Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-03-04

tlement would have Individual service
In theh hofos. and thus ,he new sys'
TEN would De rapidly oXtonded In new
directions aud become popular In many
places, This would be beneficial to
every body connected with that system
here and elsewhere, but would not OBJ
yiotc the difficulties suggested as to
the connections established only in the
Eel sphere Of operations,
II franchise can be- obtained by the
proposed company ana It should ma
torlallse into a home corporation, ac-
cordlng to the plans projected, 1t would
probably have the effect Of forcing a
reduction Of rates upon the Bell sys'
TEN. Hut It is h0rdlS probable that 1t
would drive the latter out Of the held,
seeing that It IL Il well.cstublished sys-
TEN, and supported TO some extent by
local capitalists, and has behind It a
powerful corporation Of wealth and M
fuence throughout The land The two
systems. side by side in our business
establishments might De endured and
could probably be operated by a differ
ent code Of signals but, after all It
certainly looks as though they would
be confusing and without the benefits
held out as coming from cheap service
II has been suggested ~ the pres
ent scheme has been devised simply Tor
the purpose Of obtaining a franchise
and q show Of patronage by subscrlp-
tIons for cheap telephone service win
a view Of selling out 10 the Ben com
pany We do not regard this as sound.
The g-agtH,a connected with It nj
ready are men Of business and social
standing in the state, and they would
not knowingly lend their names and
inuence to any measure Of that charac-
ter. II Is probably started In good
faith. and on It's face shows many
things that appear plausible ana
worthy Of consideration, II IL certainly
allurlng, TO say the least, to those who
are paying what are considered hlgh
rates for business ana professional
telephone service, and anything that
offers TO cut them In two, either by the
establishment Of a cheaper system or
by compelling the existing company to
cut IFS prices, Is naturally attractive.
We can only suggest TO the CITY
Council that the claims Of the pro-
jectors of the Home Telephone cone
pany receive fair and Unbiased consd'
Grafton. We have no lewonal interest
in either organization We have In
view nothing but the welfare OF the
public. We have nothing against the
Bell company or system, for we think
Il has greatly improved and It's extern
slons are valuable 90 us as gatherers
OF news and dlssemnaters OF intelll-
gence VIZ do not wish to throw
straw IN the way Of the new company
In the establishment OF any legitimate
enterprise, whether by way of compe-
titlon or otherwise The City Council
should not take a course purposely TO
lnlure existing Industries. or the estab-
lishment Of new undertakings which
bear genuine stamp and are evident
ly promotlye Of the public welfare
Personal fayors or anim0sltles should
not figure In the matter. II the public
win be benhtted by the granting of the
franchise asked for let It be given UNI
der proper restrictions and agreements.
II not, II should be denied The pleas
ure Of saying yes must not be INDUCED
in unless II is for the public good II
that is likely TO be- promoted the soon
err the answer Is given the better.