The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-07

1t. is safe to say that no board of al
dermen ever elected by the city of
Worcester has been favored with more
expert testimony on the telephone ques-
ton than the present incumbents,
1t started early in the year, and has
appeared from time to time by fits
and starts since
Last night with the appearance of
the men who have associated them
selves together in body known as the
Worcester Telephone Company, came
an array of legal talent and experts in
telephone business that was really sur
prising.
On previous occasions, when an in
dependent company has applied for a
hearing, there has been no public
remonstrance on the part of the old
line company, but last night it was
different.
Early in the hearing, F. w. Black
mer, of the firm of Blackmer &
Vaughan, announced that he represent
ed the New England Telephone and
Telegraph Company, and appeared to
demonstrate against granting the
franchise asked by the new company.
Among the gentlemen present at the
hearing known to be interested in the
new company were Henry F. Harris E.
P. Curtis, William Hart, William P.
Searls, Gen. A. B. R. Sprague, j. Rus
sci Marble, T. S. Johnson, and Albert
H. Waite. In addition to Mr.. Black
mer, the New England company was
represented by Samuel L. Powers, the
company's Boston attorney, who i'm
pressed his hearers with having a
thorough knowledge of telephone bust
ness. Edward j. Mcmahon and Marvin
M. Taylor ALSO appeared for citizens of
Worcester. who are opposed to having
more poles and overhead wires in the
streets
The principal argument advanced by
the representatives of the New Eng
land company was that the automatic
system Of telephone which the new
company has thought OF using, is not
suited to the requirements of a large
exchange, and would not give good
service, and secondly that the tele-
phone company should be protected
from competition as railroad, electric
light and gas companies are.
On the other hand, men representing
the new company seem to be satisfied
with the investigation they have made
that telephone business may be con-
Quoted to good advantage and on
paying basis, and while they say they
have SETTLED on no particular style Of
instruments they are inclined to favor
the automatic system. TheN also con-
slider that the New England company,
or rather the parent company, the Am
erican Bell, feeling strong In the ac-
QUESTION of its many patents, is trying
to discourage the invention which the
Bell company has not seen fit to pur-
chase.
Mr.. Harris was the first speaker and
stated that he appeared, not In the ca
pacity Of lawyer, but as president of
the Worcester Telephone Company. He
mentioned the fact that the new com
pany is organized along broad lines and
incorporated under the laws of Massa-
ehusetts, for 100000, with a privilege
of extending its lines outside the city if
advisable. He claimed that the new
company will be able to give as good
If not better service than the New
England company, at about half the
rate charged by that company.
1t is the intention of the company, he
said, to lay underground conduits in
all streets in the city within the mile
circle, in fact to comply with whatever
conditions may be imposed by the
board of aldermen.
William P. Searls spoke of the great
strides made in telephone business
within the past few years, and touched
on the fact that such service has be-
come almost a family necessity at the
present time. The gigantic Bell COM
pany and its sub-companies, he de-
clared, have carried on a monopoly in
their own way under protection of the
government, and until within a few
years there seemed no way of reducing
their charges. About three or four
years ago a sort of tidal wave swept
over the country in the telephone bust
ness, and with 1t came the organiza-
ton of numerous telephone companies,
located principally in the west and
south. He spoke Of the progress made
by the independent company in De-
troit and asked why the opposition
should not thrive equally we'll in Wor-
cester.
Mr.. Searls commended that the larger
an exchange the poorer the service. He
spoke of the steady increase of the op-
position in Boston and southern New
England. He claimed that the New
England company was represented at
the hearing by men who came there
for the express purpose Of throwing
cold water on the plan for a new COM
pany.
Mr.. Blaclmer said he appeared as