Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-05-15
The Telephone Franchise.

The Telephone Franchise.
At its regular meeting May a., the
city council granted the franchise re-
quired to enable the Northern Iowa
Telephone Company to be within the
corporate limits lawfully, reserving
the right to granta similar franchise
to any telephone company whenever
authorized by law to do SO, also re-
serving the right to build, maintain
and operate asystsm of its own. It's
provided in section of the ordinance
that wires may be placed on the tele-
phone poles for complete fire alarm
system and to furnish free Of charge
two complete telephone instruments
for that purpose, to be located where
the city council may direct but not
more than one-half mile from the CEN
tral Office of the telephone company
We have heard great deal Of crit
icism upon the seventh section of the
ordinance. This section provides that
the Northern Iowa Telephone Compa-
ny, for rental of telephones In Its ex-
change services within the limits of
the city Of Cresco, shall not charge
more than fifteen dollars q year In
business places nor more than twelve
dollars year in residences, payable
monthly. This would be an increase
above present rates, we believe, of
three dollars q year, and is the pre-
vailing rate Of telephone service in
cities the size of Cresco. This rental
is to include the use of all rural lines
connecting with the central Office in
Cresco. The toll and messenger ser
vice are also provided for in this sec
tion, the toll being fixed at ten cents.
1t is also provided that the maxi
mum rental specified to be charged
"may be increased at the end Of any
period of four years, after the taking
effect of this ordinance II it is then
Satisfactorily shown to the council by
said company that they are INSULT
cient to enable it to make needed re-
pairs to the lines or plant, arising
| from any cause, and maintain the
same in such condition as to enable it
to furnish efficient telephone service
to the inhabitants of said city and to
the public generally"
j, This quoted is the clause that re-
ceives the most of the criticism of
the public, but the only real peril to
the:public lies in its having q city
council lacking the intelligence, the
ability and the devotion to the public
interests that will require full and
j, detailed statement Of Its resources
and receipts from every source, and q
full statement OF It's expenditures fol
I 1 salaries of its officers and the pay Of
! its linemen and laborers, and its sup
plies Of every nature, and Of the stocl
Of unused material on hand and its
I value. If such full and complete
showing is not thus satisfactorily
} shown to the council" it may with
hold its sanction to any proposed In
crease of rates. The public safety
lies in electing to the city council,
} men Of known ability and Of character
and integrity without regard to parti-
san politics, men who would regard an
J election to the. Office Of alderman as
involving a duty to guard the pubic
from wrong or extortion. With q city
council composed Of such men there Is
D no danger.
J When an assessment of the railroad
! Of the state was being made, the exec
Z utive council beseiged by railroad at
. torneys in behalf of the roads, Gov
/ Shaw blandly inquired II there was n
< one to represent the public, and, will
x the others of the council, proceeds
D to grant what the railroads asked
Z Thereupon Mr.. Brant, Of the Clintol
y Herald, informed Leslie M. Shaw an
1 the other members of the executive
: council that they were expected t
represent the public. And SO Wit
4 our council to pass upon this question
= II it represents the public, all will b
= well only when as in the case OF th
executive council it forgets whose sci
wants they are.
d