Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-05-25

never claimed to reach as many points
as the Bell monopoly. That If they
could do no business at Willmar that
would be their loss and not the city g.
That he believed they were competent
to manage their own business. That
the freight in the instance cited had
not been paid at once because the
company had not been notified that
the poles were here. That they had
been granted permission to build
through all the villages and cities
from Minneapolis to this point. Had
applied for this permit to enter viii.
mar, but ii refused would pass by out
side of city limits. Was quite sure
that the competition would lead to
lower rates. Stated that he was will
ing to add to the application that the
toll rate to the cities would not exceed
30 cents for the first minute, and 10
cents for each additional minute.
Editor Lawson spoke briefly. He
stated that he did not appear in be-
half of the applying company par
ticularly, but had taken the stand he
had from q spirit of fairness and
desire for the widest and the largest
freedom of the means of communica.
tion to the city from all directions.
He thought it would be as wrong from
q business standpoint to exclude =
competing telephone line, as it would
to exclude competing railroad. AS
for the editorial in question he was
not ashamed of the same and believed
that it substantially stated the truth.
He was sorry, however, if anything in
the same was taken as casting reaec-
tions on the integrity of the council
men. He believed that the new line if
built through the city would not
menace the legitimate business of the
local company, but might be strong
incentive to the latter in maintaining
an excellent service at reasonable
rates in order to do away with any
demand for another exchange. In
conclusion he stated that his written
opinions in the matter had been in.
huenced from no one connected with
the new company, nor did he propose
to submit any of bis editorials in the
future to Mr.. Tallman or anyone else
for revision.
Senator l.. O. Thorpe spoke next
He stated In q tentative manner, that
it the new line did not offer any re-
duction in rates, and would be of no
convenience or benefit to the public,
there was no reason why the local
company interests should not be pro-
tected. he believed that in some in
stances competition was not Z good
thing People had .pprosched him
in regard to starting third news.
paper, but he had replied that the
town had two good newspapers, and
that was enough. He has little
stock in the Minnesota Central tele-
phone company and was somewhat
familiar with the circumstances of the
raising of money from outside capital
ists with which to extend the lines.
1t had been exceedingly difficult to re.
tain the general offices Of the company
at Willmar, as these people who furn-
ished the money had desired to have
them removed to Minneapolis. II by
the admission of this new line to Will
mar there was danger OF wrecking the
home company or of inticting such
damage to its prestige that the gene
raj Offices would be removed, the
speaker believed that the council
would be justified in shutting the new
line out.
Mr.. J. Emil Nelson, of the TRIBUNE,
stated that it appeared to him that
Mr.. Tallman's attitude was as that of
one who said, 'I've got you where the
hair is short, and I propose TO keep
you there.", He did not believe that
it was right that private Individual
should be allowed to monopolize the
telephone service for his own special
benefit. He cited instances where he
as stockholder in q farmers inde-
pendent line is asked to pay for talk
ing over his own line, something he
did not propose to submit to.
w. j. Pinney stated that as busi-
ness man he had no use for more than
one phone and would never leave his
Office to talk over any other lines, that
the present service was all that could
be desired, and that the new line had
better build it's line past the city south
of the limits, on the route it has sur
veyed.
At this point several questions we're
asked and replied to, Nelson and Sam
Porter exchanged remarks, and the
Acting Mayor Holt raped for order
and declared the discussion closed.
Upon motion of Alderman Olson the
matter of granting the permit was de-
ferred to the next regular meeting of
the council, owing to the absence OF
the mayor.
Before the matter was dropped, Mr..
+. J. Anderson, = leading merchant
OF Belgrade, asked permission to be
heard, which was granted. Mr.. An
derson said he vas one OF q committee
of four from Belgrade and the north.
ern part of the county, who were pres