Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-11


of the jury. ........
The probability is that all pending
business will be disposed Of by Friday
IL not before.
THE TELEPHONE SITUATION.
There was a big meeting In the
court house last Friday night on the
telephone situation, fully a hundred
citizens assembling in answer to the
call published by Messrs. j. 8. Brice,
Thos. F. mellow, M. B. Jennings, w" b.
McCaw and John r. Hart. And the
telephone people were there also, rep
resented by Mr.. w. B. Moore of the
Bedford" Mr.. Darlington Of the Pied
mont" and Mr.. Maupin, Of the BELL"
They took advantage Of the opportunity
to present their side Of the question.
and although they were treated to
some pretty warm talk, they were ac-
corded a fair and impartial hearing.
The sentiment Of the meeting was
evidently very strongly against the
Bell, and 1t would hardly be fair
to say that anything said In ia
vor Of that company had a noticeabiy
softening effect. The meeting, how
ever, was inclined to be conservative
rather than otherwise, and the proba-
bility is that there will be no decisive
action Of any kind until after the same
has been well and carefully considered.
After organization by the election
of Mr.. G. II. O'Leary as chairman
and Mr.. w. d. Grist as secretary, Sem
ator Brice at the request Of the chair,
took the floor and explained the object
of the CALL The senator spoke at some
length and with considerable vigor.
His remarks will be comprehended In
the following pretty full summary.
"As one Of the callers Of this meet
ing It devolves upon me to explain
its object, which I will do by telling
how It all came about My attention
| was called to an advertisement In THE
ENQUIRER setting forth the fact that
the Bedford Telephone company had
been consolidated with the Piedmont
Telephone company, and that a certain
schedule of advanced rates would go
into effect on July /. Upon inquiry !
learned that the Piedmont company be-
longs to the Bell company. which ]
| regard as the most greedy and grasp
ing corporation in existence. 1t has
no regard for law or for the rights
of the people. Its sole idea is to make
money by squeezing II out Of the pub
lie no matter how. / became convinc-
ed of this through what saw OF Its
agents lobbying around the capitol. and
what have learned through senators
and representatives from other coun-
ties. was told how the Bell throttled
the Independent company In Spartan
burg, Greenville and other places by
giving away free phones and using
other Establishments to lull the people
to sleep until It had them In Its pow
er. Then when competition Is out OF
the way 1t tightens its coils until 1t
makes the people come down to what
ever figures It cares to name. People
who have had independent systems and
who now have the Bell say that the
service Of the Bell Is no better than
was that Of the Independent systems,
and In many instances not as good.
There Is law which provides that no
telephone company can increase exist
ing rates without the consent OF Its
subscribers or not until after II has
made application to the railroad con-
mission, anS notice Of the proposed
change has been advertised once q
week for four weeks In a newspaper
circulating among the subscribers.
The Piedmont company otherwise the
Bell, has already entered upon delib-
crate violation of this law, and 1t Is
up to US to protect ourselves. do not
blame Mr.. Moore for selling his prop
erty. He has property rights In the
matter and he cannot be blamed for
doing with them as he pleases. But
we also have q right to protect our
selves, for II things go on as they are,
where we are now asked to pay $50 a
year for Bell phones, the price will be
gradually advanced until we are taxed
$3.50 a year. recommend therefore,
that we appoint committee Of citizens
to go into the courts and. annul this
franchise and then proceed at once TO
the organization Of a citizens ex-
change. Well not ask for an exclusive
franchise, but we will leave the field
open to whoever sees fit to enter. This
will be economy to all Of US for 1t will
be folly to think Of a compromise with
the Bell. I propose to make no COM
promise with them. Rather than do
80 we can better afford to throw our
phones into the street"
Mr.. M. B. jennings followed Mr..
Brice, endorsing all that the senator
had said but especially urging the or
ganization Of citizens telephone sys-
tenn. He said that this would require
each subscriber to take stock In q
small amount over and above the cost
of his phone, and that the system could
be so managed as to be Of great benefit
to the town and community. He urged
that there should be no compromise
with the Bell.
Mr.. w. B. Moore, proprietor Of the
Bedford Phone company, Mr.. Babing-
ton, manager of the Piedmont Tele-
phone and Telegraph company, and
Mr.. Maupin, Of the Bell company, were
present for the purpose of stating, their
side of the question under considera-
tion, and were allowed the privileges
Of the floor, Mr.. Moore being called
upon first
Mr.. Moore said he was glad that the
meeting had been called. He had un-
derstood that 1t might be called of, and
to guard against such contingency had
telephoned THE ENQUIRER instructing
that II anything like this was pro-
posed, another call should be published
over his own signature. He was glad
Of the opportunity to explain his posi-
ton on the telephone question and also
nIf ha oo