The Portland daily press., 1901-02-14

u
q charter as broad IS the name, which
certainly IL broader than the name New
Epgland. 1t has not been the policy Of
this staus to allow the pArallsling OF the
lines OF railroads 1t ia not necessary to
provide that competition TO secure just
rates for the decisions OF the courts pro-
vide a remedy whsn rates are eKorbitant
and the ssrviJs unsatisfactory, do not
think that the New England company
oan be called grinding monopoly, and
II It's service is crippled, the people win
suffer. This Eastern chartsr gives them
the right TO pick out localities In which
they will operate; to take the cream OF
I'm Business. bslisvs that the charter
is asksa with the Idea OF selling it to the
New England company, and II that is so
the era Of low rates VIII bs deferred
MIR. Harris then recltsd the history OF
the legal proceedings against the eompa-
ny in Auburn.
Mr.. Hix OF Rockland, speaking In te-
half OF the Eastern charter, said that In
n case OF this kind, IL was seldom that
the legislature had the ohanos Of com
parison that they DO as this time In
1897, the New England company had In
RockIand 40 telephones, hard to talk over
and with few exceptions, useless for long
distance communication. The rates
charged were $s5 for house servioe and
from $40 to s75 for business. Then the
Eastern company came In and fixed
prices at Just one half, which they
claim is q fair price, leaving good
profit, and that this price is sufficient
for service In all parts Of the state. The
effect OF the composition between these
| two strong companies In Rorkland Is
shown In the Increase In the number
OF telephones in the city from lao TO Y66,
and in the county to total OF 1900
MIR. Bix argued that this object lesson
should lead the legislature TO grant the
proposed charter ana the Houss Ap-
plauced the statement
Mr.. Thompson OF Chiua, said that he
voiced the sentiment OF ninstsen.twen-
tieths of the people SO far as be could
asosrtain 1t. Telephone lines are needed
in the rural sections Of the state and the
people demand competition. The people
located In the cities are perhaps well
served by the telephone they already
have, but this is large etate and there
is need OF the extension et ene ssiepnone
business to the rural community
s4Mr. Walker OF Stsrks ASKED why ne
should vote against this charter in behalf
OF the people. This Is aMaina company
opposed to a foreign company asking
psrpetual monopoly.
MIR. Foster OF Oakland said that nao
he been unfamiliar with the question
the remarks ne mad neara wonlo nave
convinced him the justice OF the passage
OF the Dill.
| Mr' Scamman OF rrankhn sara snas
ne believed aetermineo anu arouseu
peopis could not oe prevented from eA'
pressing their wishes and that the Dill
would be passed
Mr. COOK Oh Vassaiooro-Mr' speaker
one more rurai aistrice wants 10 % neard
irom' Inere Is no uouos snat tnis house
Will go on recoro IN iaVor oi 'ne AasSsrn
company Out IL ls necessary 10 give q
good ma1oriS. "neh 'he members VINO
voVo nsains' 'his oiii so nolhe ehey VIII
nnu 'ns' 'ney hase run up "sains' SUMS
lining 'ne' u'u NOV eAps0'' th@usn'er'J
1his 10 lnore enan oOh'ss' De'"e'n TWO
companies ~ IL .hs peopie asainse
monopoly 1nss 'ne piAoS 70 0neer'
'AAauen'er anu Appiau g rene"su asaln
ana asain-l lou an remenioor snae In
tne iAse 'am mpaisn 'ns Deinocras- 'r'eu 20
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