Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-01-12
AND STILL THEY WRANGLE.

The strike is still on and there seems
to be no probability of settlement
with the Iowa Union Telephone Com
pany. AS announced in our last issue
in the neighborhood of forty-five sub
scribers have not been answering calls,
nor do they show the least inclination
to do so in the future, unless they OBJ
tain what they consider to be fair
rental rate, with all parties charged
the same and one or two other lesser
contentious are satisfactorily settled.
A meeting of interested parties was
held at the club rooms last Tuesday
evening, and the matter thoroughly
discussed. All present seemed to be
of one opinion, e., that the price
charged for the use of phones by this
company is unjust, and that still
greater injustice is done by charging
some parties considerably less than
others. Speeches were made by several
of our prominent business men, hold
ing that the rate here is much in excess
of that charged by companies in other
places, and that the citizens of Decorah
cannot afford to pay this price, when
as good an exchange can be secured at
lower rates. A committee of five was
appointed to thoroughly investigate
the matter, and when they had done
so, to call meeting and report; rrFAis-
committee has been busily at work and
has received answers to inquiries from
quite number of cities throughout
Iowa and Minnesota, where, we believe
without an exception, satisfactory ex-
changes are being operated at COM
paratively much less cost to the renter
than here. They have written to the
headquarters of the company which
owns and controls the Decorah ex-
change, stating to them the facts in
the case, and that, in view of the fact
that their money has been invested in
Decorah, they offer them the first OPP
portunity to settle the difficulty, but
we learn that no answer has been re-
ceived at this writing. They also have
received very favorable propositions
from the Standard Telephone Com
pany, and others, to be considered in
case the other company does not give
them satisfactory answer in a reason
able length of time. The committee
announce that meeting to hear their
report and decide what shall be done
will be held at the court house to-
morrow Wednesday, evening, at seven
o'clock sharp. They desire that every
one interested shall be present, whether
they now rent phones or not. A large
attendance is hoped for, as this is
subject which should interest all our
business men, and many residents.
Two exchanges in one city the size of
this cannot be operated successfully,
and it is imperative that full repre-
sentation of our people be present, so as
to decide what company shall operate
the exchange, and what rate shall be
paid for the use of instruments by rent
ers. The committee expect to be able
w hihhC u tutt tSpoit oitA Will ooubl-
less ask for final decision at this
meeting.
IT is not probable that Little
Billie" Bryan and Senator Hill think
alike about many things, but it is dol
lars to soda crackers that their thoughts
are identical on the advisability of the
politician out of a job making success
i'm the lecture field; they both know.
REPUBLICANS promised the country
prosperity under Mckinley, and the
promise will be kept, but they did not
promise to make dishonest men hon
est or to make careless bankers careful.
WHAT a pity that poor Joe McCull-
agh cannot write a few paragraphs on
some of the alleged illustrations of the
manner of his death which have APP
peared i'm st Louis papers.
PERHAPS Queen Victoria might