The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-01
COUNCIL TO DECIDE ON REsPEc.
TIVE CLAIMS.
t:'cH i WANTS A MONOPOLY
Both Companies Demand Exclusive
charters-willine That City
Shall Share in Profits.

Tonight is the time fixed by the
city council for final consideration
of the application of the Montana
& Wyoming Telephone company for
extension of it's franchise in the city
for period of 20 years from the date
Of the expiration of it's present fran
chise, four years hence. The appli-
| cation of that company, if favorabE
considered by the council, will carry
| with it the understanding that the
Montana & Wyoming system is to be
1 granted an exclusive franchise for
operating telephones in the city af-
ter the expiration of that company's
present franchise. The Montana &
| Wyoming company, should the city
through it's qualified electors grant
| it's application, pledges to the city
| a certain portion of it's revenues to be
received while operating under more
favorable franchise.
While the application of the Mon
tana & Wyoming company is up be-
fore the council for consideration,
officers of the Bell company will con-
tend that their company should also
be heard in the matter of extension
OF franchise. IT. is claimed by the
Bell people that the matter of donat-
ing a portion of the revenues from
the rental of phones, as proposed
by the opposition company, will be
met by the former company and that
the Bell people will be just as liberal
to the city as the Montana & Wyom-
ing company, should they be granted
the same kind of a concession as is
asked by the opposing company
Claims Of the Montana & Wyoming
Company.
The Montana & Wyoming company
contends that it is a corporation whose
stock is held entirely by residents of
the city and county and as such
the company has a right to expect
more consideration than the Bell peo-
pie which is held to be foreign
concern. by those who oppose the
granting of further favors to the lat
ter company.
Pressure is brought to bear on the
city council by the Montana & Wyom-
ing company along the foregoing lines
and the council is asked to take into
consideration the idea that home peo-
pie have some rights which the city
ought to consider.
On the other hand the Bell COM
pany contends that it also has some
rights and while it admits that the
company is to a great extent foreign
the officers and friends of the Bell
company in the city contend that in
many respects it is the equal OF the
opposition company insofar as the in
terests of the city and her citizens
are concerned
Too Much Telephone.
Upon one point all the citizens OF
the city heartily agree; that is the
fact that the people are burdened
with two telephone systems. First |
is the item of expense with which
many are burdened unnecessarily and |
second is the nuisance and constant |
by reason of the two sys-
TENS operating in the city.
Experience during the last few
years received by the people of the
city has been sufficient to prove that
should the telephone muddle here be
out and the business re-
duced to one system, it would be
rather an unhealthy proposition should
q future council attempt to foist upon
The city second telephone exchange.