The Washington times., 1914-05-23
MERCHANT FIGHT
TELEPHONE CHANGE
Proposed Discontinuance of
Flat Rate Met by 0rganiza-
ton of Subscribers.
Continued from First Page.)

Wagner Company, said that the COM
pany had az one time tried TO reduce
the commission of the Wagner company
for its public telephones, but that when
the telephone company was ordered to
remove the telephones 1t consented to
pay the commission then in effect.
Other speakers took the stand that the
telephone company was required by law
to file notice of a change, when such
change was intended: that the company
was arbitrarily establishing a rate to
suit itself without consulting either the
public or the law.
The following resolution was unaai-
mously adopted by the members:
Whereas the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company has
given notice to cancel contracts.
and whereas said cancellation and
substitution would result raising
the rates for telephone service, and
whereas rates are fixed by law. and
the subscribers have not violated
their contracts;
And whereas, unless the Public
Utilities Commission shall order
il, it shall be unlawful for any
public utility In the District of CO.
lumbia to demand. collect or re-
ceive greater compensation for any
service than the charge fixed on
the lowest schedule of rates for the
same service under the law in force
at the dateof the passage of the
law:
Commission has declared that the
old flat rate is discriminatory and
that 1t. the Public Utilities Com
mission, is not prepared to fix rates
or to determine what Is an ade-
quate or proper rate for telephone
service In the District of Columbia,
therefore,
BE It resolved, That the sub
scribers for telephone service under
contract with the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Company, of
the District of Columbia, In mass
meeting assembled. protest against
the action of the said telephone
company and also against the ruling
of the Public Utilities Commits
sion''
Yesterdays mass meeting. arose
from the fact that the telephone com
pany IL refusing &c renew contracts
under the old flat rates. the arrange
ment whereby a merchant paid a GER
tain sum each year and was allowed
to use his telephones without regard
to number Of calls or length OF time
The company has been trying to sub
stitute a service rate; and gives as its
authority for making the change the
rrIing of the Public Utilities Commits
sion that a fat rate to business houses
is a discrimination and a violation OF
law which would subject both company
and subscriber to a fine.
The protest against a service rate by
the business men is based on the ar
cument that they have no way of check
ing UP the charges of the company and
tnat they might have to pay unreason-
able amounts for comparatively small
service.
Some cities have checking machines
installed at each subscribers telephone.
Tut a request of local business men that
such be installed in Washington was
refused, II IS said.
Among those present or represented
at yesterdays meeting were {. A. Mud
diman, NJ w. Burkhart, W. p. Lips
comb, Louis Hartig, F. ]. Heiberger.
ouis Hopfenmaier. Browning & Baines.
stones Mercantile Agency. William
James & Son, ]. F. White. Mark Mex.
sloan. Church & Stephenson. +. E. Da-
VIC Ellerson & Wemple, Joseph F..
Cropper, Martin Wiegand. W Edward
Clark. Thomas Somerville Company.
National Capital Bank. c. d. Kenny
Company, William MeuhlheIsen Com
any. Parkway Livery Company. John
J. Nolan, Stone & Fairfax, ID. Lough-
ran. Frank y. Hume. Thomas b.
Hryck, and Chesley & Chesley.