The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-09
eral reasons for not granting tho fran
Chiqa yiz
COMMITTEES REPORT.

COMMITTEES REPORT.
"This committee reports adversely on
An ordinance authorizing the Lacka-
wanna Telephone company 20 construct
and operate lines OF telephone in the
city of Scranton state OF Pennsylvania,
file of common council No. 2l,; for the
following reasons:
"First-We are opposed to the cutting
up of the asphalt pavement which Is now
being put in good repair at great ex-
pense to the taxaycrs and We arc fur
ther opposed to an addition to the m
slightly and dangerous poles, overhead
wires and cables, which now crowd our
thoroughfares.
"Second-Wherever competing lines ex-
ist, experience shows that one telephone
system properly conducted serves the
public far better than two, because, in
order to secure a complete service, busi-
ness men were compelled to have two
telephones In their business places. BUS
mess reasons compel even those fnan-
cially Interested in the new comany to
retain the old company's telephones and
they have never been able to dispense
with them. Anyone can readily see that
this increase in expense and annoyance
to the public is very great.
your committee, therefore, recommend
the adoption of the following resolution:
Resolved, BY the select council, that
Iurtner action on this ordnance be IN
definitely postponed.
John J. Shea. John L. Roche, Thomas
| O'Boyle, Adam Schroeder"
REASONS FLIMsY.
Resolved, BY the West Side board of
trade, that we look upon and consider all
the reasons set forth in the said rcrort,
| very flimsy subterfuge, and a denial to
| the city itself of a considerable source of
| revenue.
7 Resolved, That there is not one good
| reason set forth In said report for deny
| Ing the franchise prayed for.
| Resolved. That 1t is high time that the
| city councilmen set aside their individual
! interests of whatsoever nature they may
! be, and the interests of a limited few and
! lcEiSlate with respect to this and other
| propositions in the interests of the peo-
! pie.
Resolved, That no Eood reason has yet
| been advanced against competition in
| telephone service in this city, but in de-
nying a franchise to second company,
the city councils are dcpriving those who
| now use telephones of a great saving in
prices and of invaluable advantages and
| convenience iE other respects in tele-
phone services which are enjoyed by tho
| citizens Of many cities and town through
out the country.
This brought out more discussion.
Mr.. Morgan wanted to be enlightened
regarding the ordinance, and asked if
it was necessary for patrons to place
two telephones in their place of busi-
ness.
Mr.. Mason volunteered the informa- =
ton that, a year ago, the old company
had 800 subscribers and the new COM
pany over 1000 and that the introduc-
ton of the new system would not nee
| essarily require a subscriber to have
two telephones.
EX-CounCilman oliver explained that
where two telephones was necessary,
the price, SO per month, would enable
present subscribers to secure them, and
that instead of paying SIS a year as is
now the case. the cost of two tele-
phones, with competition, would not be
over $72 a year
MR.. FARRELL'S OPINION.
Mr.. Farrell again took part in the
discussion, and expressed the belief
that the competition would be good for
trade, and if the price was reduced
better service would result.
Mr.. Campbell thought the old COM
pany wanted to prevent the new COM
pany from obtaining franchise, and
! MI. fellOWS tnOuSnt that II Mr. Nor
gan would ask certain councilmen
whether or not it was true that 5000
was paid for votes. the truth of Mr..
Campbell's assertion could be learned
Mr.. Morgan said that the common
| council, which passed the ordinance,
evidently did not know anything, judg-
ing from the way the selectmen
handled the ordinance, and thought
that the common council might just as
well be done away with. And IL both
councils do not pay any more atten-
tion to communications from the West
Side board of trade than they did to
the resolution about the telephone or
dinance the board of trade might just
as well cease to exist, for all the good
thy accomplish.
The resolutions were finally called for
Z vote and passed unanimously and a
copy ordered furnished the council
committee.
The board adjourned after several
members paid their dues.