Mayor and Aldermen of Birmingham. That from and after the passage and publication of this ordinance the minimum telephone rates per month in the city of Birming- ham shall be as follows:
 Business telephones. $3.50 each; resi-  telephone line. 2.25; residence tele- phones (each), where two or more tele- phones on line. sl .bD
 Sec. ?. Be it further ordained that 1t shall be lawful for all telephone compan- es to charge the above prices. and nn- lawful for any one of them to charge any amount in excess thereof
 Sec. 3. Be 1t further ordained that any person, firm or corporation who shall charge demand or collect any money of any person. firm or corporation in tho city of Birmingham for telephone service in excess of the above specified rates shall be punished as provided in section SOC of the City Code of Birmingham.
 The committee meeting was called for 330 o'clock. but the matter had been dis posed of before that time. Committees from the Board of Trade. the Wholesale Grocers association and the Retail Gro- cers' association were present to protest against the original petition of the Peo- ple's company, and they expressed sur prise that the council committees had met ahead of time
 When the protesting delegations appear ed al the appointed tme-3i30 D. m. the council committee had already taken ac- ton. and this action was reported to the delegations. Alderman l<lolz. chairman. however, called his committee together again in order 10 hear any statement any member Of the protesting delegations might make, and fin order that the new resolution might be read 10 the members of the delegations.
 At this second meeting the following copy of the call was produced and read:
 Dear Sir-You are hereby requested to attend 4 meeting of the judiciary commit tee to be held on April IS, 1906, at the city hall at 3;30 o'clock D. m.
 "F A. FI'LGHUM. Chairman.
 The council committee decided to post pone action on the matter for two weeks in order that all sides could be heard. It was stated by Alderman Gray at the meeting that this new resolution was, in his opinion, an equitable adjustment of the matter.
 The organizations protesting against the Peoples Telephone companys petition were represented by Col. John W. Tom- linson as counsel.