The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-20
.STOUTLY DEFENDS
PRIVATE CONTROL
T. P. Sylvan Believes Federal
Ownership of Telephone Lines
Would Be Disastrous.
ANNUAL MEETING is HELD
All Virginia Officials Of Chesa-
peake and Potomac Telephone
Company Reelected.
ANNUAL MEETING is HELD

| All Virginia officials were rc-e1ected
directors of the Chesapeake and Poto-
mac Telephone Company of Virginia.
which was held Immediately following
the annual meeting of the, stockholders
much pleased with the progress of the
past year, and many improvements and
extensions of lines were authorized.
President f. II. Bethel, of New York,
and Vice President NJ. II. Beuhlcr, of
Baltimore, attended tho meetings. The
former is also president of the Bell
Telephone Company, OF Pennsylvania,
and vice president of the New York
Telephone Company. and Is one OF the
leading men in the organization of the
Bell system.
| All officials of the company at Balti-
moro were in town. and all telephone
men occupying positions OF Importance
| In Virginia were called in to attend
the REGULAR monthly meeting of the
Hall last night. Among those who
spoke were Mr.. Bethel. who was intro
duced by j. w: Crews. vice-president of
made by T. p. Sylvan. assistant to
President Bethel. He was introduced
by Charles G. Harris. president of the
society. and spoke on Private Versus
Government Ownership OF Telcphone
Lines"
Critfcizcs Government system.
| Mr.. Sylvan opened his address with
| a contradiction OF reports regarding
the efficiency of the Post-Ofiice Depart
ment. which Is being urged as one OF
the principal arguments for govern
ment ownership of the telephone and
telegraph lines. To support his state
government officials which showed that
the department not only does not have
any plant TO speak OF, but is actually
a tenant OF the Treasury Department in
us buildings. No rentals are ever col
lected or computed, and all expcndi-
lures including heating, lighting. re-
pairs and tanitor service arc paid for
from other appropriations.
Reports from congressional commit.
tees and other sources were cited TO
show that there can never he any eff
cient service until the practice Of re-
firing Postmaster Generals and their
ASSISTANTS before they become qualified
by Knowledge and experience to per-
form their allotted tasks Is abolished
Post-Ofices and Post Roads Committee
was quoted as saying in one report:
"GRder such a, system, n large rail
ness would inevitably go into bank
ruptcy, and the POSTPONE Department
h ~: ayerted that fate only because the
United STATES Treasury has been avail
able TO meet deficiencies"
The disregard OF congressional com
mittees In making appropriations in ac-
cordancc with the demands OF depart
ment headS was also cited as an argu-
meni. The recent scaling down of the
artillery appropriation sought by the
War Department was mentioned as an
example.
1T will now take fourteen years to
obtain the additional artillery which
IN seven years We know. however.
that such a great difference In delivery
OF Important telephone equipment
would be most disastrous"
Comparisons Made.
Contrasts in the various features OF
the mail service and telephone work
were touched upon. Among the com
parsons were the rate schedules OF the
two systems. and the work and equip
ment OF the mail service and that Of the
telephone service. The loss in taxable
property by the acquisition OF the lines
by the government, and the increased
taxation caused by rivalry between po-
litical parties. were also shown. and
the speaker was that the government
was far behind private corporations in
liberal pension and disability plans.
Point by point, Mr.. Sylvan discussed
and commented unfavorably on the re-
port recently made by Congressman
Lewis in regard TO government owner
ton furnished by Mr.. Lewis. he said
showed n lack Of care, and points Illus
trailing this were given.
The address covered practically every
point OF the controversy from the
private ownership view 1t proved
highly interesting to the large audi
encc. Among the company officials and
employees at the meeting were the fol-
lowing:
j.. II. Bethel, New Gock; t. r. sylvan,
assistant TO the president, New York:
NJ II. Beuhler, vice president and gen
eral manager. Baltimore; w. S. Piersol.
treasurer, Baltmore; S. NJ. Greer. gen
eral commercial superintendent, Bal
timore; T.. Corrigan. general superln-
tendcnt of traffic. Baltimore: w. ~
Tower. general superintendent OF
plant, Baltimore: p. G.. Burton. engi-
necr, Baltimore; w. b. Bcals, assist.
ant engineer. Baltimore; John r. Bois-
seau. publicity manager, Baltimore;
Charles Siemon. plant accountant, Bal
timore; c. F. Ronncy, district manager
Norfolk: e. NJ. Taylor. district man
ager, Lynchburs; II. o. Eanes, manager
Danville; Eugene Bowers. manager
Newport News and Hampton; A Bake,
manager. WILLIAMSBURG; G.. G. James,
manager. Suffolk; NJ. II. Gauldin. man
ager, fredericksburg; II. b McIvar
plant supervisor. Frederick burg; w. j.
Blamire, cashier, Norfolk; j. NJ. Fl. Nor
gan, cashier, Lynchburg; G. r.. Bin
ford. district. traffic chief. Norfolk: c.
S. Albert, district traffic chief. Lynch
burg; e. Il. Cole, district plant super
visor, Lyhchburg; j. A. Lyons. plant SUI
pervisor, Danville: II. NJ. Murray. right
OF way agent. Norfolk; j: NJ. Richard
son. district plant supervisor, Norfolk;
+. w. Wright. plant superintendent.
Hampton: II. u. Ames, plant supcrin-
tcndent, Newport News; ]. r. Dixon,
supervisory foreman, Norfolk.