The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-01-16
ZENITH COMPANY MUST
HAVE HIGHER RATES
Zenith City Telephone Company Should Have Higher Rates
1t Must Survive If Company Is Destroyed the Bell
People Will Again Have Monopoly in Duluth

The Labor World is in favor of the
proposed amendment to the franchise
of the Zenith City Telephone company,
by which this company will be en-
titled to make some slight increase in
its telephone rates.
1t probably will appear strange to
some people that labor paper should
take such position. Usually labor
papers are opposed to every privilege
granted to public service corporations,
and should the city have the right to
acquire q plant we would be found
at this time fighting for municipal
telephone plant. But that is an i'm
possible proposition at this time
thanks to an unconcerned Legislature
so the Labor World must chose the
next best thing. We know some things
about the telephone business that all
of the people should know.
We firmly believe that the very life
Of the Zenith City Telephone COM
pany depends upon the passage Of the
proposed amendment Long ago the
Bell company predicted the failAre Of
the independent company unless it
secured higher rates.
Bell Company Is Unrestricted.
1he destruction Of the Independent
company will mean the giving again
OF monopoly to the Bell company
This company 50 the courts have de-
c1ded, have d perpetual right to op-
crate In this city. Very little, if any,
municipal control can be exercised
over it. Give the Bell people a mon
opoly, and we will again enjoy the
sweet pleasures Of an inferior and
out Of date telephone service, at rates
to suit the scruples of the company
Competition in the telephone business
has compelled both companies to
maintain the very best service
Union labor should support the
Zenith Teleph. Co. because it's electrical
workers work the eight hour day.
while the Bell company is an open
and avowed opponent of organized la
Dor Its employees still work the long
Workday. The Bell company is on the
unfair list of organized labor. Now
is the time to support our frineds
The Zenith City Telephone company
has been absolutely fair and open in
ITS desire to secure higher rates. 1t
made a complete disclosure to the city
officials of it's financial condition It
was made apparent to every person
!: Msao studied the figures. that somes
thing must be done sto save the COM CON:
pany that had the fearlessness to at
tack the wealthy and arrogant Bell
company, and give to the people
cheaper and better telephones
This company is sending out letters
to the people, The first is to the work.
ingman and reads as follows:
Much More Work for Labor.
At the February election it will be
our privilege to vote on an amendment
to the franchise Of the Zenith City
Telephone co. 1t is highly important
to your interests as a citizen and
"orkingman that the amendment
should carry. If the rates of the Tele-
phone GO. for which the amendment
provides are Increased the Company
Will pay out during the next two years
from Sl50,O00.0O to 5000, 10000 for la
bor. $20O,000.00 expended for labor
means the employment Of 200 men 500
days at $500 per day. This will be a
highly important matter because in
d1cations are that there will be far less
work all over the country during the
next two years than during the past
two. Nhlle during the past two years
there nave been more jobs than men,
It now looks as though there would be
more men than jobs during the next
two years. Even though you should
not work Tor the Company many other
men will who otherwise might be after
Your job or might get jobs which
otherwise would be open to you. At
any rate it will result in many of
your brother laboring men getting
work at good wages. Every day of
added employment tends to keep wages
up to the proper standard.
Service Not Restricted to Subscribers.
Before the Zenith City Telephone CO,
came to Duluth no one, unless a sub
scriber, was allowed to use a tele-
phone. The policy of the New Com
pany has been to accommodate as far as
possible every citizen Of Duluth We
have never objected to anyone using
our telephone whether a subscriber or
not, SO long as our customers were
willing. True. since our Company
adopted the policy the Bell Company
has been obliged to do the same. There
can be no question, though, that if
our Company is forced to give up the
business, which they must do if the
rate schedule voted by our City Coun-
Gil is not sustained sby the people, ev-
cry person not subscriber will be
again forbidden the use Of telephone
Before the coming of the Zenith City
Telephone Company the telephone was
d convenience of the rich man or the
privileged few only. We have been
the means of it's being placed within
the reach Of all. If it suddenly be-
comes necessary for you to talk to a
friend in Duluth, Woodland, Lake.
side West Duluth, New Duluth, Su-
perior. Old Superior, or South Super
ior, you can do so without it costing
You a. cent. The Zenith City is the
telephone company of the common peo-
! pie, the Bell Company, that OF the rich
man.
Zenith Is Poor Mans Company.
! Who ever heard Of anybody but a
| rich man having telephone until our
Company forced the Bell Company
! from their high horse down among the