The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-02-17

Nearly six hundred voters were present in
Armory Hall last Monday evening in re-
sponse to a call for a special city meeting, to
see If the city would vote to grant a fran
chise to the Peoples Incorporated Telephone
Company to do business within the city lin
its. Mayor Stratton presided, and the warn
ing was read by T. X. Merrill, clerk.
#. L Laird introduced the following reso-
luton: "ReSolUed, That it Is the sense OF
the meeting that the city council be, and
said council Is, hereby instructed to grant q
franchise to the Peoples Incorporated Tele-
phone Company, to set poles, string wires,
city Of Montpelier" In supporting thisr res
olution Mr.. Laird said that a public hearing
on this matter had already been given by
the city council. That body, in its decision
to dismiss Mr.. Almon's petition, did not
voice the sentiments Of the people Of Mont.
pelier. Mr.. Almon proposes to give the
people cheaper service. The city council is
q creation Of the voters, and II this meeting
instruct the council to grant this franchise,
there is no reason why they should not do
1t. 1t was to get the sense OF the public that
this meeting was called. There is no reason
why A. G. Brown and his telephone com
pany should have a monopoly OF the tele-
phone business any more than that Brooks
& Berry should have a monopoly OF the gro
Gerry business. Competition has made our
electric lights cheaper and better, has given
US DtUltE I'LL CubdDOl " oho
competition will do the same thing In the
telephone business.
George H. Almon, secretary and general
manager Of the Peoples Incorporated Tele-
phone Company, stated the position his
| company was in. 1t had obtained a charter
from the legislature and the people all over
the state are much Interested in the Peo-
Piles Incorporated Telephone Company. III
they were allowed to put a system into
Montpelier the people here can talk with
double the number of people they can to-
day. The rates for private houses would be
$40 per year, and for places OF business SIS
per year. The patents have expired on Mr..
Browns telephones, but he is charging just
as much as he did when he paid the Ameri.
can Bell Telephone Company a royalty oil
S14 a year on each instrument. Mr.. Brown
was now paying the Bell Telephone Com.
pany 81 per year on each instrument, and
this was on their agreement that no other
Bell instruments shall be placed in his ter
ritory, and thus perpetuate the monopoly
he now enjoys.
s. G. Shurtleff appeared for Col. Brown.
He said the question is whether we could
have better telephone service than we now
have, and at cheaper rates. The Peoples
Incorporated Telephone Company has not a
dollars worth of stock sold, they have moth
ing but wind, and a charter on which to base
their claim. If this franchise is granted,
the next thing will be the stock subscrip-
ton books will be circulated, and every
man who puts money into 1t will sink it.
1t is a mere speculation and those who have
it in charge have no capital behind it. We
now have the best and the cheapest tele.
phone service in the state. The city coun'
Gil has made up its mind, after a full inves'
tigation, that it is better not to grant this
franchise. That ought to settle it, and not
an outside show and noise about cheap tele-
phones. =,
Mr.. Almon, in reply to Mr.. Shurtleff, said
chat H. IInnru Ionaa nf farh1ru ts
president OF the company, DR.. Hooker Of
Waterbury, treasurer, and G. D. Robinson
of Waterbury, vice-presideDt. They had nc
fears in regard to raising the capital tc
build the lines. Three men in Montpelier
stood ready to assist them with plenty o.
money. The charter provides that the home
Office shall be located at Montpelier. i
this franchise is not granted them the bust
ness will stop.
s. H. o. Bosworth said, in answer to Mr.
Shurtleff's statement that the stock would
be worthless, that does not concern us. HI
had stock in the Central Vermont ant
Montpelier and Wells River railroads OF
which he had never received q cent of div
idend, but we have a good railway service
whether the stock OF the companies is goot
for anything or not. II these people put IL
q telephone service, ever If the stock pay.
no dividend we will be benefited by compel
ing service. 1t matters not whether thu
stock will ever be worth q dollar or not W,
ought to grant this franchise and break vi
the present monopoly. Mr.. Bosworth sale
il he could be allowed to furnish all thu
butter that is used in Montpelier he would
not care for anything else, 80 it is with
man who furnishes all the telephone service
T. R.. Gordon rose to say "amen" t.
what Mr.. Laird. Mr.. Almon and Mr.. Bos
worth had said. The law grants som,
rights to the Peoples Incorporated Tele
phone Company, the same as are granted tC
the Western Union Telegraph Company
and to the railroads, and he, as a lawyer
undertook to say that this telephone com
pany has a right to put up its lines in Mont
pelier subject to the control of the council
without the granting of this franchise. w,
have no right to keep them out. A. G
Brown never asked anything OF the city
but he has defied the city and ignored it,
requests in regard to putting up better
poles, and painting them. Unless we le
this competing company come in we shall
still be at the mercy of Mr.. Brown as are
Warren, Mortified and other places.
There was only one dissenting vote to tht
passage of the resolution introduced by Mr.
Laird and the meeting adjourned. 1t il
uncertain whether the present council will
act in this matter or leave it to the incom
ing city administration