Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-03-26
PHONE FIGHT IS
TO Be REOPENED
Rock Island Merchants Unite
With Farmers in Independ.
emf Movement.
BILLS & WORKMAN MAY RETURN
And Renew Application to City
Council for a Fran.
chise.

Action was taken at last nights
meeting of the Rotk Island Retail
Merchants association calculated to
revive the independent telephone
franchise controversy and indicating
that it will be one of the interesting
questions the new council will be
called upon to settle.
The matter was brought before the
merchants by delegation of ten.
representing seven rural teleph one
associations from the territory south
and southwest of Milan. who came
asking cooperation in securing some
form of telephone communication
with this city.
j. l.. Vernon, of Sherrard, was
spokesman of the visiting delegation,
and made the main address present
ing the position of rural telephone
owners. He explained the growth of
the rural lines and likened them in
their organization to Woodmen
camps. He represented that there are
not less than 1000 in the country
adjacent to this city, the owners of
which are all more or less interested
in getting some sort of connection
here.
Central Unions Propositions.
Mr.. Vernon spoke of the various
propositions made by the Central
Union Telephone company to the
rural lines. all apparently reasonable
on the face, but all carrying with
them the surrender of some part of
independence of the outside lines.
and being therefore entirely distaste-
full to the rural owners.
James Hynes. of Bowling. also
spoke, particularly upon the PROPOSE
ton for the installing of Bell trans
mitters on the independent instru-
ments and allowing the owners to talk
TO this city for toll of 5 cents per
message. He pointed out the obiec-
tionable features of the plan and
named several Inconsistencies on the
part of the Central Union company.
Bills q workman to Return.
The question was generally dis
cussed by the association and it de-
veloped that Bills & Workman. who
attempted year ago to secure an in
dependent franchise from the city
council, intend to come before the
new council with another applica-
ton. It also developed that there
was an exceedingly strong sentiment
among those present in favor of al
lowing the Independent company to
become established here. Upon mo-
ton the chair was instructed to ap-
point committee of three from each
ward in the city to wait on the alder
manic candidates now before the peo-
pie and ascertain their position on
the telephone question. The COM
mittees were later instructed to also
wait upon the mayoral candidates
and ascertain their complexion upon
the same subject.
Committee Appointed.
l.. Simon, Louis Kohn and w. G.
Maucker were named by the chair as
committee to act in conjunction
with committees from the rural lines
and from the Rock Island Club to con-
fer with representatives of the Cen
trail Union company some time during
the present week and ascertain what |
can be done under existing condi-
tions.
The merchants were addressed by
MIR. Pinkerton in behalf of the Wood |
men Picnic association in regard to |
the taking of steps toward raising
a fund to insure the success of next |
summers gathering. A committee |
was named to cooperate with the as
ISOLATION.