The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-29

The Manufacturers Association has &C
cepted the promise OF better telephone
service made by the Superintendent f. c.
Willard of the local exchange, and will
wait a reasonable time TO test HIS good
faith. The matter vas the first thing
brought up for consideration at the semi
monthly meeting Of the association. at
the Chamber OF Commerce last night.
Previous to calling the meeting 20 order
d. b. Porter. president OF the associa-
ton. was asked IL the telephone ques-
ton would be taken up as a theme for
discussion.
'It WILL" he said 'erhe service rem
dered by the Sunset Telephone Company
here is the most eXecrable TO be found on
the Pacific coast. The members OF the
association mean business in dealing with
the problem, and unless an Improvement
is manifest within a very brief period the
merchants and manufacturers of Seattle
will be invited in a body 10 withdraw
their patronage"
At $50 O'Clock the members OF the
body were generously represented Presi-
dent Porter called the meeting TO order and
Secretary Schccken read the minutes. The
following letter addressed to the superin-
tendent of the Sunset Telephone Com
pany. was then read and generally dis
cussed:
Seattle, Wash, June IS, 1900.
"Mr r. c. Willard, Sunset Telegraph
and Telephone Company-Dear Sir;
At the last meeting OF the Manufacturers
Association, general complaint was
made by the different members of our
association about the telephone service
in our city. Most Of the manufacturers
Of Seattle are located az some distance
from the business center OF the city, ana
they depend TO a very great extent in
the transaction of their business on the
telephone service. You will, therefore.
appreciate the fact that no class Of your
subscribers would suffer more from a
poor and inefficient service than the
The president of our association has
appointed me as chairman of the com.
mittee to look into these complaints aud
to report at the next meeting the re-
suits OF our investigation In interview
ing some OF your subscribers among the
manufacturers, iobbers and retailers OF
our city. We find the opinion generally
expressed that the telephone service has
greatly deteriorated during the last few
months, and that what until few
months ago, was the best service on the
Coast Is now simply an aggravation.
No one appreciates the difficulties or
running any business, where one depends
SO largely on the efficiency and interest
taken by employees. as the manufacturer.
We are all employers OF labor, and we
all have our troubles and difficulties and
we appreciate II when our patrons tell
us In kindly spirit of any carelessness
OF employees or OF some fault in our
business methods. and we hope most sin
cerely that you will look at this letter
I'VE would simply like to call your at
tertion to the fact that this dissatisfac-
ton exists among very large class of
you- subscribers, and we would be pleas
ed to have some assurances from you
that you viii look into these complaints
with a view of improving the present
state Of affairs-if found as represented
Hoping TO be honored with an early
N'''' III. scHoCKFN.
Chairman of Special Committee OF Man
ufacturers' Association Of Seattle.
up. S-This is the only letter addressed
TO any official OF the sunset Telephone
and Telegraph Company.
After reading the letter Mr.. Schockcn
said: In my capacity as secretary,
have consulted with Mr.. Willard. super
intendent of the company. and really am
OF the opinion that IL Is the system rather
than the Management that is to blame.
Mr.. Willard has requested that we select
COMMITTEES and visit the telephone ht<id-
ing. In this event. he has promised that
we shall be initiated into all the secrets
OF the methods employed by the company
here. This, however, would I've waste
OF time on the part OF the association.
None OF us are familiar with the techni-
cal workings OF the wires and the para
phernalia utilized. II We decline TO do
this he stfli declares his intention OF e0-
ercisiug his best efforts TO better the pre-
Vailing conditions
MY suggestion fs that we invite Mr..
Miiafd 10 appear DfIoie our meeting Two
weeks from tonight Then we shall re-
quest that he unfold the difficulties IN a
simple way that we can ali understand
II II Is Shown that Seattle has an Inferior
system as compared TO other towns and
cities, Il Is high time that a change Is
inaugurated. One thing Ia certain and
that Is that u is utterly impossible 20 con
tinae longer under the present state Of
Affairs"
other members coincided with Mr.
Schockens statement aud President Porter
added,
The troubles encountered by the Seattle
manufacturers are something dreadful to-
contemplate. Certainly we should not be
called upon to longer endure them, In
asmuch, however. as Mr., NuuArd will no
doubt 10 present two w~ekv from tonight.
and Ia the meantime fulni his promise 20
improve the scrytca, ~ Is in order 80 await
his action. N ne fails 10 meet this ohll-
CATION, Ne shall take other and definite
measures 20 secure our ends.
Theae sentiments met with the approval
Of all present
Superintendent Mniard. ~ the Telephone
company was seen hY Fost-Ip teligcncer
reporter at a late hour last night He
sai4 ,.,,,,,,. u,',., -. .,,-,s,.., - 80.
Nome rush wish that the merchants
might understand the dlsficulties with
which we have 20 contend Our system
IL the hest In the world today. In the Ess;
they use what Is called 'he Magnetic Null
tip,e Here We have wGat is called the
Express The Eastern system extends -
far west as -, LoUis. on al the b0xes
they are obliged 20 ring for calls. Ours IL
automatic and vas invented By John T.
Sahin, president q our company. within
fen years It Will b. Va general uHs
throughout the United States am sure
that with the Nome 1lsA N cur hnnda
there wlil be little caase Tor eompiairss
hencefOFth"