The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-16

would De an utter impossibility for any
olher company to give this value to tel
ephone service in 10 years, even with
unlimited capital at the command of the
projectors"
The point which the aldermen are
called upon to settle is a simple one,
and is just this Will they undo the
conditions of today and send business
and professional men who find the tele-
phone as much of a necessity in the
transaction of business as clerks, back
to the chaos of 20 years ago?
Ihey cannot improve the telephone
service by granting another franchise.
putsthey can make it worse.
They cannot cheaper rates by grant
ing franchise to competing COM
pany, but they can compel every one
who uses the telephone to any extent
to pay more for a double and inferior
service than he is paying today for a
single telephone.
The telephone service is an anomaly,
and is not to be measured by condi-
tons which govern other kinds of bust
ness.
The more exchanges there are the
worse off the subscribers find them
selves as to accommodation. If sub
scribers petitioned for a consolidation of
telephone systems 20 years ago, what
would they do now if the single sys-
tenn was shattered?
These points the business men of
Worcester have been considering since
the petition of the Worcester Telephone
Company was introduced and there
are none of them who are pleased with
the prospect, if the aldermen grant the
petition, and the project proves to be
other than speculation or an adver-
Using feature for the people who are
interested in floating stock for an in
dependent telephone company.
And in this connection it is proper to
state that there is a suspicion that the
excellent gentlemen whose names have
been used in connection with the Wor-
cester Telephone Company are simply
ngureheads for a promoter, and that
worcester capital is not interested in
the matter
Just what action will be taken by the
aldermen tomorrow night on the petit
ton of the Worcester Telephone Com
pany remains to be seen, although the
most probable course Is that commit
tee will be appointed to investigate the
matter thoroughly, and report back to
the board. A member of the board
contemplates the introduction of an
order providing for the appointment of
such a committee, which shall be en-
powered to investigate the telephone
question in all its phases.
There has been talk that members OF
the new company would ask for action
on their petition one way or the other
tomorrow night, but judging from the
result of a canvass of members Of the
board, such a step would not produce
the desired result. The sentiment of a
majority of members is, that they want
to know more about the matter at is
sue, not only as regards the system to
be used, but regarding other matters
pertaining to the installation of a teIe-
phone system.
The aldermen want to feel sure be-
yond the shadow of doubt that thew
are doing what is for the best inter
ests of the city when they take action
Assuming the appointment of a com
mittee, some time would be taken ur
in investigation, and as the city gov
eminent will adjourn in the near flu
ture for the summer, a report would
not be Forthcoming before fall.
Another matter arose yesterday in
the way of granting the permission
asked at once. A petition was circu-
lated and signed quite generally, ask
ing the Board of Aldermen not to take
action on the petition of the Worcester
Telephone Company for a right to lay
conduits and erect pA,es in the streets
of Worcester until there has been a
public hearing This petition may be
presented at tomorrow nights meeting.