The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-07-02
THE TgLEPHoaE FRANCHISE. 4 i

This paper has never opposed the
granting Of il franchise, under proper
restrictions, TO establish and maintain
local telephone exchange in this
but has consistently opposed and
continue to use It's influence
sainst the granting Of perpetual
unrestricted franchise for any
publsc utiissisy to any individual OF
corporation Such grant would be
wrong in principle, wrong in poliegg,
ard injurious TO the taxpayers and cit
liens Of this city generally, as they
would realize 10 their sorrow when
shey began b, feel the effects that
would assaredly follow the granting Of
snch 4 franchise.
he application Of the Southern Bell
Palephone and Telegraph Company
for a franchise TO erect and operate q
IoeaI telephone exchange IN this city,.
now before City Council, furnishes a
rom what We shall have to say re-
spectiag the franchise oaestion. While
shess remarks have particular an5
plicaIion TO the case IN point, they
are based upon we'll defined basic
principles Of public policy. that are Of
the widest and most general applica-
tion to grants of franchises Of any
caaraeter haEsoeyer
The status Of the Bell company ap-s
psication is that the City Goaneil, hy q:
aaiority of one, the Mayor casting.
the deciding ballot, adopted resolu-
ion that The application Of the Bell
CON npany for a franehise be granted.
Is long with the application the Bell
coapany fled an ordinance for adop-
sion by City Council and form Of
contract to be executed between the
southern Bell Telephone and Tele-
graph Company and the city Of Sum
tar, The said contract to be signed and
sealed Ii behalf Of the Bell company
rs president and secretary and by
she Mayor and Clerk in behalf Of the
cisY Of Sumter. The proposed ordi-
lance has not been read twice at
successive meetings and Shen adopted
81 4 majority vote Of Council nor has;
81; been adopted by majority vote
after FIRST reading under a suspen-
sion Of the rules by vote, as the rule
and custom Of the City Council per
azs,ts. Nor has a resolution been
dopssd by vote Of Council instEucting
and empowering the Mayor and Clerk
So execute the proposed contract IN
bshaH oss the city of Sumter. Now
&c come to the point We are utterly
and nnaleerably opposed to the adop-
tion Of the ordinance N the form sub
He'd. for the reason that Section 8
IS superhuous and has no place IN an
ordinance granting q simple fran
chise. It is inserted in the ordinance
sor 4 purpose, and that purpose is not
She benefit Of the city Of Sumter nor
She conservation Of the rights Of her
sci tizens Section 8 states a consider
alton for the adoption Of the ordinance
and gives to the ordinance the force
ard effect Of binding and perpetual
contract, which the city Of Sumter
has no power TO alter or revoke 50 long
IS the Bell company shall comply
With sts part OF the agreement. We
object to the City Council entering
TO such contract, for the very
sgood reasons, that, in the first place.
the consideration named is not snfh-
cisnt, and, in the second place, that
s. IS unwise and poor policy TO make
q perpetual contract ofsthis nature, for
conditions may so change within the
next Eve, ten OF twenty years that it
would be OF the greatest Importance
and salue TO the city to be in q posi-
si;on to alter the terms of the franchise,
or at the termination OF the franchise
neriod to refuse to renew it altogeta-
er
20 the proposed contract the above
objections apply with even greater
force than to the proposed contract
ordinance. Ne can but add that, in
our opinion, it would be the yeriest
folly for the City Council to tie the
city hand and foot at the demand Of a
corporation that proposes to come into
Sumter, not as charitable organi-
zasion, but for the purpose of making
all the profit possible out of busi-
mass enterprise. It is to the interest
of the Bell company and its paid rep
resentatives to make the best terms
possfbIe, and they are looking out fol
the interests of their side. II they
can induce the City Council to exc,
cute an iron-clad contract that vii
Z .