Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-01-22
The Protest Against Telephone Extra
Charges Amicably Settled

The meeting, called last week, of the
Rockville subscribers to the Chesapeake ant
Potomac Telephone Company for the pur-
pose of taking concerted action with re.
gard to the proposed toll charge between
Rockville and Gaithersbure was held on
Tuesday evening last, at the Court House,
Mayor Lee Offutt presiding.
Previously, however, each subscriber had
received a letter from the company stating
that the proposed toll charge would not be
placed in force on February LIST as had been
announced
The contract agent at the meeting pre-
scented letter to the Mayor from the di-
vision MANAGER to the same effect, and
stated that the charge would not be made
in future unless approved by majority
of the subscribers.
The subscribers were also assured by the
agent that the company would proceed with
the extension of its lines, and they were
advised that the company earnestly disired
the support and cooperation of the citi-
spect to the improvements desired, and
the meeting was conducted in a very ami
cable spirit.
The following resolutions were introduced
by Mr.. George H. Lamar, seconded by DR..
o. M. Linthicum and S. B. Hege and unan-
imously passed:
WHEREAS, We are reliably advised that
the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone
Company acquired the property of its pre-
decessor connecting Rockville and Gath
ersburg, in this county, upon the oral repre-
sentation that the rates for telephone ser
vice were not to be increased; and
WHEREAS, Mr.. Berry, as agent for said
Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Com
pany, represented to the Mayor and Coun-
Gil of Rockville. in seeking a franchise in
its favor that there would not be any in
crease in charges for telephone service,
but, on the contrary, the citizens might
logically expect decrease as the number
of subscribers should increase and
WHEREAS, In opposition to proposed
increase in the charges, and upon petition
of the subscribers and proposed subscribers,
this meeting was called under the auspices
of the Mayor and Council of Rockville
and
WHEREAS, The district manager of said
telephone company in communication to
Hon. Lee 0ffutt, Mayor of Rockville, dated
January 18th, 1909, says:
Some of our subscribers in and about
Rockville having asked for further informa-
ton with respect to this companys inten-
ton to establish toll charge for messages
between our Rockville and Gaithersburg
exchanges wish to state, in order that
there may be no doubt in the minds of our
subscribers on this question, that it is not
the present intention of this company to
institute toll charge between these two
points, nor will we ever do so unless after
notice has been given and the majority of
our subscribers specifically assent to the
payment of this toll charge" Now, there
fore, be it
Resolced, That we are unalterably OPP
posed to any increase ever being made in
the present rates of said company for ser
vice to subscribers on the Rockville and
Gaithersburg switchboards. and will regard
any present or future increase thereof as
breach of faith, and we believe that even
tually there should be a non-toll service
between all points in Montgomery county;
be it further
Res0lued That, pending actual improve
ment and extension of the lines in this and
other sections of the county, we are will
ing to defer pressing our claims for the ul
innate service to which we believe we are
entitled namely, non-toll service between
all points in said county be 1t further
ResoIued, That in our opinion, pending
the actual improvement and extension of
the lines of said company, no toll charge
exceeding five cents should be charged be-
tween Rockville and any other point in said
n,,I kt,aA he. oh rdn In
tween Rockville and other points in the
lower parts of Montgomery county are in
defensibly large and we do hereby respect
fully petition the company to speedily
formulate some plan whereby all points in
the lower section of the county can be
reached on a toll charge of not exceeding
five cents, without depriving the subscrib
ers in the lower section of the county of
any privileges which they may now have
in connecting with the phone service in
Washington, d. c.. be it further
Res0tued, That, we will view with dis
favor and concern the Incorporation in any
contract, to be hereafter executed. any pro-
vision whereby the company may seek to
force subscriber to agree to any increase
of rates be it further
Resotoed. That, while we are willing that
public service corporations may have fair,
even liberal, income on their actual invest
ments, it is proper that the rights and in
terests of the public should be preserved
and conserved, to which end we do hereby
form ourselves into a local telephone sub
scribers' association, to be called together
from time to time, as occasion may require,
and with authority to the president to APP
point a committee, if need be, to confer
with the company and with like represen-
tatives of like associations which may be
formed elsewhere in Montgomery county.
A vote of thanks was extended to the
pany present for the interest they had
manifested and disposition indicated to
give Rockville and Montgomery county i'm
proved and ENLARGED telephone service