The Washington times., 1917-01-23
MID-CITY CITIZENS
NDORSE CARY BILL
Approve Measure Providing for
Referendum on Telephones, -,
Prohibition, and Suffrage.
LEWIS AND CLAYTON SPEAK
Congressman Urges His Meas
ure for U. s. Ownership OF
Phones in District.

The Lewis bill for Government
owned telephones in the District was
considered by the Mid-city Citizens
Association last night, when Con-
gresham Lewis, author of the meas
ure, addressed the organization.
Congressman Lewis general out
line of his bill and his criticisms of
high rates and low utilization in
Washington" preceded an analysis OF
local rates and comparisons with
tariffs in other cities by C. T. Clayton,
clerk of the House Committee on La
Dor.
BIB speakers were literally APP
plauded and given a rising vote of
thanks for their addresses and their
Interest in District affairs. President
A. J. Driscooll distributed to the men,
bers of the association Congressman
Lewis recent speech on the floor of
the House In advocacy of his bill.
Cary's Bill Endorsed.
Later the association Endorsed Con-
gresham Cary's bill providing for a
referendum in the District on gov
eminent ownership of telephones,
other public utilities and on prohibit
ton and suffrage.
Louis r. zinkhan, superintendent
of the Washington Asylum Hospital,
who was to have addressed the assoi
citation on Why We Should Have a
New Municipal Hospital" was pre-
vented from appearing because of ill
meas.
Congressman Lewis described the
universal use OF the telephone and
low rates prevailing in European and
other countries, as compared with the
restricted utilization and higher rates
prevailing in this country.
Would Make for Economy.
He said postalization of telephone
and telegraph lines make for unity,
economy. and efficiency. while the
operation of postofice facilities, tele-
graph and telephone lines independ-
emit Of each other and under private
auspices constitutes "egregious
waste"
Excessive rates and deprivation of
telephone service. he said, is the price
all Americans are paying as the re-
suit of this waste.
, Abiding to the fact that 1t costs
almost as much to talk one mile over
the long-distance telephone as It does
to ship a ton OF freight the same dis
lance, the speaker said "a mans con-
when 1T reaches these privately own
ed lines"
High Rates XIII Traffic.
After comparing telephone rates in
the United States and abroad. Con-
gresham Lewis said: THE high toll
rates charged in this country are kill
ing four-fifths of the traffic that
ought to go over the lines. The rea-
son this country. the original home
OF the telephone. ranks 80 low in the
utilization Of this everyday necessity
is found in the high rates the pri-
vate owners charge"
In other countries. he said, local
telephone calls cost half the price OF
postage stamps, while in this country
telephone messages are in a class with
street car fare.
He declared neither the investment
OF the local telephone company. esti-
mated at SIG per telephone by reason
Of q $1,000 900 plant carrying 10000
telephones, nor the operating expen-
ses justified high rates in Washing
ton.
Paid Adequate Charges.
There were 81 900 limited subscrib-
ers here in 1913 and 1914" said Mr..
Lewis, "and they all used less than
800 calls q year each. All of them
paid full and adequate charges to
cover operating expenses, deprecia-
but because of the limitations and re-
strictions their telephones were vir-
tually locked up against them"
Mr.: Lewis said he was much sur
prised to learn that the telephone
company 80 strongly objected to try
ing out Government ownership of its
lines in Washington.
while II Is proposed as an expert
ment from a political standpoint, IT
il not an institutional experiment. for
II has proved a success abroad for
many years." declared the speaker.
III 1t should fail we could retrace our
steps. II II succeeds nobody on
patriotic grounds could object to its
extension all over the United States"
Telephone In Every Home"
CONGRESSMAN Lewis called attention
to section of his bill, empowering
the Postmaster General to take
charge Of the telephone lines during
certain hours to put consumers and
producers of foodstunrs in communi-
cation with each other.
He informed the association that
a telephone expert had studied the
situation here, and asserted that the
Government could make money by
operating the Washington system at
q cost OF $I2 a year for 600 calls.
In conclusion, he said: Three out
Of every five persons in this country
are disinherited from the use of the
telephone by the high rates. There
IS q postal road to every mans home
In this country, and there ought to
be q telephone in every home"
That Wlshingtonians are paying
H.. arrn