The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-03-14
\ Wordy Warfare Before
the Aldermen.


brought out in connection with the
hearing granted the Peoples Telephone
Company, last nights session of the
city council developed little outside
regular routine business.
In the board of aldermen a Slight
discussion was provoked by Alderman
O'Counell, on the action taken in con-
nection with the order referring to the
manner in which sewer department
employees are treated by foremen.
The order is one left over from last
year, on which the sewer committee re
ported inexpedient TO act Alderman
Huot explained that opportunity had
been granted for a hearing. but no one
had appeared who V . willing to
state what had taken ~iGte to their
personal know ledge
The matter was reported to the head
of the sewer department with good re-
suits, according to what can be learned.
At the hearing granted the People 5
Telephone Company, which has petit
toned fer a franchise living it the
right to construct its lines in the
streets OIL w OFceSLPG, Il. =. t1OlDIOJh
of Boston and r. w Breed of Lynn
who figure in the directorate of the
Peoples Company since the recent re-
organization, and Charles f. Adams,
president of the Boston and New York
Telegraph and Telephone Company
were present and testified to the inten-
tons OF the company, in which they
are interested.
Ex-Alderman Burton w. Potter APP
fg,,. he =
Goulding and Marvin NJ. Taylor for the
remonstrants. A lively controversy
was precipitated between Mr.. HolbrooB
and Mr.. Goulding as a result of the lat
ters questions, which proved vastly
amusing to the spectators. Mr.. Hol-
brook explained at the close Of the
hearing that he was a little hasty from
the fact that he thought Mr.. Goulding
represented the New England company
and as considerable friction had result
ed during previous dealings with rep.
resentatives of that company, he was
inclined to be a little touchy on that
point.
From Mr.. Potters remarks and the
testimony Of Messrs, Holbrooll Adams
and Breed, it is apparent that the PEG
pies company desires to establish 6
telephone plant in the city of Worces
ter and are willing to abide by what
ever action is taken by the city coun.
Gil so far as locating its lines is con.
cerned. IF the council says build con
Quits and place all lines underground
the company is perfectly willing t
abide by that decision. 1t also pur
poses to install only the latest and mos
up-to-date apparatus in the way o
switchboard and electric appliances
They also propose to give first-clas
service on a basis of about one-hal
what is being charged by the New Eng
Land company at the present time.
In the city of Boston, where the Mas
sachusetts company, in which the abov
named men are interested, has beeI
granted a franchise, it is proposed t.
give the city free use of all instru
ments that it may require. The com
pany will also allow the city space il
its conduits for all lines that may b.
used in the operation of municipal cleo
trio systems.
Mr.. Potter stated that it has been sal
that the New England company is un
able to pay dividends, and that it is al
impOssibility to furnish service at
lower rate. He accounted for this o.
the ground of the royalty paid by les
sees OF the Bell Company instruments
the contract with the Western Uniol
Telegraph Company, whereby tel
ephone companies cannot deliver mes
sages, and the fact that New Englan,
SUCK is WdLGGeQ TO an extent,
After Mr.. Holbrook's explanation a
to what the company proposed to do
Mr. Goulding asked what the capital
lzation of the Peoples company IS. Mr.
Holbrook replied $3.50, GOO Mr.. Gouldin,
then remarked that to build conduit
through the streets OF Worcester, a
planned, would cost more than tn
capitalization of the company. MT
Goulding went on to inquire how mucl
AlaT1
how much substance. He considere,
it strange that a franchise should b.
asked to locate poles before application
had been made to the commissioner o
corporations, for right to issue stock
He also inquired whether the compan!
was one with philanthrOpiC object il
view.
Mr. HolbroOk replied somewhat sar
Castically that he was actuated by tn
noble desire to make money He con
sidered that an exchange could be es
tahlished and pay good returns.
Mr.. Taylor represents 500 remon
strants, including the representativ
business men of the city, who petition
against the new company being grant
ed right to erect poles or overhead
wires in the business or residence por
ton of the city. He was of the Opin
ion that his clients would have no Oh
lection to the franchise being granite
in case conduits We're laid. T.. A
Brewer stated that he had no objeC
ton to the new company being granite
a franchise il the wires were place
under ground. r. c. Taylor wanted tn
wires under ground, and favored com
petition.
L. P. Goulding announced that h
represented the same people as Nj
Taylor and was not in the employ q
the New England company He feare
the Greeks however, even when the
We're bringing presents. He did nc
consider that the real question at issu
mad been touched on or even glance
at in passing. The question is not {
decide what amount Of competitio
shall be recognized, but the principe
argument advanced had been in suppoi
OF the great amount of good to be de
rived from cheaper rates.
The city council should take care q
the highways of Worcester and look {
the convenience of it's citizens NJ
Goulding said he had been informe
that it would cost more to construC
the proposed conduits than the capitf
stock of the company amounts to.
the company can show to the commits
sioner of corporations that it is some
tfing more than a bubble, not an al
tempt to get q corporation on its LEG
out here, then there is no doubt bu
that permission would be granted I
issue stock. At present, however.
looked to him as though an attemI
was being made to exploit a franchis,
The company should first satisfy tn
commissioners that they are willing {
lay out money for some substantial pul
pose and then come here
II. Spencer Haskell appeared for c. !
Allen and others who patitionp6 a gains