Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-07-08
The IeIanhnna Ordinance.

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Commenting upon councils actions
in refusing to grant an ordinance to
the Southern Pennsylvania Telephone
Company, we believe that councils
have done the right thing for the best
interests OF all concerned The Penn
sylvania Telephone Company has been
at work for almost 20 years in build
ing up the telephone business in this
city They have always treated the
subscribers with fairness and courtesy
They have never hesitated at any ex-
pense when an improvement in the
service was possible, and they have
profited by the knowledge that can on
lysbe obtained by experience in in any
business, and have steadily and llber-
ally reduced tine rates for telephones
until today the prevailing rates are as
low as is compatible with the giving
of good service.
The cry for competition Is most al
Turing catch-woru to the average per-
son and in most circumstances goes
hand in hand with wealthy, prosperous
business conditions. You have two
railroads, and you can use neither
You pay your fare and that ends it,
You can send a telegram over any par
ticular telegraph line you may select;
but in naving two telephone compan-
les, operating in city the subscribers
are put to the expense OF paying for
two telephones where they only need
one. nheylare caused endless annoy
ance by having two bells ringing in
stead 'of one. They are obliged to use
two lists of subscribers where one is
bad enough; and they are apt to have
the usefulness of their service impeded
and hindered in many ways. Then
there is the old, old story that has been
Illustrated at the expense of the public
so many times. We all know the his
tory of traction competition and its in
variable finish in consolidation and
the making up for lost time. We all
know only too well the result of
competition in the electric light and
gas field. As a general rule, the eff
forts always. end in combination or
consolidation, and in the end the pub
lie pay for it, No-councils were
right, and all far-sig citizens and
business men are bound to see it upon
reflection and consideration. The
Pennsylvania Telephone Company is
doing its best to serve the city with
first class telephone facilities. 1t is
rapidly, approaching the completion OF
its new plant-and in the course of a
few months Harrisburg will be enjoy
ing telephone service the equal, il
not the superior of-th finest thus, far
given.in any city in the country. The
officers are we'll known, conscientious
men, who are endeavoring to give the
telephone Subscribers of Harrisburg
the best possible service at the lowest
possible cost and The Telegraph ap:
proves the course OF councils in refus.
ing to grant the rights OF this city fol-
the purpose of demoral.zing so import.
ant factor uf its daily business and
comfort as the telephone.
The day of immense royalties to the
American Bell Telephone Company
has gone by. The constant reduction
of their rates is sufficient evidence thai
they have come to realize that If theil
business is to stand ii must be managed
on economical lines at ,reasonabl,
prices. and this is the present anC
promised attitude of the Pennsylvania
Telephone Company, Harrisburg Tel
egraph.