The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-31
IN WAS PHONE TALK
Patrons of the Company Hold Meeting
Last Night.

Last night pursuant 10 the call pup
lished in the Eagle the city council
chamber was filled 10 overlooking with
patrons OF the Missouri and Kansas
Telephone company and at o'clock
every seat was occupied in the council
chamber at the city building.
Mr. Throckmorton after stating the
object of the meeting called the meet
ing TO order. Mr.. George VI. Dickson
was elected chairman and p. A ROhr-
baugh was made secretary.
Mr. F. NJ Schurtz of Schurtz Bros.
spoke saying their firm had signed the
petition for a telephone at $50 instead
of $40; our firm should not have pre-
sumed 10 advise the city council.
Mr. Warren-The old company can
do better than the new company, but
| they must do as we'll as our new COM
pany. We should not set rate for
| long time. 1t will become simpler and
cheaper.
DR.. Kirkwood-I see no reason for
paying the old company more than the
new one. 1 would give the old com
pany the preference.
Mr.. Rohrbaugh offered the follow
ing:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that the city council should
=
pany under proper guarantees that
will accept the same, allowing the city
council always 10 fix the rate for phone
rent, for phones used in this city.
Mr. ThrOckmorton-The resolution is
too arbitrary. The council might
| bankrupt any company who would
put in a large plant here.
Mr.. Eckstein-As a patron Of the
telephone company. We must look at
this matter as business men. \ new
company wants in. Do we know who
they are? We know our Old company
| as responsible. I would like 10 know
what the two propositions are, that
We may act irtelligently.
Mr.. Schwartz offered to amend the
resolution by allowing the city council
TO fix a price at the time of granting
franchise and time for franchise TO run
| Mr.. DUNBAR did not sign the petit
ton 1 am willing TO trust the coun-
ell. 1 would give the old company the
preference, if they will give as good
a rate as the new company.
Mr.. ThrockmortOn-Mr. Chipchase
stated that their company had never
/ accepted a franchise with rate fixed;
would like TO hear from Mr.. Chipchase.
Mr. Buckridge-Asks Mr.. Chipchasa
if they have a franchise now.
Mr.. Chipchase-UGder an old fran
chise the city reserved the right TO can
eel it on six months notice, which had
| been served upon him
Mr.. Buckridge-Mr. Mulvane at one
time came down here and said when
the patent run out in about five years,
they would cut the rate Now We
ought to have as cheap phone service
as any town in the United States of our
I gf-r 80 7.-r. II lar- con 40
| Topeka has phones at S25 a year.
Mr.. Chipchase-I can only answer
Mr.. Throckmorton by saying that the
sub companies of the American Bell
never accepted a franchise with rate
fixed.
Mayor Cox-I don't want too much
loaded on 10 the city council. If you
pin yourself down to this resolution the
council never will settle 1t.
Mr.. Eckstein offered the following
resolution:
Resolved. That we the patrons Of
! the telephone system in the city Of
/ Wichita, recommend 70 the city council
that on consideration Of the immediate
reduction OF the telephone rate 10 S36
and $50 the special tax now levied upon
the telephones be repealed. irrespective
I Of any franchise by the city.
MI. BuCkrlGge then OUefcd a SuDStl-
tute resolution which was carried:
That it is the sense Of the patrons of
the telephone company that the coun-
ell should repeal the tax If the COM
pany give % It's patrons at once
phone rent Of $50 for business houses
and S24 for residences. which was car
ried by an almost unanimous vote of
those present.
Some said suppose the company re-
fuses?"
Then said a half dozen We viii fight
them 10 a finish"
The meeting then adjourned with a
proposition for a war on tap.