The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-28
ALBRIGHT DE.
FENDs-THE COUNCILS OPPOSE
TION TO A FRANCHISE
FOR LONG DISTANCE PHONES.
HE ARGUES THAT TO GRANT ONE
WOULD BE TO CREATE A
MONOPOLY.
OUT OTHER COMPANIES,
And Leaving the City of ST. Paul at
the Mercy of Greedy Cap
itaIists.

The article in the G. l o b of Sunday
calling attention to the fact that be-
cause of the action of the city council,
st. Paul is barred from enjoying the
benefits of the long distance telephone
while Minneapolis has a line in work.
ing order is bearing fruit by arousing
the members of the council to a reali-
zation of the rights of the city. AS
semblyman Albrecht has written the
following letter to the G | o De in de-
Tense of the councils POSITION
To the Editor of the Globe.
1t is very gratifying to note that the
b e. in its last Sundays issue, endeav
ored to give its readers a candid and IN
prejudiced view of the matter of granting
local telephone franchise to the American
Telephone and Telegraph company. 1t is a
question neither Of politics nor of phiiosophic
speculation; it is simply business prep9si-
ton, to be discussed and solved in tenn
perate, business-like manner
The G b e, however, seems not entirely
to have escaped the somewhat general mis-
apprehension Of the vital objections to the
proposed telephone ordinance in its present
form. And certainly the subject is of sufi
cient consequence to all citizens to merit
a thorough calculation on both sides. Il Is
not question Of a patry sum to be paid
to the city as compensation, but the fan
more serious issue as to whether or not ouI
city, within the next twenty -fve years, shall
be able to obtain better and cheaper tele.
phone service.
1t is generally recognized fact, and ex-
pert testimony is not wanting that the tele.
phone service which the city today enjoys
is of very wretched character. The ap
paratus provided by the local company is
Anticipated, and its system is operated moi
by the use of complete metallic circuits, as
should be the case, but by the far inferior
grounded wire common return system. In
addition to these facts, our citizens are pay
ing what under existing conditions are ex
horbitant rate for this service. The North
western Telephone Exchange company is now
operating under an ordinance that is unre
Strlcted as to time, and which leaves the
city without the right to impose any regula
tions as to rates, service or otherwise. This
condition, bad it is for the city, is moi
hopeless, because the city may still permit
other companies to come in and compete
for supremacy with the present company;
indeed, it is matter of public knowledge
that a thoroughly responsible company is now
seeking to enter the city, and is Offering to
provide far better service at much cheaper
rates. But the deplorable condition now ex-
listing is rendered hopeless if the council
passes the proposed ordinance, which is vir-
tually an unrestricted franchise to do a local
telephone business for twenty-five years I'm
der this ordinance the American Telephone
and Telegraph company would hold the key
of the situation because it could refuse to
give its long-distance service, upon reasona-
bic terms, to any other company that might
hereafter seek to operate locally. 1t is per-
fectly clear that, unless the long distance
telephone company is obliged by ordinance
to supply every local company with its serv-
Ice upon equal terms, it can in effect dictate
what company shall do business in the city
for the next twenty five years; and by a
combination with such local company it could
exact of the public such rates the COM
blnatlon might chose to impose. This is the
chief point in dispute. | am anxious that
the long-distance telephone company should
enter the city, upon condition that it shad
furnish facilities to all local companies /
am willing it should have a franchise to do
"a local business, but / insist that such a
line should be operated with complete me-
talllc circuits, and should furnish a service
suitable to the requirements of our city at
reasonable rates. And [ am not willing 10
leave these matters to the discretion or :he
verbal assurances of any company's represent
atiVes. The American Telephone and TeIe-
graph company refuses to submit to any of
these restrictions, and insists upon an ordi-
nance leaving all these matters entirely with
in its control. Unless such salutary restric-
tons are imposed the city can never hope
to induce any other company to undertake
the enerous task of contesting with the pres
ent company for the city's business under
a properly restrictive franchise. 1t is true
that the proposed ordinance provides that
dinances now existing hereafter to be
passed But this, legally interpreted, means
simply that the city might hereafter impose
proper police regulations, nothing more
The following is the context of a letter re-
ceived by me from the mayor of Duluth under
date of Sept "a, in which city with COM
mendable foresight and precaution, the coun-
Gil refused to grant similar application by
the same company: THE agents of the long
distance telephone submitted an ordinance to
the council last fall, which. in addition to a
long distance telephone franchise. also con-
tanned an unrestricted local telephone char
ter. The committee on ordinances met and
discussed the franchise, and part of the COM
mittee were in favor of granting it; but I
Informed them and the agents of the COM
pany that under no consideration would [
approve of such a franchise; that while I
would like to see long distance telephone
constructed and operated in the city, l did
not propose to tie UP the city for a term of
fifty years on local franchise unless tele-
phones would be furnished at a low rate
Our local franchise expires May l. 1899.
sam in favor of the city operating it's own
telephones; if this is impracticable. then 1
am in favor of advertising for competitive
bids. leaving it optional with the city TO re-
ject any and all bids. l satisfied II at in
this way we will get telephones for s25 per
year, or less, and besides receive a per-
time has arrived when the people of our large
cities should take their business into their
own hands, and do away with granting fran
chises entirely or at least in ali cases where
it is practicable. 1t will not only save
thousands of dollars annually of the peoples
money. but remove to a great extent the
cause of corruption among public officials
Why should the people pay tribute to middle
men? Henry Truesen. Mayor"
The citizens of indianapolis have been pay
ing So per month for their telephone service
The little city of New Ulm, in our own state
has a 50 per month telephone service. Mime
apo:s at the present time, is endeavorng to
repealfthe franchise of the Northwestern Tele-
yphone Exchange company and to impose upon
it a 5 per cent gross earnings tax. The rep
resentatives of this long distance telephone
company say that we can appeal to the legis
1ature to yindicate our rights; bet why should
we surrender the remedy when we have it in
our own hands? Armand Albrecht.