The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-07
MAYOR HEADS OFF A RUSH
New Electric Company an Applicant
for Municipal Sanction-Street
Cars Promised.

to their names at the roll call of the
city council last night.
An ordinance granting L. l.. Moi
felt a franchise for constructing and
maintaining a telephone system in
the city was offered by Hogue. The
ordinance committee having recon-
mended adoption, Berky moved a sus
pension of the rules and that the or
dinance be placed upon it's passage.
Unanimous consent was given but be-
fore a vote on the ordinance could
be taken a letter from the Billings
Telephone company was read. The
letter contained an offer made to Moi
felt relative to a system of co-opera-
ton between the two companies.
After the letter had been read
Berky renewed his motion.
Mayor George surrendered the chair
to Berky and made a short talk in
which he urged deliberation on the
part of the council and c%ounseled
against undue haste in granting the
franchise. He advised that a vote be
deferred until the next meeting Of
the council. saying that while he was
not opposed to another telephone com-
pany he thought no harm would be
done by waiting a little until the
council could familiarize itself with
the matter. He called attention to
the fact that no time was specified in
which the system was to be installed.
Mr.. Moffet made a talk to the coun
Gil in support of his petition and ex-
planned what he purposed doing.
At the request of White the petition
for a franchise was read and it show
cd that it merely asked the right to
bring into the city the several long
distance lines owned by the petitioner
and operate exchanges in connection
Herewith.
Reynolds and Connolly now took
their seats and the bill for the ordi-
nance was read again for their in
formation.
White again took the floor and said
that Moffett should be granted the
right of entering the city with his diff.
ferent lines. In reply the mayor said
he also desired to see him get into
the city with his lines. but that the or
dinance recommended for passage
went further and granted Moffett a
franchise to conduct a local exchange.
Connolly thought it advisable to de-
fer final action until the next meet
ing. Reynolds said that while he ia
yored granting the petitioner the right
of entering the city he was opposed
to granting a general franchise, as
another local telephone system was
not needed. The present system was
proving satisfactory to the public and
the rates were reasonable, Further
more he was opposed to the tearing
up of streets and erection of more
poles, as were many others, while the
introduction of another local system
would entail extra expense to sub
scribers, as it would virtually compel
them to put in instruments of both
companies.
F. H. Foster of the Billings company
was granted permission to address the
council and explained the position of
his company and the offer it had
made to Moffett.
This ended the discussion and Con-
nelly as an amendment to Berky's mo-
ton moved that action be deferred
until the next regular meeting. On
roll call Berky, Stoddard, Hogue and
Thorson voted no. Reynolds, Con-
nelly, Cothron and White voted aye.
The mayor broke the tie by voting in
the affirmative and the amendment
prevailed. The motion as amended
was now put and prevailed Unanimous
ly.
The reports of the several city Of
fcers were received.
Police Magistrat Mann addressed
h council in regard to his report for
last month and insisted that the re-
Fort was correct and asked that the
council appoint a committee to eX-
anime his books. He said fines were
collected that never passed through
his hands and if the mayor and coun-
Gil desired further information in re.
gard to this he was prepared to furn-
ish it at the proper time. Several
which he practically knew nothing.
AS a matter of justice to himself he
asked that the council examine his
books and ascertain whether they
were correct or not, as he was grow