The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1901-05-02
Progressive League of Maine g.
Organization Effected interest Aroused
Speeches Given aud Work Outlined.


Ing into the question Of the State and
National ownership and operation Of the
telegraph and telephone lines and other
public utilities within its territories. that
for the past few weeks has been
thoroughly advertised in the village and
outlying districts, as well as many of the
neighboring towns of the county, was
held in Coburn Hall, Friday evening.
The hall WAS comfortably filled with re-
preventative people, many women also
being present
The meeting WAS called to order by
Geo. W. Cover, Esq. Mr.. Levi w.
Weston WAS chosen moderator; W. S.
Gushing, secretary, and K. T. Patten
assistant secretary. The assistant secre-
tary read the call for the meeting with a
list of signers, of which there are
over 300. A committee was appointed
from the chair to report list Of officers
for nomination, consisting of K. Z.
Patten, X. II. Townsend and w. 7.
Seekins. A committee Of resolutions
WAS appointed as follows: Hon. S. j.
Walton, Geo. B. Stafford, ". II. Wildes.
F. w. Allen and A. II. Lang.
The High school orchestra, under the
leadership of j. A. Kendall, followed this
routine work with selection and during
the evening interspersed the speeches
with pleasing music.
The moderator introduced L. L. Wal
ton, Esq, the first speaker of the. even
ing, who had been assigned the subject
"The Possibilities and Advantages of the
Telephone under Government Control
Mr.. Walton spoke of the fact that il
was novel proceeding ~ have a public
meeting and discussion outside of q
political campaign and that the question
no doubt arose in the minds of some
present, what is the practical result
sought after or likely to be accomplished
by this meeting?' and "What is the adj
vantage of discussing this question now
down here in Maine, in Skowhegan"'
He asked what is Government Con
troll" He said "In a republic the people
govern; all power is inherent in the
people,
The question really is "Would we, the
people, find it advantageous to own the
telephone system?' This depends upon
the answers to the following questions
/. To what extent can the property
be used by us?
,. Could it be readily taken care OF
and managed?
3. Whether it would serve US as well
as the present arrangement and facili
ties?
4. How would the expense compare
He illustrated the matter by referring
to the purchase by business man of 8
team, and the like. And then taking up
each proposition in its order as relating
to the telephone showed clearly and CON
vncingly that the telephone, if owned
and controlled by the government, could
and would be extensively employed
could be readily taken care of by the
government; would, like the post office
department, serve the people much better
than as now managed; and that the ex.
pense would be so reduced as to bring
them within reach of persons in moderate
circumstances.
He said that the telephone was getting
to be not luxury but necessity. He
suggested that as to the government
ownership of the railroad there was a
chance for argument, but claimed that
there was no reason why the govern
ment should not take charge of communi-
cations by telephone as we'll as by the
post office.
He asked if the postal service had beer
under the control of private corporations
If any believed that we would now bt
able to send letter from Maine to Cali
fornia for two cents.
He claimed that the government could
or at least would, do better than a pri
vate corporation. The latter goes only
where it can make money and is moi
satisfied with a small per cent, while the
post office experience shows that the
government does and can afford to dc
business in new localities, at first at a
loss, in order to develop paying bust
ness. He asked if a corporation hac
been carrying the mails charging three
cent postage would have reduced it'
rates, as the government did, down tt
two cents, as an experiment. How Ions
would the people have had to wait f0l
the tive cent postage rate?
He said "Isn't it ridiculous to think O
the government taking charge of my
communication by letter with a relative
or friend in New York or Colorado,
paying the magnificent sum of twt
cents, and refusing to assist me in com
municating by telephone across Skowhe
gan village or to different parts of GU
State for a fair compensation o.
He asked if any one could think why
the government should own and carry OF
the postal service and not the telephone
The government only desires to pay ex
penses while private telephone corpora
tons insist upon making more than 81
per cent.
He cited municipal ownership of tn,
telephone by cities in Europe and com
pared them with rates in this country
more than six times as large in American
cities controlled by private corporations
He cited rates in Rockland where com
petition has brought the rental down II
$l2, and increased the number of sub
scribers nearly ten fold, and HartlanC
where private service has been furnish
ed at charge of only three dollars
and the number of takers recently in
creased to 53.
He said he had no doubt If the town Of
Skowhegan owned its telephone system
the rental would not be over So per yeal
and there would be at least 1000 sub
scribers.
Mr.. Waton's remarks were candid
foreible, and convincing and were re
ceived with much favor by the audience
The second speaker was Forrest Good
win, Esq. whose subject was "What art
the Necessary Legal Steps to Accom-