Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-03-17

will not report to the press or our op-
lponents our manner of doing business.
This. gentlemen. is what Mr.. Mauoker
referred to in speaking about the Sc
cret meetings"
secret Meetings.
| Upon referring further to the open
| ing of the books of the company and
the auditing by a committee including
the city clerk. Mr. McEniry said
Upon the conclusion of the discus
sion in private over what was found in
the books, Alderman Eckhart. it may
| be justly said, handed over to Mr.
| Mann all of the papers that bore the
| figures taken from the books of the
company, and there were no longer any
records outside OF the company's of
| fee
The Central Union Telephone COM
pany is responsible for the secret meet
ings and the business was as to the
books and accounts of the company.
Never Reached Agreement.
at was not in the mind Of Alderman
Eckhart to pass an ordinance Monday
night that would be satisfactory to the
Central Union Telephone company.
The council and the company have
never got together Each delivered
an ultimatum on what it would ac-
cept, and 1 say in fairness to the coun-
Gil that the company and the council
have never come together on an ordin-
ance. The company was glad to have
The ordinance laid over to treat with
You on this matter. You are it's pa
irons and it wants your good will. and
if it does not get it, it liz not the fault
of the company, l hope
Union Labor Clause.
Mr.. McEniry explained with refer
ence to the union labor clause as fran
ed in the ordinance az without legal
force and effect; that the company
could accept it and the next day dis
charge every union man on the lines.
The Central Union company is en-
deavoring to treat with the labor peo-
pie now. We could have hoodwinked
them by accepting this clause of the
ordinance but we would not do it." He
read the proposed rate section. which
10 as follows:
AZ to Rates.
Said company shall charge its sub
scribers in the city of Rock Island such |
rates as it charges in other cities OF
the same size and of the same charac-
ter for the same class of service and
whenever said company shall reduce
its rates in other cities of the same
size and class, the rates for the Same
class of service as reduced shall be re-
duced in Rock Island;
provided, however. that the ques-
ton of the right. if any it has. of the |
city of Rock Island to fix the rates in
the future, or of availing itself of the !
future rates tnat may be fixed by the |
of the state of Illinois is !
not hereby waived, but such question !
be left in allegiance"
In explanation of this he said that |
he company refused TO accept an or !
finance with maximum rate and stat !
I'd that II the three cities grow TO Il |
population of 100000 in the next 10 |
years the company may have TO in
;rease its rates and IS frank in saying !
%. He went into detail in explaining
he reasons why the rate is Increased I
With the growth of the city and the
service. Mr. McEniry expressed his
PERSONAL opinions as to taxing fran.
,hises and said that there was no ques
ion of the fact that if there was
Ter cent tax it would be paid by the
telephone user, which he considered
Infair.
SuGSe~ts Friendly suit.
IF you do not want your city coun-
II to adopt that ordinance" he said
| wish you would say TO its members.
Agree on statement of facts and go ,
lto 4 suit in court
Prefer Other Conversations. .
In reply to a statement from the te,-
phone representatives with reference (
} the concessions made to the city III
lie way of conduits aud telephones. {
lr. haucker took the position that
1ese were of little consequence, say
lg: 81 believe l voice the sentiment ,
the telephone users when | say that !
lie concessions may be beneficial to :
lie locality, but will not be beneficial +
the users. | would prefer a lower I
laX1mum rate to some OF these privi- !
ges given to the city. / must say. let r
S raise the salaries of the city officials .
nd let them pay for the things we q
re paying for. We have to pay our +
ay, let them pay theirs
Concurred In by Mayor. i
This sentiment was concurred in by ::
ayor McCaskrin, who was present i
Id addressed the assembly briefly on
e line of taking the matter to the
)urtS, which he now seems to prefer.
DR.. w H. Ludewig and Colonel w 7. p
hannon both expressed themselves as V
sainst the ordinance as proposed by b
e company. There was much discus W
ON on rates, operating expenses, and II
numerous questions being e
1T to Mr.. Rottger of Springfield, the o
perintendent The conclusion was, \
e resolution offered by W. c. Mauck- Y
the committee consisting of F. T. "
yers, w. c. Maucker, w II. Lude Il
g, w. T. Channon, e. B. McKown, lC
id l.. c. Pfoh, having been named to- n
y. 81
The meeting was so largely attend h.